The Mountain Trike (just like a mountain bike) should be maintained and serviced appropriately to provide the required service life and safe operating performance. The Trike shares many features and systems of high specification mountain bikes and the maintenance and service regimes are therefore similar.
Some maintenance can and should be performed by the user and requires no special tools. However due to the potential safety risks of operating a badly maintained Trike, please consult us if you are unsure about anything.
This section of the website will give you a quick overview of the simple maintenance checks and procedures you should follow, a full guide is available in your owner’s manual, so rather than just repeat ourselves, we will be adding useful “how to” videos and instructions to make the whole process much simpler.
Looking After Your Mountain Trike
To keep the Trike running at peak performance and to ensure the longest possible service life, after every long ride, or if ever the Trike is exposed to water, mud and grit, the following service checks and actions should be made. If you are in any doubt about performing a service task yourself, you must consult us before attempting the task or riding.
General cleaning is recommended after every ride. Once cleaned, it is recommended that you also dry it with a cloth, as water left to collect could corrode moving parts. Once clean, the following quick checks and maintenance should be performed with every ride.
Drive System
The chains that transfer drive from the drive lever to the wheels require cleaning and lubricating with appropriate bicycle chain lubricant to ensure long life and smooth running.
Check the tension in the chain and the operation of the fitted Chain Tensioners, it should not be slack.
Lift each wheel clear off the ground and check for looseness or unintended movement left to right. The wheel should feel totally solid relative to the frame and drive swing arm. Similarly, check the entire drive module for unintended movement relative to the frame. If the bolts that secure the swing arm are tight, and any unintended movement is felt, seek our advice, as they may need to replace the shock absorber bushings, requiring the work of a qualified technician.
Again, with the wheel clear of the ground and free to spin, check the wheel spins freely and true without resistance or wobbling.
On each wheel, check the rims for damage or dents. Take a pair of spokes between fingers and thumb and squeeze together, they should feel tight and each pair should feel roughly equal. If there is any rim damage or significantly loose spokes, seek our advice as they may need to re-tension the spokes or rebuild the wheel.
Check the tyres for any cuts, damage, excessive tread wear or embedded objects. If any damage is found, the tyres should be replaced.
Check the suspension is operating correctly by pushing down on the seat or frame, the shock absorbers should move smoothly. If the shock absorbers do not move freely, or appear to be seized seek our advice as the shocks are an item requiring specialist knowledge and tools to service.
Check the drive levers for looseness or play and check the drive engagement for smooth operation. If the levers are loose or the drives are hard to engage/disengage, seek our advice.
Brakes
Pull the brake lever (or both brake levers if you have independent braking controls). It should swing smoothly and there should be a distinct ‘bite point’ at which the pads contact the disc. If the brake lever is rough, the bite point feels spongy or there is a reduction is braking power, seek our advice as the brakes require specialist knowledge and tools to service.
Warning - Hydraulic brakes contain fluid which is hazardous to health if ingested and irritates skin on contact. We recommend that any maintenance or service to the brakes themselves is carried out by us, which includes if a brake fluid leak is suspected.
Steering
Swing the Steering Handle from side to side, it should feel smooth and positive without looseness or backlash. With your hand, squeeze the two steering cables together at the Steering Unit. There should only be a little slack and the cables should feel under tension to ensure good steering response. If looseness is felt, the cables will need adjusting by pulling more cable through the allen key clamps.
If the motion of the Steering Handle feels rough or it takes excessive force to move the lever, the cables could be frayed or damaged and will need replacing.
Check the position of the Steering Handle corresponds to the correct position of the rear wheel. When the lever is straight and upright, the rear wheel should point straight forward. At full lock in either direction, the wheel should be close to 90 degrees to the forward direction. If the wheel is not straight corresponding to the lever, the cables must be adjusted.
WARNING - Never ride your Mountain Trike if the steering cables are loose as this can result in poor steering response which could cause you to lose control and fall.
Frame and Seat
Check the overall condition of the frame for cracks, dents and other damage. If the frame is suspected of having any damage at all, seek our adivce/
In the case of a crash or fall, thoroughly check the Mountain Trike for any damage. Never ride your Mountain Trike unless you are completely confident that it is in full working order.