Have you ever got stuck pushing or pulling your trike around? Recumbent trike steering will move the wheels to full lock when pushed forward or pulled backward with the rear wheel raised. The solution is simple and makes your trike easier to ride also – implement self-centring steering.
The most common case is when lifting by the luggage rack and attempting to push. A slight turn can cause the wheels to flick to full lock. I also have recumbent trike steering issues when using ramps to haul my trike to the roof of my car.
The solution was a pair of matching bungee straps, each between a handlebar and the back of the seat.
They solved problems with the ramp and with moving around. To my surprise, I could leave them on, and they make riding more pleasant. Steering straight ahead requires less effort, and corners become more positive.
This solution will not work for direct steering as it behaves differently to the indirect steering shown here.
There is an easy correction if your trike has a tendency to drift to the left or right. There are two tie rods – one for each front wheel. Shorten the tie rod attached to the right wheel if your trike drifts to the left. Alternatively, you can lengthen the tie rod on the left. Reverse these instructions when drifting to the right.
Please let me know your experiences or if you need clarification in the comments below.