This weekend, we had our first major malfunction on my wife's 09 TriGlide. On Friday afternoon, we were on our way to a state park for a HOG weekend, riding 2 up, and at about 60 mph, the reverse motor seemed to engage, or try to do so. I could hear a spur gear-type noise, and the voltmeter dropped to below 12 volts. There was nothing that sounded like gear damage, it just sounded like something being turned by an open gear. It took several minutes to get to a parking lot where we could investigate. By then, the red battery warning light was on.

As a matter of background info, I had washed the trike that morning before we left, which was the first time I ever rode it right after washing. However, we have ridden it in rain a number of times, and my application of hose water during washing was very light, as usual.

I tried shifting in and out of gear, which didn't help the situation. Turning off the run switch and the ignition switch stopped the noise, of course, but it started back up again when the ignition and run switches were turned back on. Interestingly, when the run switch was turned back on, the engine started itself without my pressing the start button. I also tripped the overload switch, to no avail. I noted, in fact, that the reverse motor would drive the trike backward while using the reverse switch, although very slowly, even when the overload switch was tripped.

We turned around and headed home, but the malfunction stopped after about 3 or 4 minutes. So, we resumed our trip, thinking that the reverse control module had simply gotten wet and then dried out in the hot wind coming off the engine. However, after the trike sat outside and got covered with heavy dew, the malfunction repeated itself, each of the next two mornings. Both times, the seat and passenger backrest were covered quite well to protect against moisture. The second night, also, I had put a plastic baggie over the reverse module.

After the first night of heavy dew, the malfunction was very brief, clearing in about 2 or 3 seconds. After the second night of heavy dew, though, the malfunction did not clear itself in about 5 minutes of riding. So, I stopped and took off the baggie, and the condition cleared quickly.

All of this makes me think the problem is indeed caused by water intrusion into the reverse control module, as many members theorized in an earlier thread on this type of malfunction. I cannot tell whether the reverse drive gear is actually engaging the large ring gear, but I don't know what else would have caused the battery voltage to drop so much while moving forward. It seems like the reverse motor is being driven backward by the ring gear. As far as I can tell from that previous thread, those who had their trikes repaired simply got new reverse modules. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had this problem, with info on what cause was discovered, if any, and info on what fix was implemented. I am taking the trike to the dealer tomorrow morning.

We were able to complete our weekend as planned, and in fact, today, we took about a 150 mile route home, just to give the malfunction another chance to occur, which it did not, after clearing this morning. Other than this malfunction, we had a ball, ate really good gumbo and fish, and drank too much beer. As I have mentioned previously, we never use the reverse motor, since we never need it. I'm really wishing I had gotten $1200 worth of almost anything else on the trike, instead.

 

You just experienced the reason I traded my 09 Tri-Glide in for an 09 Softtail Deluxe. My trike had the same problem (60MPH whine like I was dragging a pipe) except mine actually went into reverse after I down shifted to first. This happened at 11MPH and almost threw me through the windshield. After I traded it the dealer told me my module had several hairline cracks that short circuited the system. They replaced the module and apparently it worked okay afterward.

 

Thanks very much for that info, Bubba. I remember now reading your post about going into reverse while moving forward. I think ours won't go into reverse until the transmission is shifted into neutral. I guess it depends upon where the moisture gets to, or where the cracks go. Our malfunctions could be from either cause, I guess, or even both.

Glad you weren't hurt. We haven't yet gotten to the point where we wish we had her Road King back instead of the trike, but I guess we could. For now, I would rather just disconnect the reverse module. We wouldn't miss it. I must confess that, even though it is not like riding a bike, we really love the trike so far.

Thanks again for your quick response. I will mention the possibility of cracking to our dealer tomorrow.

 

This very same thing happend to my dad with his 09. It turned out to be either a bad start button or wire. When the dealer came to pick it up the guy fired it up and all you could hear was the starter getting the crap kicked out of it because it was still engaged. The guy shut it off and the when he turned it back on it started it self up with no pushing of the start button. While he road it towards the trailer I could hear the starter trying to engage. You might have taken out some of the starters 9 lives because thats what you was hearing.

 

Hey guys, that's some serious information you're passing along. I'm thinkin' I'd get pretty nervous about Trikes and Bikes that start themselves up. I'll save this info and pass it along. I sell Champion reverses and like 'em a lot, I think I'll go study the Harley Reverse thing some more. I ride a '92 Harley Trike equipped with boot sole reverse

 

That could be right. Since the sound would probably be about the same whether it was the reverse motor or the starter spinning, we might not have been able to tell the difference. The only thing that would not explain is why the reverse motor still drove the trike in reverse when the overload switch was tripped.

Thanks very much for the input, though. A friend who was with us suggested that maybe the problem was just in the starter switch, and that might be right, I guess. Anyway, this gives me more to talk to the shop about today.

 

I hear that. We never use the reverse. Right now, my main concern is just getting the malfunction fixed so that the odd things quit happening. I would rather just take the reverse motor off, if that fixed everything, and get a store credit for what we paid for it. I doubt that will happen, though. I will keep everyone posted.

 

I took the trike to Cajun HD in Scott, LA this morning, and told them about the problems we had. They said it sounds like a problem with the reverse control module, since the trike ran in reverse even when the overload switch was tripped. They then ordered the part, and I planned to return with the trike when it came in.

However, as soon as I got out in the street, the problem recurred. I went right back in, and we got down and listened closely (which I had not done before), and we could tell it was the starter spinning, rather than the reverse motor. About that time, the sales manager walked by and flicked the starter switch, which caused the starter motor to stop spinning and start spinning again. So, Msocko3 and my HOG friend were right; the starter switch was shorted. The technician I had just talked to was reviewing the circuit diagram when I came back in, and he said the reverse motor takes its power from the starting circuit, with several different interconnections between the two. He said it looked like there were several ways that power could backfeed through shorted circuits to cause the reverse motor to act like I had described, based on a short in the starter switch on the handlebar.

They immediately took the bike into the shop and replaced the switch. To be safe, they also drained the primary lubricant and checked for metal pieces or filings, finding none. They also replaced my trunk door gasket and a faulty cover on the passenger headset connector, while they were at it. I initially got there at 10:45 and was out the door, no muss no fuss, by 2:00. When you are dealing with an intermittent electrical problem on a complicated electrical circuit, that is great service.

Thanks to those who responded to my post. Msocko3, your comment got me to finally stop isolating on the reverse module itself, and that helped when I talked to the technician. Of course, you never know when you have actually fixed this type of electrical problem, you just have to take it day by day, but I think it is fixed.

Thanks, again.

 

Pork, i'm glad thing are working out. So far I have had no reverse problems. I have washed the trike at home and at a car wash with a pressure washer. Trunk leaked when I got the bike but the dealer fixed it on the first try.

Electrical problems! I'm an electrician at an auto plant with some very complex machinery. We have problems that you would not believe. Hard wire, software, robot controllers, air, water, hydraulics. Its very easy to get stuck on one idea. It really helps to get more people involved. Thats what I like about this forum. Lots of ideas!

 

I'm glad you got it taken care of, its good they had the switch in stock.