Juan Foote

I figured out what the problem was.....broken boom.

Apparently I had the stock boom out too far, didn't really realize how little of it I had in the frame, even after having it off. It never really occurred to me to mark it and look at the depth. Last year I broke the beam clamp and thought it was just due to not tightening it enough. I have since even put in another boom shim.
Last couple of rides my boom has been moving to the strong leg side and I was hearing a really strange clank/creak going over bumps. Got home after yesterdays ride and found the boom broken off about an inch inside the frame with a small angular bit broken off down inside.

I am now on the hunt for an extra long boom and no one has one in stock....I say no one. My local dealer and Utah Trikes don't have them. edit-Utah has it on the way.

rydabent

What brand of bike or trike are we talking about here?

Juan Foote

Catrike. Purchased used

Robert C

Opposite problem here. I had to loosen the cruciform on my trike to get the boom in far enough.

Juan Foote

Am of the thought that the previous owner cut this boom. I think they had two goes at it and left the part I found in the boom partially cut but still attached. She was a really short lady and likely would never have come up as an issue had my wife kept this one (of the two we have). This boom is slightly shorter than the boom in the other bike, but still too short to use for my x-seam.

osco53

Mic the frame I.D. and roundness at the opening and inside down about 4 inches minimum..
The frame opening may be wallowed out rendering the frame an expensive chunk of Garage wall art !!
Izzit aluminum ?? stretched ?

I dunno but I'd want to check that with a digital tool..

Just sayin..

Steel Iz real..

Juan Foote

Given that the boom clamp come all the way out to the end of the frame there I cannot see how it could have wallowed anything without further damaging the clamp. The only problem I have had with it is a broken keyway and messing up the inserts. I will know later today as I am going by to have them swap the cranks over and cut 3" off the back of the boom for fit.

Juan Foote

Like a new bike.

The new boom helped immeasurably. I can now make power on the bike in high gears without the boom spinning around.

BlazingPedals

Excellent! As I remember, Catrikes have a separate external piece that clamps the boom?

Juan Foote

Yes, boom clamp is separate.