Hello everybody

[William A. Hall]

welcome from arizona
not very likely that the angle took out the u joint. however it should be checked with the diff off the ground and also with it compressed. (either loaded or without shock springs.)
more than likely a cap came out and put it into a bind and then broke. when a joint breaks i call it cracking the whip it puts a lot of stress on the other parts.
which joint came loose?
pics?
just info when u loose a front u joint on a car it cracks the whip usually breaking the extension housing and bending the out put shaft sometimes worse like cracking the case. a lot depends on the speed.
either before or after the repair i would check for shaft wobble or leaks from cracks.
hth herman

 

[William A. Hall]

They said the u joint exploded & wasn't on the shaft to look at. What I meant by the angle of the shaft being too much was just a common sense opinion of mine from previous experiences building and working on tractor & brushhogs, streetrods, jacked up 4x4, etc. Its a factory Motor Trike brand factory add on. I plan on measuring the shaft angle when I get the trike back home. Ill be able to tell more then. The Triumph mechanic also commented it looked like an accident waiting to happen, again. They had a lot of problems with Honda trike driveshafts too I noticed on their website. I don't think a feller should go putting an angle on a driveshaft such as they have done, then stick it behind a torque monster like the Rocket is and expect to last. I was going down the road 70 mph when it came unglued on me. It only had 20,000 miles on it. Let me get it home & see if I can get some pictures to ya. Thank you for your comment. I will say the "Triumph" part of the trike has never given me a lick of trouble. Its the $10,000 piece of Motor Trike carp they stuck behind the Rocket that is the problem. I've got a V8 trike also & even with all the extra poop it has, we kept the driveshaft straight behind the tranny so it doesn't bind up.

 

[TURBO200R4]

70 MPH i bet that was a pucker moment
oif the angleis to great u go with a double joint.
just info
when installing a u joint and it is cross drilled for greasing. u install it with the grease zerk at a point that is compression area rather than a tear apart area.
do u know if the d. shaft go into the back of the rocket engine?
which joint failed?

 

[William A. Hall]

70 MPH i bet that was a pucker moment
oif the angleis to great u go with a double joint.
just info
when installing a u joint and it is cross drilled for greasing. u install it with the grease zerk at a point that is compression area rather than a tear apart area.
do u know if the d. shaft go into the back of the rocket engine?
which joint failed?

 

[William A. Hall]

It was the joint that goes to the engine output shaft. The original shaft u joint had no grease seek. I looked when I put the new seat on. Motor trike said it had one & I didn't grease it. This is all factory doing. I hadn't touched anything. I build Chevy hot rods but don't work on bikes. I'm gonna file suit for the damaged. Triumph folks even said it wasn't my fault & can't believe Motor Trike isn't wanting to pay for damages. Its been my experience drive shafts need to remain as close to 180 degrees (straight) as possible. If you were looking at a clock & the big hand was at 12, I'd say the angle of shaft set up would be pointing at about 10-11 o'clock. That kind of angle can't be good on anything wearwise. I'm waiting to go get the trike & see what Triumph says to do. Motortrike sent shaft parts, but said they won't pay for the output shaft damage. The shaft cause the other damage to engine.

 

[TURBO200R4]

the front joint exploding probably bent the torsional shaft.
have them check real close for cracks in the shaft housing and engine
in the shaft u receive check clips r correct and installed proper. and that joint does not bind at the angle u have.
i guess i have been pretty blunt. i suppose it is because i think that no one knows what they r doing but me

 

[TURBO200R4]

why don't u post your location on your avatar
and also post a a new thread about your drive shaft problems and u might receive more help from the guys that know a lot and a few have spare parts.
like @warp9.9

 

[William A. Hall]

why don't u post your location on your avatar
and also post a a new thread about your drive shaft problems and u might receive more help from the guys that know a lot and a few have spare parts.
like @warp9.9

 

[William A. Hall]

I appreciate all your help. The Triumph dealer is fixing it & I have no input that. It was under warranty but Motortrike doesn't want to pay for anything except a u joint & yikes. Not the $2,000 worth of engine damage. I was just on here to see if anybody else had problems with MotorTrike. Triumph people have been on my side on this mess. Morortrike is my problem. They've had a ton of shaft problems on their Honda Conversions & its well documented. I'm just trying to find other people with Triumphs that had problems. I'm like you on fixing stuff & being critical of how I do things. That's on my SBC V8 trike. Don't know a thing about Triumphs. I understand what you're saying. I'm just trying to find other people that may have had this problem from Motor Trike conversions. I'd like to know the sideload being put on the engine output shaft & bearings due to the angle of driveshaft. I still say that's where the problem will occur again. I'm selling it after I get it fixed. I paid $30,000 for a trike that went out in 20,000 miles & that's not good in my opinion. I'm a disabled vet & can't afford that kind of money. Ill get my V8 fired back up & someone else can drive the Triumph trike. Love the Triumph part but not the MotorTrike add on part. Its an accident. Waiting to happen again from looking at how its made is all I'm saying. Its just common sense.

 

[barbagris]

It was the joint that goes to the engine output shaft.

I have had a U/J dry out - rip the bearings in the crosspiece to bits and shear the gearbox O/P shaft on an Old Guzzi - At 80mph with my missus on the back - Luckily it sheared open and not locked up.

I don't like things I cannot lubricate - especially when I am told they don't need any. Was able to fix it myself.

Was this the original Triumph U/J or from the trike folk?