Unmodded the mods

[TheKid]

Some of you may remember that I made the DW rear using flange bearings. I decided they looked crappy in those tubes, so I removed the tubes and installed the pressed steel pillow blocks, since I had them anyway. They're of much better quality than the flange bearings, and were actually easier to install. I originally made the rear end tines 3" longer, because I wanted to swap 26" and 20" wheels, and the original DW frame would be way too low with 20" wheels. The tines are now about 1 1/2" longer than the plan, because I'll probably just keep the 26" wheels on, but I'm using a 26" front wheel, so I want to sit a little higher to make sure the front tube won't be in my line of sight. I'll be building the quad with 20" wheels, because it will be for carrying heavy loads. I cleaned the rear, installed the seat post and steering post, and marked out the location for the USS. Tomorrow I'll install the fork tube, USS tube, and the rear. All the cleanup on the frame will be done on Wednesday, and Thursday I'll be sanding and priming the frame. I'm still waiting for some misc. parts for the rear wheels, which hopefully will be here by Friday. I also need some butterfly bars, which a friend may have. If not, I'll do some midnight shopping in the areas where the garbage goes out, and if that fails, I'll visit my LWB. The goal is to finish by the end of the weekend, take a test ride, then disassemble and paint early next week. Here's the old bearing setup:

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z66/edpol_photos/Bike_trike_quad/000_0153.jpg

[Pagan Wizard]

That old bearing setup looks like it was quite a bit heavier than pillow blocks.

[TheKid]

It was less than a pound heavier. I have cast iron pillow blocks that weigh almost 5 lbs. more than the steel. I wasn't about to use them, especially after reading that Joey's wolf weighs 65 lbs. The 3/4" axle and those bearings probably account for 8 extra lbs. Since I'm going to have a front brake, I may also stick with the plan and have only one disc brake in the rear. My Meridian had front and rear vee brakes, and I was able to skid with it, so unless the other builders have a problem with one disc in the rear and calipers up front, I'll go that route. I'm also going to have a rear rack, which is an aluminum bolt on frame and a piece of fiberglass screwed to it. The whole thing weighs less than 2 lbs.

[TheKid]

The frame is over 90% complete. All that's left is to drill a few holes for internal cable routing, and run internal tubes to hold the cables, weld in the USS head tube, and weld on the derailler and disc brake mounts, which are already made. The steering tube is already shortened, the steering arms are made, the BB is ready to install. I'll finish the frame tomorrow, and tomorrow night and Friday I'll build the wheels. I'll finish assembly and test ride on Saturday, then disassemble and paint Sunday and Monday. I'm using lacquer, so I'll reassemble on Tuesday, assuming all goes well and the weather holds up.