ICE BEAR TRIKES REVERSE CABLE TIPS By Alleyoop (Read 2,157 times)

[Alleyoop]

Hi Trikers,
If you have a Ice Bear Trike with Reverse Capabilities and you are getting Shudders going Forward or in Reverse here are some adjustment tips:

THE FORWARD AND REVERSE MECHANISM:

1. On Top of the Gear Box there is a piece that turns clockwise about 1 1/2 inches to engage Reverse. This is controlled by a cable attached to it. The mechanism is Spring Loaded to engage the Forward gear. The Handle to pull on the cable to put it in Reverse is either on the right side foot board or on the left handlebar grip. Because its Spring loaded as the Default going Forward it is harder to pull or squeeze the handle to Engage
Reverse. Setting it to go Forward is just releasing it from the locked Reverse position and it will go into the forward position due to it being Spring Loaded.

2. Problems with the Reverse mechanism:
a. One problem that can become a major expense is if the cable is not adjusted properly. Sounds like the Chain is jumping teeth or gears slipping. When this happens the trike will shudder pretty severally starting off either in Forward or Reverse. It will only happen going Forward or in Reverse BUT NOT both. You have to fix it as soon as possible or the gears inside can be damaged and will cost you a lot of work and money.

3. Adjusting the Reverse Cable:
a. You have two places you can adjust the cable one by the Handle and one by the Mechanism. If the Trike Shudders going Forward you need to Loosen the cable give it a little more slack, its to tight and is not allowing the Mechanism to rotate Counter Clockwise enough to allow the Gear to Mesh with the Forward Gear.
b. If the Trike Shudders going in Reverse you need to Tighten the cable, its to loose and is not allowing the Mechanism to rotate Clockwise enough to engage the Reverse Gear.
c. After adjustment always Try it going Forward and in Reverse it should not shudder in either direction. Going in Reverse you may hear a Clunk sound and thats OK.

4. Reverse Handle on the Left Handlebar:
a. If its really hard to Engage Reverse and I mean really hard,
there is a way to Lessen the Forward Spring Tension to make it easier to engage the Reverse.

On the Swivel Reverse Mechanism on top of the Tranny you will find a NUT under the Swivel Mechanism. Loosen this Nut and Pull up on the whole Mechanism not to much about 1/2 inch and Rotate it Counter Clockwise a little and then push it back down and tighten the NUT.
This will especially help all the trikes with the Reverse Handle on the Left Handlebar. This will take some Tension off the Forward Gear Spring and make it much easier to squeeze the Handle to engage Reverse.
The Trikes that have the Reverse Handle by the right Floorboard is not a problem because you have a lot of leverage reaching down and pulling up on the Reverse Handle.

Hope this helps
Alleyoop

Here is the Position of the Reverse Mechanism in the FORWARD Position:




Here is the Position of the Reverse Mechanism in the REVERSE Position:




NOTICE -- That there is very little movement between the FORWARD Position and REVERSE Position. Its about maybe 3/8 of and inch movment between the two. Thats why the adjustment must be done right otherwise it will Shudder in Forward or Reverse.

[jimsuds]

thanks for the info. I bought a used scooter with only 200 miles on it but I have the shudder when going forward and have loosened up the cable all the way, but I cannot find any return spring. Could you let me know where the spring should be. I have the right side footboard lever. Thanks!

[Alleyoop]

Jimsuds,
As you can see I have the Reverse Lever on the Right Side Footboard as well. Those are the best actually. Some 2010 they started putting them on the LEFT handle bar which was even more of a problem.

The Spring Is INSIDE the Tranny so you cannot get to it. When putting into Reverse you are COMPRESSING the Spring that is why it is hard when you pull up on the lever. When you Move it to Forward the Spring UN-Compresses and moves the gears into FORWARD.

Now it could also be your Clutch that is slipping and will cause that shuddering feeling when taking off.

If it is your Reverse Cable you will hear metal to metal sounds because the gears are not meshing all the way and it sounds like your going to damage some gears. If It actually jumps back there then it is your Reverse Cable. You have TWO adjustments One by the Lever and Another by the Reverse Mechanisam.

If you need more slack on the cable LOOSEN the Nut on the LEFT push the Cable Toward the Rear and Tighten the RIGHT nut back on the Bracket.
Alleyoop

[jimsuds]

Alleyoop,
Thanks for the spring location info. I loosened the cable all the way and I still get the shudder. It does seem to lessen quit a bit and sometimes go away after it's been ridden for a while. I've read elsewhere that the 2009 has this shudder issue and may be "fixed" with shims of some kind and/or the addition of a final drive bearing. I will have to research this more. I've been working with cars for years but this is my first attempt at a scooter...wish me luck. ;-)

Thanks!

[Alleyoop]

Well it could very well be that you have one like mine and a another Triker. It seems that the early 150 Trikes they left out a Support Bearing. So it may well be yours is missing the Support bearing as well.
The Bearing is behind the Clutch, so you would have to take the Clutch off and the 7 or so Bolts and the Whole Clutch Shaft and Plate come off as one piece. Then you can see your Tranny gears and see if the Support Bearing for the Shaft is missing. It is the Main Drive Shaft Support Bearing behind the BIG Gear.
Here is where the Missing Bearing goes it is a
C3 #6004 Deep Groove Radial Ball Bearing in case yours is also missing you can order it.
Alleyoop

[jimsuds]

Thanks again! I should have time this weekend to dive in and take a look.