A few questions if I may?

[GryphonGod]

First off i hope this is the right place to post this. Secondly I will be soon building a project and have some questions on axle size, material, and mounting. This project will be 4wheeled witha solid axle in the rear used to drive it both humanly and mechanically. Any thoughts ideas or what not.. All input is greatly appreciated THANX

[AtomicZombie]

I can tell you that a solid rear axle will not work. 1 of 2 things (or both) will happen...

1) You will not be able to make a turn if the rear wheels have good grip. the front wheel(s) will simply skid along.

2) Your rear wheels will fail due to the extreme stress of wheel dragging if you can get the vehicle to steer. If the wheels somehow hold up, the tires will grind down to nothing withing days of riding.

Brad

[Pagan Wizard]

Welcome to the AZ family

Great question......I would strongly suggest that you reconsidder using a one piece rear axle. Reason being, when you make turns, one wheel is going to want to travel slower than the other, which is a simple rule of physics. If you are using a solid one piece rear axle, this will force both wheels to travel at the same speed through turns, which will cause wheel hop, and/or damage.You can check out any of Brad's plans here for bikes with two rear wheels, and you will find that every one of them is using a two piece rear axle.

[Richie Rich]

This project will be 4wheeled with a solid axle in the rear used to drive it both humanly and mechanically. Any thoughts ideas or what not..Hi, 'GG'....Welcome to the AZ Krew...!!

Will your 4-wheeled project be for a single rider such as the Streetfighter...

http://atomiczombie.com/product-streetfighter.htm

Or a side-by-side 2-rider similar to the Kyoto Cruiser...

http://atomiczombie.com/product-kyoto.htm

The axle size and material thickness will depend on how much weight you plan on carrying.

Feel free to ask any questions....there's plenty of help available here.
And be sure to keep us posted on your progress and take LOTS of pictures...!!

Best of luck........Richie Rich >>
.
.

[TheKid]

A solid axle will only work if one side has a drive wheel, and the other side freewheels, much like the Sun trikes. One side has a flange with pins that fit into the spoke flange on the drive wheel. Delrin bushings replace the bearings. The non-drive side wheel has flange bearings, and freewheels on the axle. The Sun wheels are similar to spoked garden cart wheels. I may set up a project I'm working on now in this fashion. I'll be making my own hubs, and this method will enable me to change the size of the rear wheels easily, as well as enabling the wheels to be used with 5/8" or 3/4" axles by simply changing the bushings and bearings.

[GryphonGod]

Well this will be a single seat style with an area in the rear for storage as this willl be used for daily transportation weather permiting, and constant load for it to carry will be in the range of 250-270lbs.

[n9viw]

Another idea might be to have the "mechanical" (I'm presuming you mean a gas engine or electric motor) on the 'deck' behind the rider, with a chain down to a single-speed freewheel on the LEFT axle. Have a multi-speed freewheel with derailleur on the RIGHT axle. As you pedal, you power the right axle while the freewheel on the left just clicks. When you fire up the electric motor (or gas engine with clutch), it drives the left axle. As you can modulate the speed of the motor or engine, there's no reason to have speeds, just run it direct-drive.

[GryphonGod]

That has crossed my mind while figuring out how to do the split axle design. So what will happen is that is will be built for human power with room for possible motor mounting in the future.

[GryphonGod]

Thank you again for all the information thus far provided. Upon further thought i have decided to build a Loadrunner for now.. Now to simply over come some issues and all will begin to procede. And another question if i may. What effect does the angle of the front tube(front wheel) have on the handling of a bike, trike, etc?

[TheKid]

Steering geometry was discussed here:

http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?t=311

Plenty of info in this thread. Hope to see your Loderunner soon!

[GryphonGod]

Ok i am truely sorry if i over looked this somewhere else in the forums. But does anyone have any suggestions for wheels? Suppliers? Specific brands? Or is it just depending on personal preference and how much money one wants to spend?

[TheKid]

Personal preference and amount you want to spend. For donor bikes, metal, pulleys and other goodies, try cruising around on trash nights. People throw out all kinds of bikes, exercise equipment, kitchen chairs, etc. Thrift shops are also good sources, as well as Craigslist, and e-bay. Niagara is good source for good quality BMX wheels with 14mm axles, but the site is down at the moment. Just google niagara bike parts.
Search through the forum for whatever parts you need; you'll find plenty of sources.

[SirJoey]

Watch for yard sales, too. Sometimes you get lucky that way. Goodwill has been MY main supplier. Also, word-of-mouth helps, occasionally. When the minister at my church found out about my hobby, he gave me 4 bikes.

You may even wanna consider buying a new one or two, as a $100 bike will yield a nice new suspension rear triangle, as well as new wheels, tires, tubes, shifters, ders & loads of other useable stuff. They may not be high-end components, but at least it's all nice, new stuff that'll give you quite a few miles of service. When buying new components individually, even the cheapo stuff will add up to more than that, real quick!


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[Sparky]

also- have a look into your local laws. here in NC, motorized bicycles are legal.... IF they meet the criteria. one of which being 3 wheels or less.

so if i put an engine on my streetfighter, legally i would need headlights, taillights, turn signals, fenders, insurance........

i think the lode runner is a good option.

[trikeman]

also- have a look into your local laws. here in NC, motorized bicycles are legal.... IF they meet the criteria. one of which being 3 wheels or less.

so if i put an engine on my streetfighter, legally i would need headlights, taillights, turn signals, fenders, insurance........

i think the lode runner is a good option.

When I first found out that in Georgia, if I put even a small gasoline engine on my bike, I would have to make it street legal, I was kind of pissed. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I thought that is probably a good thing. A lot of guys on the motorizedbike forum are running on the streets with 50-80cc motors on bicycles with inadequate brakes, no lights or turn signals, etc etc. Probably not a good idea, as long as we have to share the road with those cagers. Even if I eventually build an electric bike, which is exempt in Georgia for less than a 20 mph machine, I think I would still want it to have those things.

[GryphonGod]

Thanks all thats what i figured for wheels. I have found a few sites with pretty decent 20" wheels. But i am on the lookout for always for local stuff at garage sales and what not. Yeah local laws for motorized bikes here in michigan are a bit sticky. Anything with 2 to 3 wheels and 2 brake horse power is considered a moped and requires a moped sticker. Along with lights and such. I have pretty much decided against gasoline engine for the time being. Possibly invest in a electric motor at some point in the future. Again thanks for all the input so far. In the next week or so I should finally start the project and will be sure to post progress pics.

[GryphonGod]

Well while i have been waiting for the tubing for the loderunner projects of mine. I managed to begin making a freewheel/disc brake adapter.. I work in a cnc machine shop so i have access to a manual lathe so i started this after work tonight. It started out as scrap but I have given it new meaning..LOL.


http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q480/Gryphon7876/100_0944.jpg

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q480/Gryphon7876/100_0946.jpg

[Pagan Wizard]

Those look awesome GG, you could make yourself a few bux selling them if you wanted to. If you do, I'll take 3 for a 3/4 inch axel.

[TheKid]

A hell of a lot better than mine. There are owners of factory built trikes and quads who could use those.

[locolarry]

There you go, GG! Cash business, definite need, built in clients! great product!...wow!
Larry

[AtomicZombie]

I'll order 10! Of course shipping is probably going to hurt.

Brad

[GryphonGod]

Well unfortunately I am not equipt for making many of this with any speed :mad:. I have no garage or shed to work in. I can use my dad's shed but it needs to be cleaned first UGH!!!! Anyway got two now almost done. One has the hole bored in it now, but needs to be trimmed down to length and diameter.. WHICH brings me to a question for AZ if he dont mind answering. What kind of tolerances would you suggest for the freewheel adapter in your plans. For example for the brake side of the adapter would 2 1/4 as specified be the smallest diameter or the largest. Will the disc side and freewheel side being out of concentricity cause and issue? How much will cause an issue. I am probably over complicating this but just a curiousity of mine. Thanks

Link to progess pics of adapters
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q480/Gryphon7876/Trike%20pics/100_0962.jpg

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q480/Gryphon7876/Trike%20pics/100_0963.jpg

[gbbwolf]

I see an ashtray in that picture.
Don't worry I smoke also.
Although If I keep riding I may quit LOL.

Nelson

[GryphonGod]

Yes that is an ashtray :p.. I havent quite quit yet working on it though. HAve cut way down and endulge in a nice cigar on the weekends which ironically means no cigarettes for a bit after.

[Pagan Wizard]

Hey GryphonGod, I was just checking in to see if you have been able to start producing your freewheel/disc brake adapters. There are a few of us in line waiting to buy from you.

[GryphonGod]

i hit a snag upon doing the two i made, one ended up junk the other is of no use except as a non-drive side adapter. The thread ended up fubared as the jaws of the chuck are loose so rechucking the part throws everything off. Its an old lathe and shows it age. I am doing these by hand on a manual lathe. So in order to make a part I will have to do it complete in one sitting so to speak, and tonight it was just way to hot in the shop to stay over and do anything. And being the only scrap stock i have been able to find is over large in diameter there is alot to take off. I am also on the look out for a freewheel so I can ensure correct threading. I have an old freespirit 10speed would the freewheel on this have the correct threading does anyone know?

[TheKid]

The threads are 1 3/8"-24

[GryphonGod]

Thanks Kid,

Now on to some unfortunate news. My project will be placed on hold for an undetermined amount of time at this point. I will how ever continue to look into the possiblitiy of make a few of these adapters to fund my project. This means I am making no promises or gaurantees to wether or not I can do it. A problem now occuring with the adapter project is that as stated in a previous post the age of the lathe I am using it isnt in tip top shape the repeatability of the thread cutting function is in question, so unless i am able to cut the threads in one pass it wont be possible to do more than one cut, I will not be able to determine this until I get my hands on a freewheel hub and freewheel to determine the depth of the thread. I am however working on an alternate possibility upon which for those that have shown some interest i will keep updated upon. Thanks for all the advice so far. Hopefully this will be only a short term hold. Happy Hacking

GryphonG

[TheKid]

I use a 1 3/8 -24 die to cut threads on some hubs. I set it in the shallowest position, and the threads are always plenty deep. I bought it last year from victornet.com The price has gone up considerably, it now costs $51. I paid $37 for it. I know it's a cheap die, and it seems to have dulled after cutting some steel hubs. But it cuts aluminum just fine.