Removing engine support(motor mount) on MC_D300TKB By new2scootn (Read 5,785 times)

[justincrediblem]

Picked up my trike yesterday evening. The mechanic tried over 30 different settings and finally found the "magic number" for the front alignment. The wobble is gone. The steering is very sensitive now. And I can make tighter turns now. I noticed before the wobble issue, I could only make wide left turns at a red light. I could make tight turns if I was going at a slower speed. But now it seems to make turns better. I also noticed at around 55mph I do not have the vibration or "bounce" anymore from the front tires. The balancing does help in that department! I will be making about a 35 mile trip this afternoon and will be able to tell yall more on how she really is driving.

[new2scootn]

Soooooo... what was the "magic number" Any parts replaced?

[justincrediblem]

No parts replaced. He just kept adjusting the front tires until they quit fighting one another which was causing the wobble. He said that the way the front is poorly designed it is very sensitive when it gets out of alignment.

[Alleyoop]

That is good news at least you can ride the thing and feel safer. But since they said it is very sensitive on the alignment try not to hit big bumps or potholes. You should ask him what part on the front gets loose or moves to cause the shimmy. Maybe a new part can be made with better quality and stronger material.
Alleyoop

[new2scootn]

Sure glad to hear he got the vibration licked. Did he say if he adjusted in some toe? I mean if he spent that much time on the repairs I'm sure he made notes of the adjustments so he could repeat them if needed. Just curious.

[justincrediblem]

The only thing he adjusted was the alignment rods. He stated they are not designed properly. He said they should be attached another way. I don't remember exactly how he said they should be attached. He also said the front shocks shouldn't move at all. I'm assuming he is comparing it to a side by side or a 4 wheeler. Bu

[justincrediblem]

With the new rear tire and all tires balanced it is a world of difference with the vibration. I got the trike up to 66mph and she rode as smooth as my Raptor with almost no vibration! Smothest ride I've had since owning the trike. I just need to figure out how to get some more speed out of her. We have flat roads around here and I have gotten 73 mph once but today the trike only got up to 66mph and was able to maintain 64mph. I got loss of power on the long full throttle run but I'm going to fill up my tank and see if I can get a longer full throttle run before attempting the new2scootn fix.

[daddue11]

Hey friends, I still haven't got to tear into Libertyn yet,but, I did get her moved to the garage or carriage house if you prefer. I have all my tools and stuff back there and a cherry picker and a couple of floor jacks. I may have an hour or two tommorow night to take out the seat pan and at least see what the damage is. I'm already thinking of what I can put the drivetrain in if the mounting holes on top are wallowed out or worse.

[daddue11]

UPDATE: I finally made time to take LIBERTY apart and found out what was making her the rear end wobble like a sidewinder rattle snake.
I can't get my photobucket to work so right now I've got no pics. I'm starting to hate photobucket.
O.K. I found out that the bottom right hand side bushing on the support crossmember was all chewed up,the rubber in it was all chewed up but the casing that's pressed in the support was not damaged and the little sleve that the bolt goes through was rattling around inside the arm when I pulled the bolt out.
None of the other bushins were damaged,nor, were the mounts or ears on the motor damaged either. I'm thankful for that. All I can say is MAN !!! That thing is put together so cheaply that it reminds me of a kids Walmart bycicle because of the primitive junk and the shotty welding and missed welds that I've found. You would think that they would at least put REAL bearings in there instead of cheap rubber with a two inch piece tubing going through the middle. especially when you can go down the highway at 60+ mph.

I'm gonna take the crossmember to the fab shop and see if they can't put something a little safer in there.

OK here's a pic,it's kinda dark but you can see how the bottom bushing is blown out.

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[daddue11]

another pic of the minor destruction.

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[daddue11]

This is the other side and this is how it should look.

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[new2scootn]

Thanks for pics and info daddue!! I'd say that's gotta be the best case scenario for this "break down". So just to be clear, you are talking about the right side(as you would sit on the trike), meaning the side opposite what I call the "dogbone" support. If so that's interesting... wonder if she needs a dogbone on the other side. The way you say she was riding so much better other than squishy in the turns right before she let go is also interesting... like she needs a little more dampening back there. I would let the fab shop know all of this 'cause if they put a bearing in there it might make things too rigid. I'm thinkin' maybe urethane bushings and stainless sleeve. Real curious to see what they come up with. Oh yeah, check the weld on that dogbone--mine is just barely adequate so maybe take that in too to have them weld it up better if needed. Thanks again for info and pics and good luck!

[daddue11]

Thanks new2scootin, yes the damage was on the opposit side of where the dog bone is located. Something that really bugged me was that on the right side on the outside of the frame there was a sleeve or collar almost like the ones inside the bushings themselves,except it was between the bolt head and the motor mount. I'm wondering if it was even supposed to be there or somewhere else ?? I was wondering myself also if bearings might make it too stiff or effect the leaning percentage. I'm also thinking the cheap rubber in the bushing just cracked up and decintagrated,the rubber in the others were kinda plyable but the rubber in the bad one was hard as a rock and breaking off in shard like pieces. Oh well we'll see one way or another. I might have to end up ordering another part all together.

[new2scootn]

You made me go down and look at the trike and then go through the pics I took when I removed the engine support! Is this the collar you're talkin' about?

It's on the short bolt that goes to the right side upper engine support bushing and bolts through the frame. If so it's supposed to be there. There's another one on the long bolt that goes on the left side and acts as a stand off for the dogbone.

[daddue11]

AHH,I see,o.k. then everything is the way that it should be than,that is, besides the chewed up rubber gromet part. It kind of scares me to think this,but,I wonder if the Scooter shop that I bought it from can fix that part or if I'd have to buy the whole support piece and I wonder how long that will last if I did get a new one?? I'll have to make some calls and find out some things tommorow. Anyway thanks for the help new2scootin, It helps to have someone else to run things past.