Got some questions... By new2scootn (Read 1,791 times)

[new2scootn]

So here's a pic showing the spindle(?) on my reverse trike. I have found that there's some play at the top and bottom pivots where the suspension arms attach(red arrows). I'm thinking this might be the cause or at least a contributing factor in the front end shakes/wobbles/oscillation I get at lower speeds on deceleration. My question is: what are these things poking out(blue arrows) that are made to be adjustable? Do they adjust the bearings in this spindle? Sunny doesn't even show them in their parts listing for the trike and so far a web search hasn't been helpful. Anybody know??



Here's the detailed pic. Didn't want to start messin' with those adjusters until I knew more about them. Don't need any more problems than I've already got...

[Guitarman]

They LOOK like hydraulic adjusters, but then I'm not there looking at them in person either. What I would do is put it up on blocks or jack stands or something to support the bike and then mark the position of the screws then slowly adjust them and see what it does. You can always put them back if it causes problems since you marked them.

They seem to control the hydro pressure on the bearings, so I would thing they have something to do with the steering.

[cyborg]

This is a variation of the old style kingpin type of front end,,Guitar is correct i would get it off the ground to unload the suspension ,that will alow you to find out where the play is,,and i would think the large nut at the top of the kingpin itself needs tightening,,,i believe this is where your headshake is comming from

[Alleyoop]

The way it is built I think those are the adjustment for toe in and toe out.

[cyborg]

also very important when you unload the wheels check the hub / spindle preload there may lie the problem as well ,,,an easy check is when it's in the air grab the top and bottom of the front wheel and see if you can "rock" it no discernable play should be felt ,,as in none,,

[skunkhome]

I think those are camber and, caster adjusters.

[new2scootn]

Jul 30, 2014 21:29:02 GMT -6 cyborg said:

also very important when you unload the wheels check the hub / spindle preload there may lie the problem as well ,,,an easy check is when it's in the air grab the top and bottom of the front wheel and see if you can "rock" it no discernable play should be felt ,,as in none,,

Thanks to all for your input. Hey Cyborg, hub/spindle preload is exactly the slight play I'm talking about. So to eliminate this play would I be tightening the big "king pin" bolt or the adjusters on the sides???

[cyborg]

HI,,,when you have it in the air and when you grasp the wheel top and bottom and "rock it" where is the play? in the hub/spindle area or the kingpin joint? or both? whats happening is when there is play the tires "hunt" and start following irregularities in the road and set up the "headshake" when you chop the throttle you load the frond end probably with 70% of the total weight of the machine plus riders and cargo,,,,once this occilation starts it can get pretty hairy,,,,lots of times these things are not absolutely correct (the preload on the bearings) from the factory and with use they loosen up a little more and there is where the problem lies,,,this is why Alley/Jr/Bashan,,,beat this drum about PDI so much,,,inspection and checking all things is very important because problems such as yours arise with no warning,,,i regularly check all my machines and even the hyper exotic junk i was riding had loose and missing nuts and bolts right out of the crate,,,Oh i would not mess with those little excentric adjuster bolts they are for toe and caster adjusting ,,,,just the big acron nut is the one you want to tighten if the play is in the kingpin,,,don't go wild my man,,just enough to make the play go away,,,you want no areas of tightness in the "swept area" of steering as you check it lock to lock full right to left turn,,,that indicates either binding (overtightened) or a bad bearing,,,i doubt the later cause the machine is "new",,,yes?

[new2scootn]

Thanks bud, I'll let you know how I make out.

[cyborg]

Hey new 2scootin how'd the inpsection and did you get to adjusting the front end yet?

[new2scootn]

Epic fail!!! Worked on the bleepin' thing all day saturday and it's worse than ever! Don't have sockets quite big enough to tighten the king pins but I convinced myself that the slight amount of play couldn't be the source of my shakes so I set about to realign the wheels. Which I did thank you very much. Flippin' vibration/shake/oscillation was worse than ever!! And I was so carefull with my measurements. Redid everything with pretty much the same results. Messed with the preload settings on the shocks...nothin'. Figured I'd try to dial in some toe out...got a little better. Dialed in a bit more... maybe a little better. A bit more and she really became squirrelly and my patience and motivation were now gone. Bring on the beer and dinner with the wife and that's where this story ends for now. I keep glaring at her now and then in the garage but haven't gotten bit by the bug to dive in again yet. Oh I've got ideas as to why my alignment didn't go as planned(put rubber pads on straight edges to lift them off of and protect the rims so they may be compressing differently from front to back and screwing with my measurements) so that's the first order of business, but this is an oscillation that once it starts can become pretty violent and doesn't stop until either the trike comes to a complete stop or you accelerate hard. And I've been thinkin' about that and obviously when you accelerate you're unloading the front suspension and when you're braking you're loading it up making it "squat". Also the oscillation seems to start from hitting a bump or roughness in the road while coming to a stop. If it's perfectly smooth then at least most of the time so would the stop. So I'm thinking that the finger needs to start to get pointed at those front shocks maybe. Don't think they're dampening like they should be but the front end's so light that you can't just jounce 'em like you can with a car and check for excessive bounce. Anybody know of a way to check these things? Or recommend a good source for replacement adjustable shocks?

[Alleyoop]

Check this out guy had a heck of a time as well he is on thescooterprofessor.proboards.com/ and you can see some of the things he did.
Alleyoop

Here is his thread:
thescooterprofessor.proboards.com/thread/2262/sunny-roadrunner-300-df300tkb-various?page=1

AND HERE IS HIS PHOTOS AND VIDEOS on what he did.

www.flickr.com/photos/mbarkley/sets/72157632501957931/

[cyborg]

When you get at it again,,unload the front end again and check the steering joints also,this may be a source of the oscillation as well,any play at all in any of these joints or in the steering shaft will cause this condition,,,if everything is tight and not worn and the kingpin is not loose,,,it may be time to consider a steering damper,,,they are inexpensive and very easy to install,,,

[Alleyoop]

Yep, the guy on PROF put them on you can see them.

[new2scootn]

Thanks guys. I actually was messaging with that guy back when he was installing that stuff but don't you think that adjustable shocks would accomplish the same thing?