Chapter 1: Guide to safe On- and off-road operation
Before riding or pulling your trailer-bike, read the Trailer-bike Hitch Installation instructions, at least Chapter 1 of this owner's manual, and also these instructions.
There are several parts to these instructions. Not all trailer-bikes require all the instructions.
Warning—A folding trailer-bike tongue that is not properly locked in its unfolded position may cause a loss of control resulting in personal injury. Make sure the tongue is locked prior to every use.
Some trailer-bikes are equipped with a folding tongue (Figure 1) which is hinged in the middle for easier transportation or storage. The hinge must be properly locked prior to use.
Figure 1:
Folding tongue
1. Unfasten the transport strap.
This is the hook-and-loop strap holding the trailer-bike tongue in its folded position.
2. Open and un-thread the threaded knob (Figure 2).
3. Unfold the tongue.
Swing it forward on the hinge bolt (Figure 2).
4. With the tongue fully extended up and forward, insert the threaded knob, or the quick-release bolt, through the hole in the forward section of tongue.
5. Tighten the knob.
Figure 2:
Hinge with threaded knob
To transport or store the trailer-bike, simply reverse the procedure used to unfold the tongue.
1. Remove the knob.
2. Fold the tongue down and back.
3. Secure the tongue with the hook-and-loop transport strap.
These instructions describe how to attach the trailer-bike to a lead bicycle that already has a hitch installed. To install a hitch, see Trailer-bike Hitch Installation.
Warning—failure to correctly attach the trailer-bike to the lead bicycle may cause separation or loss of control resulting in personal injury. Make sure the trailer-bike is securely attached to the lead bicycle by following these instructions carefully, or consult your dealer.
1. Stand the lead bicycle up so that it cannot fall down.
Either have someone hold on to the bicycle, lean it against something, or use a bicycle stand. Do not attempt to connect the trailer-bike with a rider seated on it.
2. Hold the tongue with the trailer-bike upright, and approach the lead bicycle from directly behind.
3. Remove the quick-connect bolt (Figure 3).
4. Slide the ears of the trailer-bike directly over the hitch on the lead bicycle seatpost and align the holes.
5. Insert the quick connect bolt (Figure 3), with one washer attached, through the hitch assembly and seatpost collar.
6. Attach the second washer to the quick connect bolt and thread on the adjusting nut.
Figure 3:
Connecting the tongue to the hitch
The pictures show a wheel quick-release mechanism. The function of the quick-release mechanism of the trailer-bike is the same.
1. Move the quick-release lever to about halfway between the OPEN position and the CLOSE position (Figure 4), and tighten the quick-release adjusting nut (Figure 5) until finger-tight.
2. Place the lever in the palm of your hand and throw the lever as shown in Figure 6 to the CLOSE position.
At the half-closed position of the lever, there should be some resistance. Do not tighten the quick-release wheel retention mechanism by turning the lever like a wing nut (Figure 6); this will not result in sufficient force to hold the wheel in place.
3. If the lever is moved to the CLOSE position with little or no resistance, clamping strength is insufficient. Return the lever to the OPEN position, tighten the quick-release adjusting nut further and close the lever, and again test for resistance.
For further information on correct adjustment of the quick-release tension, read the actual measurements.
5. Orient the quick-release lever so they do not interfere with any other bicycle part or accessory part. This requires that you move the lever to the OPEN position, rotate the quick-release mechanism, and move the lever back to the CLOSE position.
6. Check that the trailer-bike is correctly attached to the lead bicycle.
Try to lift the tongue away from the hitch. Check that the trailer-bike can not rock side to side when the lead bicycle is held steady. If the trailer-bike seems loose, readjust the quick connection bolt. If you cannot adequately tighten the hitch, take the trailer-bike and hitch to your dealer for inspection.
Figure 4:
Lever positions
Figure 5:
Adjusting nut
Figure 6:
Swinging motion of quick-release lever
Figure 7:
Do not rotate the lever to tighten
Once a year lubricate the threads on the tongue locking knob (Figure 2), with a light coat of Wrench Force™ synthetic grease or a similar lubricant.
Once a year lubricate the locking quick-release of the folding mechanism. Apply several drops of synthetic lube or a similar light oil where the quick-release lever rotates in the quick-release body.