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Trikes

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 12:15 pm
by toglhot
I built my first trike about 12 years ago, building four before coming up with a design that I liked.   The one pictured with my co-pilot was the last I built and I rode it everyday for 10 years.   A few years ago I had to revert back to an MTB due to crook hips, two years ago I was struck down with psoriatic arthritis (an autoimmune disease) and found I could not put any weight on my hands and coan't use them without braces, not long after that I had my hip replaced.   Too late as I had thrown out the trike thinking I'd never get to ride it again - back to the workshop.

I'm currently building another trike, my fifth, this one will feature, Deore components throughout compliments of the MTB I can no longer ride., hydraulic disks up front and probably under seat steering.   I've tacked the frame together, added chain idlers, front deraileur mount and a couple of aly caliper blanks, waiting on hubs at the moment so can't go much further.

The one pictured, was a daily ride for around ten years, never rode too far, only about 25 klm per ride.   My dog Toby loved this trike and was always egging me on to go faster by tapping me on the shoulder and putting his nose in my ear.  Once we were up to speed he would fold his ears back and place his head on my shoulder for a more streamlined ride.   Unfortunately he died of cancer and then we adopted little Dennis, he also loved the trike and put on a turn if I tried to go without him.   Unfortunately, I had a bit of a tumble on the MTB with Dennis on the back, he suffered badly from shock and screamed for a few minutes.   After that I couldn't get him near the trike.   Riding isn't much fun without a co-pilot.

Anyway back to the trike.     Due to the small wheels I had to gear it up a bit, I did this by mounting a modified cassette on the frame just in front of the seat.   All parts were bits and pieces I took from discarded bikes.   Two gears at front, four intermediate ratios and a five speed cassette at the rear.   Later on I made homemade bar end shifters and added a couple of aly wheelchair hubs

Some specs:
Features and specifications
Ackerman steering
Centrepoint steering
Adjustable toe in
Geared steering
Bar end shifters
Side pull brakes
Weight 22kgs
length 1800mm
Width 780mm
Height 600mm
Track 740mm
Wheelbase 980mm
Seat height 150mm
Ground clearance 90mm (Frame) 50-60mm intermediate cassette
Gears 5 rear
2 front
4 intermediate
Wheels 20”
Seat angle 45-40 degrees
Frame 30mm square tube
Chain tensioners x 2 modified rear deraileurs

The one on the bench at the moment is a little longer and wider and has a higher seat height.   I'm using a 700c rear wheel and the seat will once again be a hard back set at 45 degrees.   I prefer hard seat backs because if shaped correctly they are more comfortable and don't play havoc with my crook back.https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... ater&ifg=1

Re: Trikes

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 4:39 pm
by skyblot
Nice projects, well done!
I like the vision of the dog's chin on your shoulder saying "go faster"...

Re: Trikes

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:19 am
by toglhot
So far I've finished the frame, brake mounting, stub axles, kingpins and ackerman steering levers, chain idlers, bottom bracket, front deralileur mount, rear derailleur mount and today I start on the seat mounts. Rims should arrive next week so I can measure up for spokes and order them and then look at steering linkages. All that's left then is a road test and paint. Be nice if one could post pictures, not to be, I'm obviously a spammer!

Re: Trikes

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 1:00 pm
by toglhot
Rims turned up yesterday so I laced one last night. Calculations provided for 181/183mm spokes, I had a couple of 20" wheels with 185s so I tried them and they fit nicely. The rims I got off ebay for $67. They are caliper rims and look quite nice with anodised side walls. I'll lace the other one as soon as my hands recover, lacing wheels is very hand intensive. I've been busy making a filing machine the last few days so this is the first time I've worked on the trike for quite a few days..

Re: Trikes

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 9:48 am
by toglhot
Getting there in fits and starts. Trued the wheels, shaped the seat back and I'm in the middle of making some new stubs, originals at 5 degrees are just too much. The joys of designing and building!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWVfV2cW3h0

Re: Trikes

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 10:46 am
by toglhot
Ne stubs finished with steering levers and caliper mounts. For steering I've decided to go with two levers that just move back and forward, no idea what it's called!

Tie rid ends turned up from China the other day, pieces of rubbish, the ball flops around all over the place, probably 3ms of movement. They went in the bin and now I'll sit back and wait another three weeks for replacements.

Originally I wanted to go with rod ends with different thread parameters L and R hand threads, but they weren't available so I sent off for a LH tap and die. Once they arrive I'l make up an adjuster for toe in.

Re: Trikes

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 10:19 pm
by zebee
toglhot wrote:Ne stubs finished with steering levers and caliper mounts. For steering I've decided to go with two levers that just move back and forward, no idea what it's called!
Greenspeed call it "Tank steering".

Re: Trikes

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 11:17 pm
by John Lewis
I was able to get rod ends for all of my builds at the local bearing supply place.
Worth a try if you have one around.