Joined
·
746 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Wood!
Wood!
EVan-Quadricycle
41 - 60 of 287 Posts
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Haha! I guess I will have to build with wood then.
A quick 'guestimate' suggests that with new Optima batteries I would only get around 10 miles at 50%DoD. That might do.
I also managed to get a copy of the MSVA Inspection document. As a tricycle it can weigh up to 1000kg without batteries and have up to 1500kg payload.
That gives me much more scope to work with then a quadricycle (3 or 4 wheels) for both weight, and power if I have read it correctly.
The only snag is the front wire wheels. The document states that any centre nut must not protrude further then 30mm from the wheel. Mine are at about 60mm. I might have to see if I can find another pair to match the wider rear wire wheel, which is acceptable for inspection.
Haha! I guess I will have to build with wood then.
A quick 'guestimate' suggests that with new Optima batteries I would only get around 10 miles at 50%DoD. That might do.
I also managed to get a copy of the MSVA Inspection document. As a tricycle it can weigh up to 1000kg without batteries and have up to 1500kg payload.
That gives me much more scope to work with then a quadricycle (3 or 4 wheels) for both weight, and power if I have read it correctly.
The only snag is the front wire wheels. The document states that any centre nut must not protrude further then 30mm from the wheel. Mine are at about 60mm. I might have to see if I can find another pair to match the wider rear wire wheel, which is acceptable for inspection.
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Having added some figures to my spread sheet it is suggesting that at 40mph the trike will only be looking at around 150wh/m giving a comfortable 12mile range at 72V or 24mile range at 144V with 50Ah lead acid.
I think it would be worth planning for 144V to keep the current draw low and to allow for the range to be overly optimistic!
In the meantime I bought a cheap steering bevel box to get the steering column in the right place.
![]()
It is from a Leyland National bus and turned out a bit bigger then I expected and also reverses the steering! It is big enough to run a large (very large) winch or even as part of the transmission in the drive train!
The splines are 7/8" x 48 and the output is a propshaft sliding joint that is nearly as big as that on a Land Rover.
I guess I will use it some where on the tractor....
Anyway, I am now looking, more modestly, at a VW T25 steering bevel box on Ebay but they cost a bit more.
![]()
http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21827&start=120
Aside from this I've not done much more having spent the time clearing out my workshop of Dad's 'junk' and redesigning the layout to allow me to build cycle trailers. I have also put together a design and workshop studio for Arch.
Having added some figures to my spread sheet it is suggesting that at 40mph the trike will only be looking at around 150wh/m giving a comfortable 12mile range at 72V or 24mile range at 144V with 50Ah lead acid.
I think it would be worth planning for 144V to keep the current draw low and to allow for the range to be overly optimistic!
In the meantime I bought a cheap steering bevel box to get the steering column in the right place.
It is from a Leyland National bus and turned out a bit bigger then I expected and also reverses the steering! It is big enough to run a large (very large) winch or even as part of the transmission in the drive train!
The splines are 7/8" x 48 and the output is a propshaft sliding joint that is nearly as big as that on a Land Rover.
I guess I will use it some where on the tractor....
Anyway, I am now looking, more modestly, at a VW T25 steering bevel box on Ebay but they cost a bit more.
http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21827&start=120
Aside from this I've not done much more having spent the time clearing out my workshop of Dad's 'junk' and redesigning the layout to allow me to build cycle trailers. I have also put together a design and workshop studio for Arch.
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
I have been piling up bits of wood and metal to figure the seating and floor layout. I think I have it cracked and have taken measurements.
I then went out to pick up the VW T25 steering bevel box. The seller had a Staffie puppy that was so excited to have a visitor that it 'leaked' over my left boot while hopping about for attention!
Anyway, the bevel box is perfect, and cheap, and I got the flex joints for both sides of it too.
I have been piling up bits of wood and metal to figure the seating and floor layout. I think I have it cracked and have taken measurements.
I then went out to pick up the VW T25 steering bevel box. The seller had a Staffie puppy that was so excited to have a visitor that it 'leaked' over my left boot while hopping about for attention!
Anyway, the bevel box is perfect, and cheap, and I got the flex joints for both sides of it too.
Attachments
Joined
·
4,458 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
People often pester me about how long my projects take to become reality, but sometimes a great idea needs time to age and mature, and it just gets better with time.
Such is the case with your trike project Woody - this is so uniquely "Woody", so sweet, and so much fun to see happening!
I love that V-dub gearbox - makes me want to build something just to use one, lol!
People often pester me about how long my projects take to become reality, but sometimes a great idea needs time to age and mature, and it just gets better with time.
Such is the case with your trike project Woody - this is so uniquely "Woody", so sweet, and so much fun to see happening!
Maybe he was Christening the builder of the ship, in a sign of approval!...The seller had a Staffie puppy that was so excited to have a visitor that it 'leaked' over my left boot while hopping about for attention!
I love that V-dub gearbox - makes me want to build something just to use one, lol!
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
EVan-Tricycle
The puppy was really cute and so bouncy!
Comparing the VW box to the Leyland box there is a huge saving in weight! I can pick up the VW box between two fingers but I need both hands with the Leyland box.
The flex joints will make it easier to find matching parts to spline to the MG rack and whatever steering column I find.
I thought about using the MR2 column, as I have it, but that weighs more then the battery pack will!
Having measured the 'cockpit' layout dimensions I thought I would compare it to my car. Almost exactly the same fit! I guess I like the fit and feel of my car.
The puppy was really cute and so bouncy!
Comparing the VW box to the Leyland box there is a huge saving in weight! I can pick up the VW box between two fingers but I need both hands with the Leyland box.
The flex joints will make it easier to find matching parts to spline to the MG rack and whatever steering column I find.
I thought about using the MR2 column, as I have it, but that weighs more then the battery pack will!
Having measured the 'cockpit' layout dimensions I thought I would compare it to my car. Almost exactly the same fit! I guess I like the fit and feel of my car.
Joined
·
746 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
YEP you are right Todd!!!Maybe he was Christening the builder of the ship, in a sign of approval!
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
After the makeshift seat fell off the bit of wood on the tool box and the upside down wobbly jack and hit me on the head while I was measuring I decided to make things a bit more stable.
I have the front axle cross-member on full bump and the wheels on full left lock. I can fit in a bench seat of 32" wide.
I figured that if the wheel arches and the seat base was made as one formed shape then the seat cushion can flow up the inner curve of the arch on each side like a bolster. A center bolster will then keep one seated.
The seat board locates for the seat floor, without the upholstery. Won't need much I don't think, about 3" seat foam compressed down might be ok. The seat back board is the position for the compressed foam so I have to add about 4" behind to locate the back wall of the cabin.
Arch may be able to get a photo this weekend of me seated in it to show steering wheel and pedal location.
It makes the cabin 4' long front to rear with 3' overhang ahead of the axle centre line, about the same as my Skoda Octavia so not excessive.
Overall height to the roof of the cabin, at full bump, seems to be around 4'6".
The steering rack shaft will need to run under the anti roll bar and the cabin floor before kicking up slightly via a UJ to the VW bevel box set at, or just into, floor level between my heel positions for the pedals. I am looking at right foot 'Go' and left foot 'Stop'.
I think rather then bolting the chassis to the cross-member I will weld it all on, at least the part ahead of the axle, as the bolt holes are not on any level and are designed to follow the angled and curved legs on the MGB frame.
When I start welding I will need to decide on which point to stop before I am unable to get the chassis back out of the basement workshop!
Anyway, I think the way I am approaching it, I can build up the front chassis and cross-member using the set up location boards for reference and then construct the cabin on the chassis in situ as I go. The whole lot can then be nearly complete before the rear chassis is built and maybe bolted on prior to fully welding outside on the driveway.
After the makeshift seat fell off the bit of wood on the tool box and the upside down wobbly jack and hit me on the head while I was measuring I decided to make things a bit more stable.
I have the front axle cross-member on full bump and the wheels on full left lock. I can fit in a bench seat of 32" wide.
I figured that if the wheel arches and the seat base was made as one formed shape then the seat cushion can flow up the inner curve of the arch on each side like a bolster. A center bolster will then keep one seated.
The seat board locates for the seat floor, without the upholstery. Won't need much I don't think, about 3" seat foam compressed down might be ok. The seat back board is the position for the compressed foam so I have to add about 4" behind to locate the back wall of the cabin.
Arch may be able to get a photo this weekend of me seated in it to show steering wheel and pedal location.
It makes the cabin 4' long front to rear with 3' overhang ahead of the axle centre line, about the same as my Skoda Octavia so not excessive.
Overall height to the roof of the cabin, at full bump, seems to be around 4'6".
The steering rack shaft will need to run under the anti roll bar and the cabin floor before kicking up slightly via a UJ to the VW bevel box set at, or just into, floor level between my heel positions for the pedals. I am looking at right foot 'Go' and left foot 'Stop'.
I think rather then bolting the chassis to the cross-member I will weld it all on, at least the part ahead of the axle, as the bolt holes are not on any level and are designed to follow the angled and curved legs on the MGB frame.
When I start welding I will need to decide on which point to stop before I am unable to get the chassis back out of the basement workshop!
Anyway, I think the way I am approaching it, I can build up the front chassis and cross-member using the set up location boards for reference and then construct the cabin on the chassis in situ as I go. The whole lot can then be nearly complete before the rear chassis is built and maybe bolted on prior to fully welding outside on the driveway.
Attachments
Joined
·
4,458 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Sounds like something I would do!
I love it Woody! That first pic really brings it to life!
Sounds like something I would do! I love it Woody! That first pic really brings it to life!
Joined
·
746 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Nice Wood... Not the bump on the head - the pics... Oh yes I turned around the other day and ran into a board sticking out skinned my big nose..
We just gotta watch it guys lol !
Nice Wood... Not the bump on the head - the pics... Oh yes I turned around the other day and ran into a board sticking out skinned my big nose
..We just gotta watch it guys lol !
Joined
·
746 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Regular Monty Pythonish..
Regular Monty Pythonish
..Re: I want to build a trike!
Woody has realised that due to my short stature, if I want to drive it, he may have to complicate the driving position with some adjustability. Either that, or he'll extend my legs....
<shakes head disapprovingly>
I read that as f it said "I can just fit into a bench seat of 32" wide", and thought, really, you're not that fat! Then I re-read, and got it. Funny thing, language...
Woody has realised that due to my short stature, if I want to drive it, he may have to complicate the driving position with some adjustability. Either that, or he'll extend my legs....
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Extending your legs might be the easier option, I'd just need to weld extensions on somewhere....
Joined
·
4,458 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
Building from scratch is quite an adventure, and gives one new respect for all the things mass manufacturers have to encompass in a single vehicle for broad acceptance/good sales. The Inhaler Project's Ice Cream Truck project is being designed with a "live" 1/4-scale model, and one of the first steps I had the Team do was create 1/4-scale "stick" people, that are 6' and 5'6" tall - to make sure a range of people could actually fit in, and drive, the thing.
This came from seeing Schism materialize. I designed it around the Model T body - scaling an entire vehicle to match the dimensions of the original bucket body. The result is a vehicle that I can barely fit in, at 5'4"/125lbs!!! I was having so much fun with pure design that I completely forgot about people, including myself!
Too funny!Extending your legs might be the easier option, I'd just need to weld extensions on somewhere....
Building from scratch is quite an adventure, and gives one new respect for all the things mass manufacturers have to encompass in a single vehicle for broad acceptance/good sales. The Inhaler Project's Ice Cream Truck project is being designed with a "live" 1/4-scale model, and one of the first steps I had the Team do was create 1/4-scale "stick" people, that are 6' and 5'6" tall - to make sure a range of people could actually fit in, and drive, the thing. This came from seeing Schism materialize. I designed it around the Model T body - scaling an entire vehicle to match the dimensions of the original bucket body. The result is a vehicle that I can barely fit in, at 5'4"/125lbs!!!
I was having so much fun with pure design that I completely forgot about people, including myself!Re: I want to build a trike!
<thinks about running away. realises would be able to run faster with extended legs...>Extending your legs might be the easier option, I'd just need to weld extensions on somewhere....
Joined
·
4,458 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
One of the reasons I share so much info, and enjoy reading about and seeing what others are doing, is you never know what will help someone else. Thanks Woodster!
I think this bit information has transformed and freed the front of my car - see my thread this evening for details...
One of the reasons I share so much info, and enjoy reading about and seeing what others are doing, is you never know what will help someone else. Thanks Woodster!
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
I guess it would make an interesting anti-theft device!
You want reverse steering on your car!I think this bit information has transformed and freed the front of my car - see my thread this evening for details...
One of the reasons I share so much info, and enjoy reading about and seeing what others are doing, is you never know what will help someone else. Thanks Woodster!
I guess it would make an interesting anti-theft device!
Joined
·
4,458 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
I want to reverse the steering that I plan to reverse.
You want reverse steering on your car!
I guess it would make an interesting anti-theft device!
I want to reverse the steering that I plan to reverse.
Joined
·
4,841 Posts
Re: I want to build a trike!
I have been thinking about gear ratios and motor speed.
Currently I am working on the basis that my big 11" motor will be safe up to 3000rpm and so I figured I would limit it there.
The current chain drive setup gives an 88mph road speed at 3000rpm but as I am going to be spending much more time at less then 40mph then the original design spec required I wanted to look at changing the gearing.
I can't have a bigger sprocket on the wheel, nor a smaller one on the motor so I thought I'd try the Lada T'box for size.
It gives good ratios (1.2:1 and 2.135:1) as a two speed box but has to run backwards, and takes up a lot of space. Not sure that is such a good idea.
Maybe I have to take inspiration from Todd and run a jackshaft!
I have been thinking about gear ratios and motor speed.
Currently I am working on the basis that my big 11" motor will be safe up to 3000rpm and so I figured I would limit it there.
The current chain drive setup gives an 88mph road speed at 3000rpm but as I am going to be spending much more time at less then 40mph then the original design spec required I wanted to look at changing the gearing.
I can't have a bigger sprocket on the wheel, nor a smaller one on the motor so I thought I'd try the Lada T'box for size.
It gives good ratios (1.2:1 and 2.135:1) as a two speed box but has to run backwards, and takes up a lot of space. Not sure that is such a good idea.
Maybe I have to take inspiration from Todd and run a jackshaft!
Attachments
41 - 60 of 287 Posts
