Trike build, almost finished.

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toglhot
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:03 pm

Trike build, almost finished.

Post by toglhot »

Almost finished, added the fork stays, chain idler brackets today, gave it a bit of a grind and put it together to make sure everything fits and nothing fouls. Tomorrow I'll attach the front deraileur cable and give it a test ride. Don't have a good feeling about the push pull steering but, tomorrow will tell. Very, very comfortable. The MTB I canabalised for parts weighed in at 19 kgs, my goal was to get under that - fail, it is exactly the same 19kgs. Not too bad considering the MTB had an alloy frame I suppose. I have drawn up some more plans to save a kg or two - one day.
Test rode it today- brilliant. The lever steering is truly terrific but, I will add some more holes for adjustment. Amazing the difference quality cycle parts make: with Deore rear wheel, gear train, shifters and Tektro hydraulic brakes it is really nice to ride/drive - smooth and fast. If you're thinking about lever steering, do it! Now the hard part, cleaning it up. Unfortunately not being able to use my hands without three prong wrist braces I have trouble with the hand piece, can't bend or twist so the results are terrible. Almost all the welds have to be cleaned up, again difficult with these hands so might be a while before it's painted and on the road, can't wait. I have metalic silver which I intend using on to, the bottom may be black, haven't made a D yet.
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spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by spro »

Hi. Thanks for your post. It is remarkable Trike project. There are many tips and engineering which you went along the way and many can appreciate these. I can also understand about fractured wrists and the difficulties beyond design. This is good stuff and please keep us posted.
spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by spro »

It isn't about my back or anything. There are men wounded while doing incomprehensible things FOR US .

See what is happening again. Our Wounded tore up, need help . I can't get this out of my mind. Let's say that trike is different by engineering and one aspect is helpful. The certain en...stop. You did it.
toglhot
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:03 pm

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by toglhot »

You sound like a Vet, I am an ex serviceman of 25 years, many injuries from my service years but the condition most affecting me is RA and not service related.

I probably shouldn't be working in my shop building such things as it is very hand intensive and the only way I can pursue this build, and others, is with the use of wrist braces, heat packs and lots of oxycodone. These braces have three steel splints holding the wrist and hand almost imobile so tinkering, welding, spoking, spannering are all long, drawn out, difficult processes for me.

I've built seven recumbents since I was retired 18 years ago, all bar this one were done prior to the onset of RA and took around a week to build. This build, thanks to RA, has taken about 4-6 months so far.

Better than sitting down watching TV all day though. Hopefully, the trike once finished will give me a means of exercising. Ordinary bikes are out of the question as my wrists/elbows/fingers/thumbs can take no weight.
spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by spro »

Man! Keep going because it is exactly right now. I knew you had some experience because a person doesn't just conjure this up. I have injuries unrelated to actual service. Been around long enough to have been T boned in vehicles and wrapped around a tree or two. Insults to the spinal discs do manifest themselves decades later. Then there is RA. My Mom has this at the ripe age of 87 or so. It is pain, I know it is but she forces herself to ride a certain bike thing. She says it makes her better. She's not really going anywhere but has the radio and prayers.
She IS going somewhere because she is holding on better.
We are going to talk.
toglhot
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:03 pm

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by toglhot »

Nearing the finish line. Undercoating done and tomorrow, hands being ok, I'll hit the spray gun: black for the levers, stubs and seat, metalic silver for the chassis. I picked up some thin (1/8"), grey, yoga mat from KMart the other day with a nice patern, should look nice on a black background.

Very hand intensive spray guns, I have to use wrist braces, use two hands and then lie down for a couple of days to recover. Not my favourite job anymore. I saw the pain specialist this morning and he's prescribed some stronger pain meds so hopefully they'll work better than the other rubbish.

The braces have three aluminium strips running the length of them, I wear them pretty well all the time now, can't do a thing without them. Only problem is I lose a lot of the movement required for painting and welding. Thank goodness for grinders and bog!
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spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by spro »

Hey. That is so remarkable build. Coming together at a pace rivaling anyone without injuries. Some kind of way I will be using a similar design.
It is strange about back injuries. Some days walk normal and others gasping for pain and sweating, where is that crutch, that certain crutch.
Of course burns are most hard and I have no right to talk about pain. In many cases I have no right to say anything.
I know beauty when I see it. Done good, toglhot. This is a complicated "build" project which will inspire many more than one person.
spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by spro »

I've been thinking about this more. My design was for more lower speeds and carrying items. That is not what you are doing and it is really great . There are all kinds of what I was thinking about; narrow front wheel and two wheels at back . Yours is more inclined and steers more like a motor vehicle. That is a big thing that you can set it for camber and toe-in. I will take these design tips into what what needs to be. The up/down rear wheel having a power arc which has adjustable shock is going to be good on your back.
toglhot
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:03 pm

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by toglhot »

I think my trike is built more as a GP machine, leaning slightly toward speed and handling. That said I did have to make some allowances which bit into both the speed and the handling. I set the wheel track so I could get the trike through the door, a little narrow, but!. The other allowances were pointed more toward my physical limitations: 45 degree seat back so I don't hurt my neck, 240mm seat height so I can actually get off the thing, and so on.

I've painted it and started assembly. Very disappointed in the finish though, as my hands are so affected ny RA now the welding is atrocious so I used bog the try and smooth things out a bit. Problem with that of course is wet and dry: not much feeling left in my fingers now and I can't put any pressure on them when rubbing back. To help hide things I mixed a bit of black into the silver so now I have a charcoal colour which hides the blunders to some degree. After its on the road I'll attack bits and pieces here and there and try to make it look halfway decent. The never ending build!
spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by spro »

I know yours was built for much different reasons, yet it gets one to thinking. That is good. Regarding the welds; I'm sure many penetrated so it is a cosmetic issue now. I would put some tape over it and spray that. Really because how can you remove that new paint and reweld later? Paint would clog the wheel when grinding the weld. There may be some adjustment which is absolutely critical and you don't need paint in between.
No criticism here. It is going too well to stop now.
toglhot
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:03 pm

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by toglhot »

Well, almost there, frame painted and I've almost finished assembling. I can't tell you how disappointed I am though. Unfortunately, due to hand problems welding was an issue, an issue I went someway to resolving by bogging over some of the welds and darkening the silver metalic paint to a charcoal metalic. Looks alright from a distance, but up close it turns my stomach. Anyway a picture of some bits that came out halfway decent. I'll be looking at retiring from such endeavours in the future, way beyond me now. Damn!
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spro
Posts: 8016
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:04 pm
Location: mid atlantic

Re: Trike build, almost finished.

Post by spro »

-"feeling your pain" is an appropriate phrase sometimes. This leads me to the lumbar support and decompression of discs. Many "office chairs" which are scrap/ free, have removable arm sections. The padding may be similar to a crutch. Since you are using tether type steering, support under the armpits could help a lot. They are basically square tube, modifiable things.
The last picture is astounding. I bet I looked at it 30 minutes, what to say, what not to ask. Thanks for sharing with us.
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