Preventive Maintenance - Motor Trike GL1800 SPYDER / 2+2 Service Manual

Motor Trike® Maintenance
Trikes equipped with drum brakes will need to be adjusted at the 500, 1000, 2000
and 4000 mile points or until the brakes have seated. The drum brakes on the rear
are equipped with self adjusters, but they will not work due to the light weight of the
trike. The brakes will need to be adjusted with a brake spoon. The correct process
is to lift the rear end in the air. Remove the rubber adjustment hole cover. It is
rectangular in size and about 1" in width. Spin the wheel, and adjust the brakes
slowly until the wheel starts to drag. The wheel should be able to spin freely for 270
degrees. If the wheel was a clock, it would start at 12, and stop at 9 o'clock.
Reinstall the rubber and repeat process on the other wheel.
1. Grease the rear universal joint easily with one to three pumps of grease every
5000 to 8000 miles, or when oil is changed. Don't over grease.
2. Inspect, and tighten all jam nuts. Make sure a medium grade Loc-Tite is used.
Do Not use Loc-Tite where Ny-Lock Nuts are used. See Photo at the bottom of
second page below. Inspect and tighten the ¾ inch nuts and bolts on the rear
end at the ladder bars. Loose rear end bolts will cause slight body wobble while
riding, and may make a clicking noise while mounting the Trike. If this is
detected, correct immediately.
3. Grease the two swing arm pins on the shoulder where Ladder bars attach to the
frame every 24 months, or every 18,000 miles. Use high quality lithium grease.
4. Use a dry silicon spray to protect Heim joint from wear. Spray directly on the
Heim joints. (3M makes this product and can be purchased at any Auto Supply
Store.)
5. Tire pressure for general riding should be 18-24# depending on geographic
locations, and road conditions. Use 22-25# for long interstate trips. Over
inflation of the rear tires will prematurely wear out the center of the tire.
6. Air Bag recommendations: Use 15-20# for one up, depending on your weight.
Adjust to your personal comfort. Add approximately 10-20# for every 60# of
passenger weight, and luggage. You have a suspension that uses two coil over
gas shocks, and two air bags. If you are pulling a trailer with two people, you
would use 40# and up. The Air Bags have a maximum PSI of 120#.
7. Check the Lug Nuts periodically for tightness. The lug nut torque for the
Roadhawk billet aluminum wheels is 70-85 ft. lbs. for ½ stud size.
8. If you have vibration from 0-25 MPH, your drive shaft is not lined up correctly. If
the drive shaft and the front U joint do not line up perfectly (off by one tooth)
make sure that the front U joint runs ahead of the rear universal. Your drive
shaft runs (turns) counterclockwise.

Preventive Maintenance