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Post by telcotech on Jan 23, 2014 11:14:41 GMT -6
I would like to thank everyone on here that has helped with information on the repair of my girlfriends Ice Bear trike.
After replacing the vacuum fuel pump it fired right up and runs great. This has been a real experience for me working on a Chinese made trike. I work more on Harleys then any other bikes as a past time hobby and there is really a great difference between the two. We have a little front end wobble but have figured out what is causing that and will be taking the rear wheels to have them computer balanced at the local tire shop.
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Post by telcotech on Jan 23, 2014 10:46:29 GMT -6
Thank you Jim. I would never have thought that they used a vacuum type fuel pump. I was thinking that the fuel pump was in the tank and all being part of the fuel sending unit like most cars. I know the unit your talking about. I have the same type unit on one of my Harley Soft tail bikes, but it is a safety vacuum fuel shut of valve. That's what I was thinking that this unit was. Beth is sending me a new fuel pump and I should have it later this week. She is one fantastic employee and she has gone out of her way to get me the parts I need so I can get this trike on the road. She is really an asset to the company. |
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Post by telcotech on Jan 20, 2014 18:36:37 GMT -6
Thank you Jim. I would never have thought that they used a vacuum type fuel pump. I was thinking that the fuel pump was in the tank and all being part of the fuel sending unit like most cars. I know the unit your talking about. I have the same type unit on one of my Harley Soft tail bikes, but it is a safety vacuum fuel shut of valve. That's what I was thinking that this unit was. Beth is sending me a new fuel pump and I should have it later this week. She is one fantastic employee and she has gone out of her way to get me the parts I need so I can get this trike on the road. She is really an asset to the company.
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Post by telcotech on Jan 18, 2014 19:05:33 GMT -6
After finally getting the transmission back from the repair shop it seems to be shifting OK now. Then after spending three days installing all new bolts, and push pins and rebuild the trike from the bottom up it was ready to ride. I put fuel in the carburetor so I wouldn't have to crank on the motor then what was necessary. The motor fired right up and ran for a few minutes, then started starving for fuel. OK here we go again. I removed enough stuff from the trike frame to get to the fuel tank, fuel filter, vacuum shut down valve and carburetor. I disconnected the fuel line at the fuel filter that goes from the tank to the filter. Turned the ignition key on and started the motor. (I'm using another source of fuel now so the motor will run) and guess what the fuel pump that is located in the fuel tank is bad!!!! No fuel being pumped out of the tank. I checked the electrical connections where the fuel sending unit/fuel pump is connected and I have the correct voltage. After two months still have not been able to ride the trike. Next thing on the list is to see if I can get a new fuel pump. Darn I just filled the fuel tank with fuel so will have to drain it to replace the pump. When you get a lemon, you really get a lemon. What else can go wrong. My girlfriend wants to ride her trike and has waited two months now to ride it, but not this week.
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Post by telcotech on Jan 8, 2014 9:35:06 GMT -6
Yes that was the first thing I did, and no exhaust gasket. This is another thing to add to the list of things that needed to be repaired or replaced. New Zodiac 300cc trike and has never been rode yet. I will have to say that the dealership where I purchased the new trike from is fantastic and has worked with me 200% to get these issues correct. Thank you for the information. |
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Post by telcotech on Jan 7, 2014 10:18:37 GMT -6
Since I do not have shop manual for this 2013 Ice Bear Zodiac trike I need to ask anyone out there that might have the information.
When I removed the head exhaust pipe from the engine there was no gasket between the exhaust head pipe and the exhaust port of the engine. Should there be a gasket or brass "O" ring of some type, or is it metal to metal? All the bikes I have ever worked on always had a gasket or "O" ring of some type. Once the engine is back in the lower cage and the cage is reconnected to the main frame of the trike its not going to be easy to remove the exhaust head pipe to install a gasket later if there should be one.
I have noticed another small issue with these trikes. Once everything is put back together and you need to remove and clean your air filter there is no easy way to get to the filter to remove for cleaning. I'm redesigning the air intake and will be using a K&N air filter made for motorcycles and locating it in an area that will be much easier to get to when the time comes and it needs cleaning. The crankcase and transmission breather tubes will still be connected to the air intake system and no changes will be made to them. One last question, when I install the rear wheels how much torque is required to the lug nuts. The studs are much smaller then a automobile so to much torque would snap off the stud.
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Post by telcotech on Jan 6, 2014 12:27:13 GMT -6
Back in November of 2013 I purchased a 2003 Ice Bear Zodiac 300 for my girlfriend. Since we live in the Az desert they sent it to us in a crate and all wrapped up in plastic. Only about 60% of it was put together so after unwrapping it, and saving all the bolts and nuts that fell off in while it was transported here form China I started trying to figure out where all the loose bolts and nuts went. I have worked on motorcycle all my life and also own a 2012 FLHTK Harley. So to get back to the story, I hope this does not happen to anyone else and I also hope that the trike I received was just a lemon. The throttle cable was never connect to the carburetor and after taking the front end apart so I could adjust the linkage to open the seat I was well on my way to getting it together. To make a very long story short and after checking the oil and all fluids I started the motor. Now when I tried to put it in gear I had to roll it about 12 inches forward or back before it would slip in gear. I checked all the linkage adjustments and then called the company. They asked me if I would remove the engine and transmission and ship the unit to them so I did. Just got word today, three weeks later that they did find a major problem in the transmission and it was repaired. Should be on its way back this week. I guess it was a good thing that I had to remove the engine and transmission because I found several more things (minor) that was not correct. I found several missing bolts, and body push pins. The under side of the frame was not painted and was already starting to rust. There were bolts that were to long so the factory used lock washers and on two bolts they piled up 5 lock washers just to take up the space. Would it not been easier to just use a shorted bolt? The workmanship is very poor and if my girlfriend would have rode it in the condition it was when it came from the factory she could have had a major accident. I'm completely rebuilding it now from the ground up using the right bolts nuts, washers and will be making sure everything is connected and adjusted correctly. My advice to anyone that buys one of these Ice Bear Zodiac 300cc trikes don't have it shipped to you in the crate, but have the dealership put it together and they can make sure everything is correct and in a safe condition to ride. I just got the lemon.
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