Getting closer and closer

[rykoala]

Hi guys and gals. I am very very close to being done with the bike! I was going to get more done this weekend but I got a miserable head cold. I managed to get a v brake installed on the rear and it works quite well! I am very pleased with that. The steering remote headset won't tighten up. It wobbles no matter what. Tonight I remembered that the donor bike had been crashed and had a bent fork. Time for a new headset!

I'll write more when I get more done.

[rykoala]

Tonight I fixed the headset wobble problem with the pilots headset. I had some mismatched parts! Oops! I have a couple of other issues to solve but they are small. I should have those fixed this weekend. Then I have to learn to ride it better. Then it gets more speeds and another brake. As usual I'll post more when I have more. TTFN!!

[rykoala]

A longer test ride down the street last night proved that I had *not* fixed the loose headset. So back to ground zero (the garage) it went. I ended up using a different headset cup and that took care of it. Now its perfectly tight. With that problem solved, I fired up the welder and began finishing off the rest of the minor welding tasks that were left. I still have a bit to do.

One thing I have to do is make the pushrod tab on the pilots headset longer. I didn't do this (on accident) and I see the need for it afer a longer ride down the street. I'll likely work on that this evening.

TTFN

[rykoala]

Last night I worked for a short while to blow off some steam. After doing some finish welding on the pilot steering tube, I checked to see that steering was tight.

Ah, its loose. Not in the same spot as before. The headset on the fork was loose, so I tightened that up. Then I noticed that the steering linkage itself had some slop. The slop was in the front, where a bolt runs through the steering arm and the pushrod attaches.

What I did to fix it worked very nicely. I had the bolt going from the top down, meaning that from top to bottom you had the bolt head, the push rod, then a washer, then a nut, then the steering arm going to the fork, then another nut. The problem is that the hole in the steering arm was a tad too big. I don't know why.

So, I inverted the set up. I put the bolt in upside down and then put a nut on it. Then, I welded the *nut* to the steering arm. That way the bolt is still replaceable if need be, without welding. Then I put the push rod on, and then a washer, and then two nuts that I jam nutted together while just loose enough not tighten the linkage.


Now there is *zero* slop in the set up. I also clearanced (ie, ground the heck out of) the push rod so it could turn as far right as it could left.

Really all that is left now is final assembly and putting all the shifty bits and the front brake on. Then if I like it and it all works, I'll upholster the seat and paint the bike.

The bike is really huge though, so before all of this is over I may shorten it a few inches. Test rides will see.

[SirJoey]

How 'bout some more pix? :)

[rykoala]

I'm going to work on it more tonight, so I'll snap some while I'm out there.

[rykoala]

As promised here's another picture:

http://rykoala.org/toolong.jpg

Here it is in all its glory!

I got all the major issues solved and took it for a ride in the neighborhood. It was dark and my family didn't know I was gone so I only went a block away and back.

I have come to the conclusion that this thing is just too darn long! I have got to shorten it.

The reason I say this is because it turns like a cruise ship.

Unfortunately, its going to have to wait. I am trying to move across town (closer to work and everything else my family does) and so I am done with it for now. In a couple of months, when I'm moved and settled, I'll pick up where I left off.

TTYL!

[TheKid]

It looks like the front tube could be shorter and come up at a steeper angle. That may make it a bit easier to steer. I say "may", because you have to consider that LWB bikes take some getting used to.

[SirJoey]

Lookin' good, Ry, but I agree with ya'. That baby could be a good bit shorter. Good luck with your move, & let us know when you resume work on your ride.

[trikeman]

Lookin good RY. It does look like you could take a few inches off the front.

[rykoala]

The plan is to cut the frame 3" ahead of the bottom bracket, and then build the front end to have about 4" clearance between the pedal and the tire, to give room for a fender in order to make sure there's no toe overlap.

We'll see how it goes. It'll be another 5-6 weeks before I get to work on it again. Moving sucks!

[Bill Cahill]

Well gang, my Meridian is on its wheels and about 8 hrs from my first ride, can hardly wait. It has been a very easy build. Thanks Brad. olyumabill

[AtomicZombie]

Right on - do send final photos!

Cheers,
Brad