The Rookie Finally Graduates!!!

[SirJoey]

Ladies & Gentlemen, would you please give a warm welcome to "The Deltoyd"! http://joeywallace.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!9D0D4DF6F50AAFC2!962/?&_c02_owner=1&_c02_vws=1

I call this my Senior project (4th), even though technically, it's my 5th, but the last one (Lil' Hornet) was actually just a multi-speed version of a previous build (The Trixter), so this one is my 4th DIFFERENT project. At long last, graduation day for the rookie!

Sportin' Mega-Range derailleurs & gears, she's a 21 speed. Dual disc brakes, luggage rack with twin rack trunks, & all of the usual accoutrements that I love to pile on, round out the package.

I didn't like the seat I built, due to my back problems, so I robbed the factory seat from my ActionBent tadpole, cuz it's really comfy. Problem is, it's gonna be REAL expensive to replace!

Total build time was 132 hours.

[Richie Rich]

EXCELLENT, Joey....!!

Once again, you've paid special attention to the details and it shows.
I think you're gonna love riding it as much as I do mine.

That seat sure looks comfy, but as you said, it's BIG BUX....!!

Get ready for lots of head-turning and questions from the crowd it's gonna draw. :)

Nice job, Joey....

......Richie >>

[SirJoey]

Thanx a lot, Richie!

Yeah, Big Bux is right! About 200 of 'em!!!

Also, thanx for sending me the close-ups of your patented RR brake caliper mounts! Very Kool! :D

[AtomicZombie]

That's a really great job!

No more of this "rookie" name stuff - you are way beyond that now.

Keep up the great work and thanks for the pics. I think Kat will want one for the gallery!

Cheers,
Brad

[Pagan Wizard]

Awesome work!!!!!!!!! It is easy to see how much attention you paid to even the smallest of details on your build. I can only hope that when mine is built, it can look even close to as good as yours. I agree with Brad, no more "rookie" name for you.......that is reserved for guys like me who haven't even started on a project yet.

[TheKid]

Are those Wheelsmith HD rear wheels? It looks like you welded a washer on the ends then welded the washers to the axles. Nice job on the entire trike.

[SirJoey]

Thanx for the kind words, Brad. And thanx for designing such an awesome ride! A challenging build, to be sure, but this thing ROCKS!!! (And I thought the Trixter was fun!)

Thanx, Pagan Wiz! Now, get busy & earn your stripes, so you can graduate, too! :D

Thanx, Kid. Now, if I could just learn to weld worth a crap!

The wheels are 2 identical 24" front wheels from a couple of new Mongoose bikes, purchased just to become donors! I completely disassembled the hubs, removed the hardened inserts & replaced them with a couple of regular flat washers which I drilled out to 3/4" (I used 3/4" axles), then filed the OD to fit inside the cup-shaped flanges. I used my freewheel adaptor to hold them in place on the axle for welding.

My first attempt at building wheels per the plans, was less than spectacular, as I couldn't get my home-made flanges to run true after welding, so I opted for THIS method, instead.

At 2 1/2", the hubs are SLIGHTLY wider than average, & although they're not as strong as the wider ones Brad designed, the 24" wheels I used are already a little stronger than 26s, AND I'm not a real aggressive rider, so for me, this is an acceptable compromise. Additionally, this simplified the wheel building process considerably, & everything is DEAD NUTS TRUE, unlike anything I could've built from scratch myself.

I don't think I would've gone this route if I was using 26s like the plans call for, however...

Heres the wheel building pics: http://joeywallace.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!9D0D4DF6F50AAFC2!1267/?&_c02_vws=1

[markebadboy]

Hey Sir Joey

I would say that you are now A Master Builder- that is one excellent job of bike building. Heads will turn and women will swoon!!

Love that seat wish I learn to build one like that for my still to be finished Wildcat and then a Delta wolf for the wife.

Thanks for all the great pixs.

How did you do the graphics-Those really add a finishing touch to your ride?

Looks like the only thing you need to do now is go out and ride it like ya stole it!!!

[dharouff]

Really, really nice. Great job and good slide show to boot. Hope mine will even close to being as nice.

Don

[SirJoey]

I would say that you are now A Master Builder...
I wouldn't go THAT far, but it's most generous of you, thanx Marke! As far as women swooning, well, if that turns out to be the case, I'll build another! This time, in RED! LOL!

I get the name stickers made at a local sign shop for $6 a pair. Kinda steep, if you ask me, but worth it.

Thanx, Don. I was saying the exact same thing about other guys' trikes, only a few months ago, so you guys will do fine. My welding still leaves much to be desired, but if I can build one of these things, anyone can, so go get busy, & be sure to give us lots o' pics when you're done, cuz we all like seein' 'em! In fact, I'm gonna shoot a few more close-ups, when I get another decent day. Unfortunately, it rained today, so I couldn't even ride it, let alone get any more pics...

[Patrike]

Hi SirJoey

Great looking build. Love the colour. What was your method of painting.

The hubs I love the most. I am not too knowing of hubs, did you have to cut those apart or does that style just come apart.:confused:


Also love additional rear rack.

Again -- great looking build.

Later
Patrick

[SirJoey]

Thanx Patrike, most kind of you! It's just a rattle-can paint job, but I used Rustoleum metallic cobalt blue. It's beautiful paint, & really sparkles, especially in the sun! It looks much better than in the pics, actually. I also clear coat it, which really helps.

In case you didn't catch it, there's a link a couple of posts back, to the pics of the hub building process. Those hubs are just lightly pressed together, so they're easy to knock apart.

Also, I just uploaded 41 more pics today, with lots o' close-ups for you soon-to-be DW builders! That's well over 100, total! Can you tell, I LOVE THIS RIDE? :D

[Patrike]

Hi SirJoey

Sprayed -- wow -- nice for from the can. Yah I guess it is the clear that really gives it that pop.

About the Hubs -- yep -- saw the pics - the ability to put moded washer on the insides is great -- when you say those hubs are lightly pressed together. Do you have a brand or you just got the donar bikes as you knew they had those style hubs.

I will definetely get around to looking at new pics today.

Thanks
Patrick

[SirJoey]

Hi Patrike,

Look back at my post about the wheel building process & you'll see, I used 2 front wheels from a couple of new "Mongoose" 21 speed suspension bikes from Wally World. They were the "XR-75" models. Here's a "pre-hack" shot of one of 'em (sans chain & front wheel): http://joeywallace.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!9D0D4DF6F50AAFC2!1321/?&_c02_vws=1

They're "el-cheapo" bikes, but for me, they yielded LOTS of nice, new, useable parts for the DW & KC, & they do have 3-piece cranksets, although the crank arms are steel monstrosities. The bikes were $100 each, but in addition to the front wheels, I also used the first gooseneck, bars, brake levers, cables & indexing shifters from one of them on the Deltoyd.

Later, the other set of bars etc, will be used on the Kroozer (KC), as well as 2 matching front & rear ders, chainrings, sprockets, bottom brackets, cranks, pedals, chains & whatever else. Then still later, one of the suspension rear triangles & rear wheels will be used on a suspension bent I'm planning, so all in all, most of both bikes will be used eventually.

[Patrike]

SJ

You got your money's worth out of those bike's. Don't think I will find a Wally World up here in Ontario -- closest thing to that is probably WallMart. Not sure if I have ever seen the mongose brand up here. I will have to look around for an alternative hub source.

Thanks again.

P.S. -- the extra pics were great.

[SirJoey]

Patrick,

Wally World IS Wal Mart! It's the slang name, down here in the lower 48, LOL! :D

Glad you liked the pics.

[TheKid]

They have even cheaper suspension bikes, with 3 pc. cranks:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2233451

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4232170

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2513012

I used one of these for the tadpole rear end. I was lucky enough to find one in the trash. I'll be uing the front fork for the DW.

[SirJoey]

They had a couple of those here, Kid, but they're 18 speed instead of 21, & I really wanted dual 21 speed drivetrains for my Kroozer.

Also, the rims weren't near as nice, but good call, nevertheless! :)

[TheKid]

I guess I was luckier than I thought. The one I found had 21 speeds.