Libby's new Zodiac 05 02 2016 By Louis Angel (Read 1,022 times)

[Louis Angel]

Well, it came in. Was a @&#$$ bastard to get uncrated and off the shipping pallet. Still have more bolts & nuts to lock-tite and replace the fuel and vacuum lines. Changed all the fluids. Lock tight done on the wheel bolts & brake calipers and shift lever setup for the F-N-R shifter.

I took some pictures of the uncrating, but was rushing so hard to beat the rain that I did not take any of the step by step process.

I did, however, make a YouTube vid of my initial thoughts about this, , , , trike. ( trying to be nice at this point )

. (( edit, removed you tube vid per my wifes , , , , strong "request".  New vid coming soon. )) 

I just pray the hard mechanical bits are better quality than the paint & bodywork!!!!!!!!!!!!
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[crwford]

Also replace the bolt coming from shiftier it's on the spline it won't hold remove it replacement it with a longer bolt and add a lock tight nut at end. I tell you one thing everyone says change fuel lines and spark plugs I got betters then 4,000 mile on 2 of my Zodiac's # 3 has 1,000 miles I only changed oil and cleaned oil screen. other things pull speedoo head and zip tie all connection for lights, lowers for lights the will flicker and burn out. As far as getting them out of metal constructor. All I needed was my 3/8 Dewalt 28 volt power tools and one one my fave rate to porta band saw and one more person ?
LOL good uuck been there and done it 3 times

[Louis Angel]

Yeah, if I had to give one, and ONLY one suggestion, to someone waiting on a Zodiac to come in, it would be to have a fresh bladed sawzall ready. But in this huge FARM EQUIPMENT dealership, was there just ONE saw blade to be had anywhere near what resembled "sharp" NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!!!!
Eventually got those rear axle stands cut with the powered butter knife. Hindsight, it would have been faster had I went uptown and just got a new blade! LOL
.
Finished the trike today. I need to replace that shifter bolt you mentioned. I am sure I have a longer stainless one here in stock. I did use lock tite on the factory one. But you say that is insufficient so I will be replacing it and using a lock nut as well. Thanks for the heads up.
.

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[Louis Angel]

Any tips on how to pull the speedo head to access those wires you mentioned?

[crwford]

Most of plastics just snap off there a couple of screws around the swing out trays. Just be careful check lower lights do they flicker if so try slip ties the connection tight connections are close to lights. Remember check shift leaver close to transmission cover it will come lose the more shifting forward and reverse seems to the weak spot. That's why I said replace short screw with a longer one with a nylon nut for a jam nut.

[Louis Angel]

Well, yesterday did NOT go well.
But, at least the problem was consistent.
Here is what she was doing:
Starts up like it should, , after warming up 2 - 3 min I headed out down a backroad just off of our subdivision road.
About 1/2 mile down that road, it started bogging down and within just a few
seconds it died. Waited about 30 seconds and it started back up with a bit of a studder / stumble, then went back to running like new. , , , , , , for another 1/2 mile.
Then, repeat all above.
My first knee jerk reaction was air in the lines or something. Or maybe some leftover gunk trying to push its way through.
After going 3 miles, , , 1/2 mile at a time, , , I turned around and went back
home, , , , , , 1/2 mile at a time
So today not sure what it was exactly, but I replaced the fuel filter & spark plug ( again ) and went on my first actual on road ride. Road all through downtown and out on the 4 lane going out of town. ( still 45 MPH on that part of the 4 lane ).
Went and filled up with non ethanol gas, bopped around some more,
21 miles total and it never hiccupped in the slightest.
I am betting the fuel filter was the culprit. Why on earth I did not use a
NEW filter when I set the bike up is just silly. I kept the other spark plug because I feel it was not the issue. Hey, nothing wrong with keeping a spare spark plug on board anyways!
.
As far as the RIDE itself: Ehhhhhhh, I am not all that crazy about it. On my Helix, it is like a laid back relaxing low effort ride. On this Zodiac, the steering effort required to keep it centered in the lane,
Not sure why, but it pulls hard to the right all the time.
Plus the BRUTAL HARSH ride, and the seat that is severely under padded, just not all that much fun or relaxing. Kind of intense really. However, as far as the seat goes, I have an awesome fuzzy covered gel pad for motorcycle seats that should completely alleviate that problem.
I am going to be looking into finding some different rear shocks. Something more along the lines of what is on the Helix. Ever drove a Dodge Ram 3500??? I swear they ride smoother than this trike. No B.S.
S T I F F!!! FRONT seems smooth. Just the rear tries to auto eject your kidneys over every tiny crack in the pavement. And yes, the shocks are adjusted on their SOFTEST of FIVE settings!!!! hahahaha!!!! Oh well.
OHHHHH, one other thing to report: The front left fairing / side skirt cracked badly!!! From the furthest front bolt all the way to the inside side. One big split. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cyborg]

You could have a fuel tank venting issue ,,,,as far as the "pulling" with the steering ,,,the reared may not be lined up properly

[Louis Angel]

Is there a way to adjust the rear axle for alignment?
Don't think I have a tank venting issue ( yet ) as after the new filter & spark plug went on it ran 21 miles just right as rain.

[Louis Angel]

Crwford, did you have any issues getting insurance on yours? Progressive will ONLY insure for LIABILITY ONLY !!!!!
I went ahead and put liability on it, but am looking for someone who will cover it completely " Full Coverage " insurance. That don't cost both arms and my manhood to pay for. LOL

[crwford]

Yes my Farmers insurance did the same I'm only guessing but the trike price is cheep compared to a H D trike of 37.000. Also hard ride could be air pressure I had to fool with mine a bit till I got it right. As for as rear you can measure from left rear nut and measure to front axle then the right side to front steering must be locked straight. The bolts are the same which adj the chain it's time well spent. I you like to call in evening many things needed to be done on my 3 trikes. 865-397-7864

[Louis Angel]

Thanks. After my umpteenth adjustment I feel I have the pulling to the right issue resolved.
I need to mess around with tire pressures too. I am on 25 PSI at the rear and 30 on the front.
Not sure how low I can safely go on those insanely low profile rear tires.

[crwford]

Mine run front 28 in front 33 in rear I think it's a judgement call on how you want it to handle. the first 2 trike at this point have better then 3,000 mile in 5 months my spare has just about 850 miles. The only issue I had was the rubber intake manifold mounts to carb 2 bike so far have developed large cracks making large to say the vacuum leaks so keep and eye on it, I keep a couple in stock here not money about 12 dollars each free shipping. very easy to install 5 minutes tops.

[Louis Angel]

Where are you getting them from?
I would like to have my own parts book for this thing, but can not seem to find one to download online anywhere. Spending the last 15 years as a parts department manager, I like to have parts books --- or at least an online source for parts illustrations --- for most of my equipment.
.

[crwford]

Louis sorry haven't got back sooner wife and I out riding. Some parts I got from Rapid Jim being in maintenance field I pretty much know what takes a beating but also e bay has many things the 1 thing I have replace was the rubber intake holding carburetor after 3,500 mile in 6 months found small crack causing a big vacuum leak I was glad I had a spare one now I order 2 more for stock. Got a spare drive belt.cdi box, II put in my wife cvt DR pullys sliders I guess performance one never seen and real improvement for that kind of money so her round rollers are in stock. Many say change spark plug,vacuum hoses and many other things mine are stock and like I said 1 has 3,500 mile other has 3,000 mile 3 has 1,000 stock.

[Louis Angel]

Good to know. I will give Jim a call then. As to the hoses, I am pleased to hear your stock ones are doing good.
Maybe the Chinese quality is getting better. :-D
I went ahead and replaced mine just to be safe. Was going to change out the gearbox oil one more time
since all I had was some new but 10 year old 80w90 Valvoline gear oil when I did the initial setup.
I now have some Mobil 1 synthetic 75w90 to put in both my Helix and Libby's Zodiac. BUT, I must have
eaten a LOT of Wheaties that day, because I can nooooooooooooot get the fill plug loose again!!!! Think I am
going to end up disassembling all those black braces just so I can get a socket on it !!! I wonder if it
would hurt anything to grind out ( as little as possible ) a notch into the black bracket immediately
in front of the gearbox oil fill plug. Hmmmmm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :-D