Leaning trike

[djm0242]

Ok fellas I went trail riding last weekend in LA. We were having a blast riding on an 800 acre ranch. We emerged from the woods and hit some tall grass. Against my better judgement we took off. Of course I jumped over a rut that I didn't see. I landed pretty hard but didn't crash. Nothing seemed wrong. No noises or clunks. No binding or issues. We get back to our campsite and my buddy says hey doesn't your bike look like it's leaning a bit? It turns out it was and it is. I recently pulled the rear axle so I know there's no issue there. It has brand new All Balls hub and axle bearings less than a year ago. The hubs are nice and tight - no weeble wobbles. I pulled the rear shock, it's straight. The only thing I'm left with is the swing arm. Thàts the only thing left that it could be. Any experiences or advice? We are talking about my ATC250ES.192330

[Ghostv2]

I know it's hard to sometimes capture perspective with an average camera but try to post some pictures of the leaning when you get a chance.

[atc007]

I would def suspect swingarm. You have a LOT more leverage there with the big meats than Honda intended :) 85's are less sturdy than 86 up also..

[djm0242]

Ill get a pic up. It's probably leaning by at least a half inch. By the time the geometry reaches the top of the left fender it's off by a couple inches.

[110 atc]

My 200s fell off a trailer the day it was purchased new by a coworker of mine. It sat crooked like your talking about. The steering neck was bent about 15 degrees or so. I ended up doing a frame swap.

[Dirtcrasher]

^ I as well wanted to mention the steering neck.
Get the rear tires inflated to the exact circumference and place the rear tires on a perfect level surface for the perfect horizontal, then place the level on the neck for the vertical level. You tweaked something, they tweak back.

Those bolted on tubes to the differential can bend very easy. Don't know how hard you hit but you do.........

[djm0242]

192381192382192383192384192381 ok here's some pics. Still kinda dirty from the trip too busy working to do more than a hose down. Anyway.... results of measured distance from fender to tire on the left side is 4.75" on the right it's 6.5"!! Certainly noticeable. When I left the ground as soon as I realized what was happening I leaned and pulled back. I landed awkwardly setting the left side tire first pretty hard. I really didn't catch any serious air. It was more like a bump, then a quick jump and then a hard bump again. I didn't land on the front tire to my recollection. I have looked and looked at the front and back and just don't see it. I don't see any play in the swing arm bearings. I don't see any bent tubes. I even measured the front fork tubes and they are the same. I am left with thinking two things. Either the swing arm is bent or worse the frame is bent.

[Dave8338]

I'm inclined to agree with 110 ATC. When mine went off the trailer last spring at 60+ mph and cart-wheeled down the interstate, it turned out to be a twist in the frame, behind the head stock about 2 1/2 inches. Rotational twist in the frame at this point, does exactly what you are describing. I was able to get mine about 90% straight but if you l;ook at it closely from the front, you can see it.

My .02

[trike savior]

have same issue with 1 of my 250sx. have not taken apart yet but it appears to be the swingarm being tweaked. mine is so bad it actually causes it to ride horribly on pavement. might be time to find a donor bike. be sure to check frame for cracks and breaks.

[djm0242]

I will pull the tank and see if there's anything noticeable in the frame. Thanks for any and all advice gents. I'm still ready to consider any and all possibilities so if you think of anything lemme know. A way to measure something that worked for you... A way to bend it back again!

[Dave8338]

I tied mine tight to my 773 Bobcat ~ 8500lbs of dead weight with ratchet straps and bolted together a pair of 2x8's 8 feet long with the frame sandwiched between them. :cry:

[MNhondaguy]

Beings the fork tubes look leaned over as well, I'm guessing swinger. If its apart check for perfect parallel angles between axle tube and pivot tubes. Both front back, and top bottom.

[MattDragontamer]

If you can shake it side to side you might feel some slop... if so, the swing arm bearing need replacing.
In addition, many of the trikes that are suspended on a single shock tend to lean on one side.
If your shock is original, check it out where the bolts go in. Sometimes hard landing will obliterate the rubber in there.
And finally, as mentioned, measure your front forks, if the spring inside one of the forks should be broken, the shock tube
should be shorter on the side it is sloping to.

[DohcBikes]

In addition, many of the trikes that are suspended on a single shock tend to lean on one side.

I have 5. None of them lean to one side.

There are a few, but not many trikes out there with dual rear shocks.



And finally, as mentioned, measure your front forks, if the spring inside one of the forks should be broken, the shock tube
should be shorter on the side it is sloping to.

Not necessarily, unless the front axle is bent too!




The forks and entire front headstock appear to be perpendicular to the rear rack. The frame is not tweaked much, if at all.

My opinion is that the damage is somewhere from the swingarm pivot back.

[atc007]

Nice property,nice car :) Those pics didn't tell me much.. The one from the front whispers frame to me. But I have personally trashed 2 85 swingarms. Whatever it is,should be pretty darn obvious. That is pretty tweaked.

[djm0242]

Well I have spent sometime looking the bike over. I pulled the rear fenders and I'm almost certain that the frame is not bent. I have measured the forks multiple times. I've turned the bike on its side in the grass and I am now of the opinion that it is indeed the rear swing arm that is culprit. The differential appears to be slightly twisted. This leads me to believe that one or more of the swingarm and or tubes/ flanges are bent. So I have ordered another swingarm, new bearings, seals, and the special socket tool. We shall see how it goes, it should be pretty easy.

[djm0242]

Ok, I replaced the swingarm and I made a two part video on YouTube check it out!!
http://youtu.be/Q0F-_GooOgM.

[OKSTATE#1]

I had an issue like this when I rebuilt my 86 250ES. For me, it was the swing arm bearings. New bearings and seals and it was back to strait. Didn't watch the video, but I assume you have your problem solved.

[djm0242]

My problem is solved, the swing was actually bent. I wish it had just been bearings.

[barnett468]

.
HOWDY!

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxr9P5OYMQvRhaWZ5QfBVTS7isj4zCS JQ6Ku1TmxO1HY-ScDvHod7NuYM

Just noticed your post. this is obviously a little late but if it happens again you can simply do the measurements below. You need a fairly flat floor to do this accurately.

put your bike on a stand.

pull the rear wheels

measure the distance from the floor to the center of the swing arm pivot bolt on both sides of the bike.

shim the bike until both sides of the bolt measure evenly.

measure the distance from the center of the rear axle to the ground.

rotate axle 90 degrees and measure, then do that two more times.

if the measurement stays the same, the swing arm is bent and the axle is straight.

if the measurement changes the axle is bent but the swing arm may still be bent.

if the axle is bent, you can measure the height of a carrier mounting bolt on both sides of swing arm/carrier. this measurement will likely only vary a little so if your floor is not perfectly flat it will not be accurate.

if the rear axle is bent, you can also determine the total amount the axle is out of round on either side then divide that number in half and add it to the number from the axle on the other side and if it is 0, your swing arm is NOT bent, however if it it NOT 0, your swing arm is bent too.

this would have taken all of around 15 minutes for you to set up and measure. It also would have told you if the forks were bent because you would either see it or you could put a $10.00 inclinometer from home depot on the side of the steering head to check it.

ok, confused yet?

:beer

[djm0242]

Thank you good advice! Next time it may come in handy. Hopefully there won't be a next time!