front end wobble

[nicescooter]

ok, got an 85 250r when im driving straight my frond end wobbles almost like im turning the handlebars back and forth. It does it real bad on pavement but i can tell it does it on dirt as well. Now ive checked that my front rim isnt bent and everything looks good no tilt or lean. Any suggestions would be helpfull...thanks!

[3Wheelers4Life]

same thing happens with my X, and only on pavement. only thing i can think of is the pavement pushes the wheel to one side, then pulls it back straight and repeats???:wondering only does it when i take my hands off the handlebars thought.

[boosted96cobra]

The rear wheels or axle or hubs are bent. My 200x was horrible, new wheels it perfect now.

[3Wheelers4Life]

to the best of my knowledge, nothings bent on my rear. when i do a wheelie it does not vibrate or shake, its very smooth, so???

[nicescooter]

im not sure that the back rims/ hubs being a little tweaked would make the front end wobble. Seems like it would make the back end shake.

[Brockey]

Bad tire?? I had that happen before. On the rear ofcourse. When we sized up the brand new tires, one was like an egg. Bearings?

[Dirtcrasher]

I've owned allot of ATC's and quite a few have "wheel wobble" and it's one thing I could never figure out....

[nicescooter]

Bad tire?? I had that happen before. On the rear ofcourse. When we sized up the brand new tires, one was like an egg. Bearings?

The front tire is practically brand new, straight rim. As for the bearings i stood the trike up and spun the front wheel, no wobble and i tried wiggling the tire and there is no slop in the bearings. Someone said something about the tripleclamp not being tightened down right would cause wobble?

[nd4speed]

bent forks?

Mine does it too.

[nicescooter]

yea bent forks would prolly do it, i dont think mine are but who knows. I wonder if you diddent have the exact same preasure in each fork that would make one longer than the other causing wobble?

[NINJA]

My 200R had front end wobble going down the pavement with it's stock Ohtsu front tire. I switched to a Kenda front max, and the wobble was gone. I got to looking at the old front tire and found it had a very strange wear pattern, almost like it was cupping. So, quite possibly the tire is the culprit. Loose steering stem will cause death wobble also. Some tires don't do well on pavement, especially when your only running 3.5 psi or a little less.

[Rustytinhorn]

It is natural for a 3 wheeler to start to wobble back and forth when riding on pavement beacause of the solid rear axle. Each tire tries to get ahead of the other tire. However it should only do it when you let go of the handlebars. If it is doing it when you are holding onto the bars them something is wrong.

Possible Problems. (Not inclusive)

rear tires not inflated equally or stretched equally
rear bearings gone
swinger bearings gone
front bearings gone
steering stem bearings gone
bent front axle
bent rear axle
bent frame
bent hubs
bent wheels
bent swinger
worn swinger bolt
bent spacers
missing spacers?

roads are crowned, so driving it will naturally pull you to the side. Again, it will do it because of the live axle, but shouldn't be noticable if you are hanging onto the bars......
Does it change with speed, braking, acceleration, turning?? does shifting your weight onto the front or back, or side to side, make any difference??

[hublake]

I had the same problem on my Big Red when I put it back together after restoration. I finally figured out that the rear tire pressure was not equal. I finally got it straighten out. Get a GOOD tire pressure gauge.

[RedRider_AK]

Sounds like the front bearings are going out. It will cause the wheel to see-saw back and forth as it follows it's own path on the dirt, and those little jerks will be transmitted to the bars. Try to jack up the trike and take the front tire, and move it side to side on the axle (the way the tire would turn if you turned the bars, but keep them straight, if that's not too confusing to understand). If there's any play, you need new bearings or possibly a new front axle.

[nicescooter]

Sounds like the front bearings are going out. It will cause the wheel to see-saw back and forth as it follows it's own path on the dirt, and those little jerks will be transmitted to the bars. Try to jack up the trike and take the front tire, and move it side to side on the axle (the way the tire would turn if you turned the bars, but keep them straight, if that's not too confusing to understand). If there's any play, you need new bearings or possibly a new front axle.

already checked for front end play, there isnt any. I need new back tires, no I REALLY need new back tires. lol so thats probably my problem, thanks guys!

[scooterroo]

check the rear tire pressures and look for either a bent axle or bent rear rim, front end wobbles is caused by something screwy in the rear end. sounds weird but its true.