Thinking about building a trike

That is going to look very cool

So are you going to stay with the original wheel base?
I think that will help keeping the original geometry as far as the ride goes.

I do like the way it looks stretched out :evil: but I think it would need to be raked and longer tubes and who knows how it would handle then.

KZQ wrote: I'm sure it's not going to be fast, not with all the extra weight. I'd read somewhere that the 750 twins do well when mated to a sidecar because of the good low end torque.
So here I go.
Bill

Love what you are up to on this build! Here is a Z750 that a local bike shop I used to live near used to do all their bike pick ups with. I hadn't seen it in years and then it reappeared in the carpark at a bike show. They used to load up with rider, side chair, and a big cc bike and haul off no worries.

bluej58 wrote: That is going to look very cool

So are you going to stay with the original wheel base?
I think that will help keeping the original geometry as far as the ride goes.

I do like the way it looks stretched out :evil: but I think it would need to be raked and longer tubes and who knows how it would handle then.

I'm going to keep it as close to the original wheelbase as I can. Lacking a reverse it's already going to be a bearcat to turn around. If I let it get too long I'll need a whole parking lot to get it maneuvered around.

I laid out the cuts on the swing arms and drew the spreaders with my CAD program. I've got to go to Boston next week but not before I send the drawings off to the lazer cutter. Hopefully they'll be done when I return home.
Thanks
Bill

nice to see some progress bill!
keep us posted,

leon

Finally got some time to get back on the trike.
Here I'm fitting up the dogbones to the swing arm. I'm mocking it up backwards just to use the pinch blocks for alignment.

I'll have it all welded up later today.






Bill

Looks strong enough to me. Is that a differential rear end?
Steve

Hi Steve,
It's gonna need some bracing and I've got to weld in the bottoms of the loops. You can see the notches below the swing arms. Yes it's a chain drive differential.

Here's a question: After the swing arm is all welded up. Does anybody see anything wrong with just welding two of the pinch blocks to the axle tubes?
Others who have used these axles have added bolt on spacers to keep the differential correctly aligned/centered and also to account to the twisting forces that result from accelerating and braking.
This axle uses greased bearings instead of gear lube so the axle tubes are not full of liquid.
Bill

Distortion is the only thing I can think of. I had a small one bolted to a 350 Honda frame. The PO used it on a small dirt bike. He welded a cage around it to keep it from flexing in the middle. It worked great.
Steve

nice work.
if you are talking about welding say the inside pinch blocks to the tube so they stay put.
i don't see a problem with it.


leon

I'm getting closer. Next step is to weld on some connections or tabs for the lower ends of the shocks.










Regards
Bill

nice!
i like the proportions :evil:

how wide is it outside to outside ?
leon

Hi Leon,
Outside of tire to outside of tire is 50".

I took the axle apart enough to relocate the brake calipers so that the bleeds are at the top. I also added the lower shock mounts so the bike stands on it's own. Next step is to purchase a 530 chain that's 144 links long. I'm thinking that it'll end up being 132 links once I've got the axle adjusted and tightened up. After that I've got to plumb the rear brakes which will be a combination of flaired 1/8" steel and some short braided lines to allow the axle to be moved forward and aft to adjust the chain.
Here's what it looks like presently:







What do you think?
Bill