|
Post by bbsparky on Jan 25, 2012 9:44:10 GMT
Hey guys, Well figured i should start a thread for my new trike project. Going to be a long one as im working to a budget so will need to hunt our bargains for parts etc. Background to this project is that i have built a few custom bikes now, i say built but what i mean is modified as my skills are not yet up to a full ground up build. My dad and I have always talked about building a trike together and i found a trike 'project' locally for affordable money ( managed to juggle a few bits i had laying about so effectively its cost me nothing ) so thought i would snap it up so we could stop talking about it and start doing it! So these are the pictures from the advert: So it was delivered and tucked up in the garage next to my MZ Bike was a 1984 Yamaha XJ750 which someone had started to convert into a trike using a cut down (600mm) mk2 escort axle. Turns out the project is more like a collection of parts and once i started to strip it down in my garage i found some new techniques for bike building that i didnt know existed! The person had used liquid metal to mount a few of the panels which was interesting but having seen the state of some of the welds im guessing they decided the liquid metal was stronger! The previous owner said that the frame had been built as a bolt on ( i was always planning full hard tail and SVA so this didnt really matter ) but once i was able to see what they had done it turns out it was bolted on, then welded! Also doesnt look like they had a spirit level as some of the pieces dont even line up properly. Anyway I will let the pictures do the talking but be warned these are not pretty. PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Still with me or have you been sick yet? Well i have decided that im not happy to risk my neck on this frankenstein of a frame so now its a case of finding someone to build me a hardtail frame to take the engine, axle and front end from this. I know the final look im going for and have seen something similar A few people have mention about the width of the rear end but i am planning to use VERY wide wheels ( minimum of 12" ) which should hopefully address the short axle. The reason i want to keep it narrow is that i would like it to fit into the back of a van. This is for 2 reason, firstly should i need to get it somewhere if it breaks down then i have access to a van and secondly, i plan to revist the isle of man at some point ( lived there for 7 years ) and if i can put this in a van its cheaper to get across on the boat and i can then throw a matress on the flor of the van and instant hotel! With all this in mind i have drawn up a crude design for the frame and now just need to find someone who can build it for me, oh and probably sell my MZ to pay for it So thats where i am at the minute, i will update as i go along but this certainly isnt a short project but once done this puppy will be staying with me for life.
|
|
|
Post by TerraRoot on Jan 25, 2012 18:04:49 GMT
at least the axle is on the right way up. balls to getting some one else to make a frame. get a huge sheet of ply and some scraps of wood, whip the tyres off off and plonk it down on the wood, if its all straight, use the scrap bits of wood screwed to the ply to hold it all straight. then weld on proper lower frame rails, cut off those two top ones (christ there stupidly placed) and slap on some new ones.
|
|
|
Post by dungbug on Jan 25, 2012 19:32:25 GMT
How p*ssed was the guy when he welded that together. Should be an interesting project fella, getting a soft spot for trikes.
|
|
|
Post by bbsparky on Jan 26, 2012 9:25:53 GMT
Cheers guys, cant weld so i need to get the frame made for me. May have found a place (Hard Up Choppers) just up the road that can do it. Price isnt too bad and at least i will know that i have a proper solid base to start from. Going to strip everything useful of this bike and start cleaning up/refurbing everything thats ok. Means im gonna have to sell on my MZ to pay for the new frame but hey, needs must and i have always wanted a cool looking trike so this will be my keeper
|
|
|
Post by dungbug on Jan 26, 2012 11:28:13 GMT
Pity the MZ has to go, but if this is the 'long term' then it's understandable. Also gives you time with the ol man which is must be a plus as well.
|
|
|
Post by deegee99 on Jan 26, 2012 14:44:50 GMT
Jeez thats a horror story, good plan to have another frame made Not sure about that rear axle but I can understand why your keeping it that narrow. Just hope it doesn't come unstuck when cornering. I like the idea your working with your dad, thats top stuff, wish my son was interested in cars/bikes but he is a complete dead loss when it comes to that He doesn't like to get his hands dirty
|
|
|
Post by bbsparky on Jan 26, 2012 15:43:37 GMT
Cheers guys. Im looking forward to doing this with my dad. Didnt really get to see him that much in the last 7 years when i moved away to the IoM but now im back i want to make up for it. It was him that got me intersted in cars to start with so it should be fun. Rear axle should be ok with the wheels im hoping to go for. Its currently 900mm to the outside edge of the tyres on the skinny wheels, so with wider wheels and a better offset it should be nearer 1300mm
|
|
|
Post by TerraRoot on Jan 26, 2012 16:42:42 GMT
okay then, maybe you could pick up a cheap mig or arc? arc would be fine if the metal is above 1.5mm and well preped, dead cheap compared to a gasless mig setup. worth having that skill. your frame sketch need a kick up in the lower frame rails to drop the engine/raise the axle. remember keep it low and keep the weight as much as possible rear ward, i.e. the battery and fuel tank behind the axle and the axle as close to the engine as possible. lastly the trail would need shortening to lighten the steering, but that could wait till your on the road.
|
|
|
Post by bbsparky on Jan 26, 2012 16:57:20 GMT
Well just spoke to Butler @ Hard Up Choppers and will be going for one of his trike frames as soon as they become available. Hes working on a trike frame which will not only fit the front end i have but will also be ready to just bolt my rear axle too! Just need to get the MZ finished ( think i may have sorted all the wiring at lunchtime but have a flat battery! lol ) and sold on to free up some funds and garage space.
Means i will then be able to get on with the bits i can do myself! In the mean time im going to strip everything from the current frame and clean up the engine, front end etc in preparation and also check the axle does its thing properly and that there is no more Stevie Wonder engineering going on in there. Ive gone from feeling a bit gutted when i saw the state of the frame to all charged up again over the project
Will be visiting every auto jumble i can find in the local area from now on to try and source all the other bits i will need to build this thing.
|
|
|
Post by bbsparky on Jan 26, 2012 16:59:20 GMT
okay then, maybe you could pick up a cheap mig or arc? arc would be fine if the metal is above 1.5mm and well preped, dead cheap compared to a gasless mig setup. worth having that skill. Cheers mate, will be looking to pick up an cheap arc at some point as im going to want to weld a few bits on this project. Going to try and get hold of lots of bits of scrap metal so i can practice on it. Welding is something i have always wanted to do but never found the time to learn, guess now is the time!
|
|
|
Post by dungbug on Jan 26, 2012 19:58:14 GMT
Jeez thats a horror story, good plan to have another frame made Not sure about that rear axle but I can understand why your keeping it that narrow. Just hope it doesn't come unstuck when cornering. I like the idea your working with your dad, thats top stuff, wish my son was interested in cars/bikes but he is a complete dead loss when it comes to that He doesn't like to get his hands dirty My ol man was the opposite, never once saw him touch a vehicle, always took it to a workshop. Would have liked to have picked up something useful from him, my other half thinks it's odd that our little girl stands and watches whilst I'm messing about with the GN (which is more often than I'd like). She knows what the carb is, the exhaust, what the chain does etc.....Dunno if she'll stay interested as she gets older but while she is I'm happy to show her what I'm doing & let her get her hands dirty. okay then, maybe you could pick up a cheap mig or arc? arc would be fine if the metal is above 1.5mm and well preped, dead cheap compared to a gasless mig setup. worth having that skill. Cheers mate, will be looking to pick up an cheap arc at some point as im going to want to weld a few bits on this project. Going to try and get hold of lots of bits of scrap metal so i can practice on it. Welding is something i have always wanted to do but never found the time to learn, guess now is the time! Thing I found with welding is good preparing of what's being welded, if what's being welded is nice & clean you should have no worries. I'd never learnt to weld until I owned my last Bug, needed inner arches front & back and heater channel closing panels. I spent a few weekends welding scrap toegther and started on the car when I was getting a consistantly good weld. Although the finish in some places wasn't as pretty as it could have been with the aid of a grinder they cleaned up well & the car went through it's MOT with no advisories so I got something right. ;D It might sound odd but I found there's a certain 'noise' a good weld makes, kinda like sizzling bacon. Play around with wire speed settings etc until you get the right weld then full steam ahead, practice & patience are your friend.
|
|
|
Post by bbsparky on Jan 30, 2012 10:21:36 GMT
Cheers. Think i will also be investing in a decent auto darkening mask as they seem to make thing easier. Remember my mate trying to teak me years back with one of the old style flip masks. Managed to weld a nice straight line, unfortunately it wasnt in the same place as the 2 pieces of metal joined! doh! Spoke to my dad about the project over the weekend and he was very surprised and happy about it, he was like a kid whos just been told they are going to disneyland! felt great being able to give something back to the old man
|
|
omega
Retro Apprentice
Posts: 4
|
Post by omega on Feb 19, 2012 15:47:02 GMT
[quote author=bbsparky board=others thread=794 post=5826 felt great being able to give something back to the old man [/quote] best line in the world.
|
|
|
Post by bbsparky on Mar 21, 2012 9:37:18 GMT
Well a small update. Picked up a tank at the Ardingly show which i think should work quite well and not to be sniffed at for the mighty sum of £10. Also grabbed a scooter rear box as i thought i could make it removable on the back of the trike so i can have some storage if needed. Again only a £5 so no big deal if it doesnt work Found out why the engine mount bolt wouldnt come out. Seems the incredible hulk had tighten it so much it had ruined the thread. :shock: Decided that as the frame was scrap anyway and i had tried everything else that i would employ the help of mr angle grinder. Soon has the engine out of the frame so i can start refurbishing it. Will keep the frame for a bit in case i need any of the tabs off it etc or any measurements then it can go to the scrappy. Another welded part fell off so at this rate it should be in small enough pieces to fit in the car. Also won a wiring loom for the bike on eBay which should help things and currently winning some wheels which may work as a modern tilt to the classic hot rod style 8)
|
|
|
Post by dungbug on Mar 21, 2012 11:58:25 GMT
I was wondering how this was progressing, good to see you're making some headway with it chap............On the road for summer then.
|
|