trike problem

3252 Views 40 Replies 11 Participants Last post by francook, Apr 28, 2011

francook

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2011

I've just aquired a cx 500 trike. I love it but can someone give a bit if advice to a lady? It runs fine but while ticking over in low revs seems to only be firing on one cylinder is this normal for this bike or do carbs need balanced? any help gratefully received

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

Shep

· #2 · Apr 21, 2011

More likely the carbs need a good service.There are many of these bikes run by people who don't know this or other forums who may not know how to clean and set them up properly and even many motorcycle shops don't have the knowledge because of the age of the bikes.

1st thing to do is a general check around the bike,

http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=72

and then if the trike still has the Air filter box make sure the filter and box are clean?

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Allan

· #3 · Apr 21, 2011

Pixie said:
I've just aquired a cx 500 trike. I love it but can someone give a bit if advice to a lady? It runs fine but while ticking over in low revs seems to only be firing on one cylinder is this normal for this bike or do carbs need balanced? any help gratefully received

Hi,

It sounds to me like you may have a problem in the idle circuit.

The pics below show the passages involved in the idle circuit and the idle jet.

If there is a bit of debris or rust in this circuit it can easily clog a hole in the jet or passage. The red lines mark the passages. The jet is the brass piece with the red line shown going through it.

Also if the carbs sit for an extended period the jet can become clogged up with calcium.

Do you know which cylinder is not working? You can briefly remove the spark plug wires one at a time when the bike is idling to see if the engine dies. If removing the plug wire makes no difference, that would be the side not working.

Basically, if this is your problem, you need to remove the carbs and clean them.

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2

francook

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 22, 2011

Shep said:
More likely the carbs need a good service.There are many of these bikes run by people who don't know this or other forums who may not know how to clean and set them up properly and even many motorcycle shops don't have the knowledge because of the age of the bikes.

1st thing to do is a general check around the bike,

http://globalcxglvtwins.hostingdelivered.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=72

and then if the trike still has the Air filter box make sure the filter and box are clean?

Many thanks for taking the time to reply I'll let you know how it goes, Pixie

francook

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 22, 2011

Allan said:
Hi,

It sounds to me like you may have a problem in the idle circuit.

The pics below show the passages involved in the idle circuit and the idle jet.

If there is a bit of debris or rust in this circuit it can easily clog a hole in the jet or passage. The red lines mark the passages. The jet is the brass piece with the red line shown going through it.

Also if the carbs sit for an extended period the jet can become clogged up with calcium.

Do you know which cylinder is not working? You can briefly remove the spark plug wires one at a time when the bike is idling to see if the engine dies. If removing the plug wire makes no difference, that would be the side not working.

Basically, if this is your problem, you need to remove the carbs and clean them.

many thanks this is really helpfull, let you know how it goes, Pixie

Stubby

· #6 · Apr 23, 2011

Welcome to the forum Pixie. Hope you get your problem fixed.

francook

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 23, 2011

Stubby said:
Welcome to the forum Pixie. Hope you get your problem fixed.

Thanks, seems to be going fine now, maybe expecting too much for the old girl to be perfect, a few good runs and she's sweet as! first ever trike and I'm hooked, just the best fun,

nolavox

· #8 · Apr 23, 2011

Pixie said:
I've just aquired a cx 500 trike. I love it but can someone give a bit if advice to a lady?

There's a Bloke in Bristol... goes by the name "Reg" When he's not fired up on his white lightning, he's usually out in the midday sun

a Mad Dog I say he is... Watch out for this one as he occasionally masks as a 400lb tranny. or a Bad Charlie Manson. you never really know?

Advice to a lady.... We are a mostly a bunch of sexist pig menfolk, don't wear your feelings on your shoulder... and trust "Reg" at your own discretion. that's All I Got!

Welcome Pixie... Seen any Unicorns Lately?

we need to see pictures of your "Trike"

P.S. Reg is actually a regular human being ( I think), Sometimes a double edge wit, A very knowledgeable wrench, spanner, mechanic... whatever y'all call em over there

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3

Phil in Vermont

· #9 · Apr 23, 2011

Pixie said:
I've just aquired a cx 500 trike. I love it but can someone give a bit if advice to a lady? It runs fine but while ticking over in low revs seems to only be firing on one cylinder is this normal for this bike or do carbs need balanced? any help gratefully received

First: welcome aboard. next: what is your level of mechanical skill? My skills are ok but in the area of Carburators I do not pretend to know a thing. I have had a pair of carbs rebuilt by Larry Cargil and they came back rebuilt, adjusted properly, polished and all I did was reinstall them and the bike ran beautifully

Phil in Vermont

· #10 · Apr 23, 2011

Pixie said:
Thanks, seems to be going fine now, maybe expecting too much for the old girl to be perfect, a few good runs and she's sweet as! first ever trike and I'm hooked, just the best fun,

That kind of negates my earlier post. Does your trike have reverse? Most of the Tridents did.

francook

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 23, 2011

nolavox said:
There's a Bloke in Bristol... goes by the name "Reg" When he's not fired up on his white lightning, he's usually out in the midday sun

a Mad Dog I say he is... Watch out for this one as he occasionally masks as a 400lb tranny. or a Bad Charlie Manson. you never really know?

Advice to a lady.... We are a mostly a bunch of sexist pig menfolk, don't wear your feelings on your shoulder... and trust "Reg" at your own discretion. that's All I Got!

Welcome Pixie... Seen any Unicorns Lately?

we need to see pictures of your "Trike"

P.S. Reg is actually a regular human being ( I think), Sometimes a double edge wit, A very knowledgeable wrench, spanner, mechanic... whatever y'all call em over there

Sadly no unicorns just the odd Haggis! Tried to put pictures on of trike but keep getting told they're too big, will keep trying, It's just a wee hardtail rat trike at the moment but lots of room for improvement, will keep eye out for 'Reg'

francook

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 23, 2011

Phil in Lowgap NC said:
That kind of negates my earlier post. Does your trike have reverse? Most of the Tridents did.

No such luxury! but she's no too big to shove round just be a bit carefull where you park?

DavidfromWisconsin

· #13 · Apr 25, 2011

Phil in Lowgap NC said:
First: welcome aboard. next: what is your level of mechanical skill? My skills are ok but in the area of Carburators I do not pretend to know a thing. I have had a pair of carbs rebuilt by Larry Cargil and they came back rebuilt, adjusted properly, polished and all I did was reinstall them and the bike ran beautifully

Phil,

Your carbs are for a GL are they not??? Pixie has a CX.

Phil in Vermont

· #14 · Apr 25, 2011

David from Wisconsin said:
Phil,

Your carbs are for a GL are they not??? Pixie has a CX.

Makes no difference, Larry does them all.

francook

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 25, 2011

Phil in Lowgap NC said:
Makes no difference, Larry does them all.

Sadly Larry's in America and I'm in Scotland?!?!

Reg in Bristol

· #16 · Apr 25, 2011

Jings crivens an help ma Boab !

a lassie wi a trike?

Och! the sichts ye see when ye've nae got a gun

as me mum from Edinburgh used to say.

Welcome Pixie, where in Scotland are you?

I know a few guys who have or had CX's in Edinburgh and up the east coast

who may be able to point you the right way if you need any

parts or help.

The tickover problem may be as simple as the carbs needing balancing

will it tick over at 1100?

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Phil in Vermont

· #17 · Apr 25, 2011

Pixie said:
Sadly Larry's in America and I'm in Scotland?!?!

Makes no difference, Larry does them all.

bandit

· #18 · Apr 25, 2011

Pixie said:
Sadly no unicorns just the odd Haggis! Tried to put pictures on of trike but keep getting told they're too big, will keep trying, It's just a wee hardtail rat trike at the moment but lots of room for improvement, will keep eye out for 'Reg'

hi Pixie,and a warm welcome from spain.e mail your pictures to me,ill post them for you

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francook

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 26, 2011

Reg in Bristol said:
Jings crivens an help ma Boab !

a lassie wi a trike?

Och! the sichts ye see when ye've nae got a gun

as me mum from Edinburgh used to say.

Welcome Pixie, where in Scotland are you?

I know a few guys who have or had CX's in Edinburgh and up the east coast

who may be able to point you the right way if you need any

parts or help.

The tickover problem may be as simple as the carbs needing balancing

will it tick over at 1100?

probably not is the answer to the second question and scottish borders, Kelso, to the first, and the trike's the way to go, great fun! Beats the old triumph bonneville bone shaker, anyday

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DakotaMK

· #20 · Apr 26, 2011

nolavox said:
There's a Bloke in Bristol... goes by the name "Reg" When he's not fired up on his white lightning, he's usually out in the midday sun

a Mad Dog I say he is... Watch out for this one as he occasionally masks as a 400lb tranny. or a Bad Charlie Manson. you never really know?

Advice to a lady.... We are a mostly a bunch of sexist pig menfolk, don't wear your feelings on your shoulder... and trust "Reg" at your own discretion. that's All I Got!

Welcome Pixie... Seen any Unicorns Lately?

we need to see pictures of your "Trike"

P.S. Reg is actually a regular human being ( I think), Sometimes a double edge wit, A very knowledgeable wrench, spanner, mechanic... whatever y'all call em over there

Pixie,

Reg is just as wonderful as the rest of them (so don't listen to any protesting he may add to that comment-lol) and it's good to see another woman around here- we seem to be getting more recently

As far as sexist pig menfolk- they're really not that bad. There is the usual stuff, and guys talk 'shop' just like we do.... all in all this is pretty much just a wonderful, helpful group!

BTW- Welcome in!

~MK

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