After having to file down a booger weld that found its way into a bolt hole and realizing that one side basically bites into the frame, I snapped a bolt while trying to tighten the clamps. I don't think that the plate that came with my Q-Matic kit was meant to deal with the massive down tube on my Schwinn Drifter.
As it sits right now, I have it so the front of the plate is pretty much aligned with the curvature of the down tube. But it comes at a cost of it digging into my seat tube. A 3 inch one-pece crank is on its way to hopefully deal with the pedal clearance issues I've run into during the assembly mock-up. I'm not sure if I'll have any problems with the muffler contacting the frame or pedals until I get the mounting plate sorted out.
I'm going to take the whole thing apart tomorrow to replace the bolt, nut and washers, which went flying when the bolt snapped. As it sits right now, is it even safe to continue? I don't want to damage my frame or myself. I'm thinking that the FireBelly Cycles "Fat Cruiser" engine platform might be the only suitable replacement. Also, in order to have the air box clear the seat tube, the mount sits tilted slightly forward. Is that okay, or does it need to be parallel to the ground?
This is my first time building a bike and I figured I'd get one of the highest rated kits out there. Unfortunately, they don't come with instructions.
The first picture is of the bike in its mock-up stage. The second is the rear of the mount against the seat tube. The third is the front clamped to the down tube.
As it sits right now, I have it so the front of the plate is pretty much aligned with the curvature of the down tube. But it comes at a cost of it digging into my seat tube. A 3 inch one-pece crank is on its way to hopefully deal with the pedal clearance issues I've run into during the assembly mock-up. I'm not sure if I'll have any problems with the muffler contacting the frame or pedals until I get the mounting plate sorted out.
I'm going to take the whole thing apart tomorrow to replace the bolt, nut and washers, which went flying when the bolt snapped. As it sits right now, is it even safe to continue? I don't want to damage my frame or myself. I'm thinking that the FireBelly Cycles "Fat Cruiser" engine platform might be the only suitable replacement. Also, in order to have the air box clear the seat tube, the mount sits tilted slightly forward. Is that okay, or does it need to be parallel to the ground?
This is my first time building a bike and I figured I'd get one of the highest rated kits out there. Unfortunately, they don't come with instructions.
The first picture is of the bike in its mock-up stage. The second is the rear of the mount against the seat tube. The third is the front clamped to the down tube.
