Indian Tadpole
- Thread starter silverbear
- Start date
Sometimes it seems like this Indian Tri-car adventure is just treading water and not going much anywhere. For example my Indian Hiawatha sitting locked in a trailer with a foot and a half of snow pack over and around the trailer. Not a lot going on there. Or we're waiting for parts. Or money. Or feeling better.
But lately you're going gang busters and making progress on different fronts. The seat springs have been figured out and fabricated. Spindles and such are underway with the machinist. Bike shop is putting the front wheels together. And Rick has your Jacobsen engine and clutch about ready to ship. wowzer. This baby is coming together!
SB
Oh its so fine.... Really nice work steve . I was also thinking of the wheels, didnt the org. Indian have an offset hub ? Seems if the rim was set outbord a little the wheel would be stronger when cornering? Prob the kinda thing thats hard to figure from old photos...
I sat and messured a greenline tadpole and ripedoff there geomerty ,there hubs had the rim set half inch off centerline (outboard) . However there a recumbent ,you will sit so much higher and with most all the weight above the axle? I can see how it could fold over a wheel.
As to june ,I would love to have you guys visit , the club is going on our yearly overnight on the 7-9 of june but after that well be around . We can rally up the guys ,have a cookout , stare at johnys cars and bikes and even compare wonderdogs? If you need to over night we can figure that out aswell
I sat and messured a greenline tadpole and ripedoff there geomerty ,there hubs had the rim set half inch off centerline (outboard) . However there a recumbent ,you will sit so much higher and with most all the weight above the axle? I can see how it could fold over a wheel.
As to june ,I would love to have you guys visit , the club is going on our yearly overnight on the 7-9 of june but after that well be around . We can rally up the guys ,have a cookout , stare at johnys cars and bikes and even compare wonderdogs? If you need to over night we can figure that out aswell
Hi Rick,
I'm ready anytime you have time to do it. Please don't work on it out in the cold though. There is no reason to because I'm not in any kind of rush.
Steve.
I'm ready anytime you have time to do it. Please don't work on it out in the cold though. There is no reason to because I'm not in any kind of rush.
Steve.
Too true Silverbear, Mostly lack of enthusiasm on my part because of the arthritis pain. The damp cold winters here are not a lot of fun but usually about this time of year things get better and so do I.
We have had 3 sunny and fairly warm days in a row and I'm making progress while it lasts.
I think about the foot and a half of snow or more that you folks are working under and the mind chilling -0 and lower temperatures and count my blessings. I lived in them for a large part of my life and I do the happy dance every time I think about not being there any more.
It's full speed ahead now for sure.
Steve.
We have had 3 sunny and fairly warm days in a row and I'm making progress while it lasts.
I think about the foot and a half of snow or more that you folks are working under and the mind chilling -0 and lower temperatures and count my blessings. I lived in them for a large part of my life and I do the happy dance every time I think about not being there any more.
It's full speed ahead now for sure.
Steve.
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Hi P.S.D.
I sure didn't think about dishing the wheels but thank you for mentioning it. The bike mechanic said to try the 1/2" dish that you suggested and keep a close eye on the spokes and he would adjust them more if it needed it.
This is a learning curve for me at best and I thank everyone for their suggestions. One trip through the gravel was more than enough for me and at my age the recovery would be more than a month like last time, if I did recover.
I'm hoping that with the low speeds that the tricars will be safe to handle and the wide turning radius the side pressure will be minimal. Safe to say that we won't be trying to catch BarelyAWake's sling shot of a trike.
We will be at my sons for the weekend of the 15-16 and then down to Maryland to gather up Silverbears items and he would like to see his daughter and family and we will most likely meet up with Tinsmith for a ride then we will stop in to see you on our trip home to Minnesota.
As things get better planned we will decide which weekend is best for everyone. I have a class B camper and a Haulmark enclosed trailer so we would be good for a place to stay overnight if there is a place to put them or a camp ground near you so we don't displace anyone. Cars, bikes and wonder dogs and friends. Can life get better?
Steve.
I sure didn't think about dishing the wheels but thank you for mentioning it. The bike mechanic said to try the 1/2" dish that you suggested and keep a close eye on the spokes and he would adjust them more if it needed it.
This is a learning curve for me at best and I thank everyone for their suggestions. One trip through the gravel was more than enough for me and at my age the recovery would be more than a month like last time, if I did recover.
I'm hoping that with the low speeds that the tricars will be safe to handle and the wide turning radius the side pressure will be minimal. Safe to say that we won't be trying to catch BarelyAWake's sling shot of a trike.
We will be at my sons for the weekend of the 15-16 and then down to Maryland to gather up Silverbears items and he would like to see his daughter and family and we will most likely meet up with Tinsmith for a ride then we will stop in to see you on our trip home to Minnesota.
As things get better planned we will decide which weekend is best for everyone. I have a class B camper and a Haulmark enclosed trailer so we would be good for a place to stay overnight if there is a place to put them or a camp ground near you so we don't displace anyone. Cars, bikes and wonder dogs and friends. Can life get better?
Steve.
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The wheels are in the bike shop and the machine shop has the spindles and now I just have to wait for the phone calls that they are ready.
Rick's ready to finish the engine. This turkey is getting ready to fly.
Oh, and the veins in my dear old brother neck bulge like they are going to pop when I mention that soon as I get the tricar finished I can start on the velocar. At my age you take your fun where you can get it.
Fast (He's not going to Heaven for doing that.) Eddy.
Rick's ready to finish the engine. This turkey is getting ready to fly.
Oh, and the veins in my dear old brother neck bulge like they are going to pop when I mention that soon as I get the tricar finished I can start on the velocar. At my age you take your fun where you can get it.
Fast (He's not going to Heaven for doing that.) Eddy.
Sound like the begining of a plan ,we can flesh it out as we get closer .
You may wana make yourself a spoke tentionometer (or gasp buy one ) this will let you test the spokes on the bike and find lose ones before the become a problem?
You may wana make yourself a spoke tentionometer (or gasp buy one
) this will let you test the spokes on the bike and find lose ones before the become a problem?I did look at spoke tension gauge when I was thinking about doing them myself but when I took my credit card out to order one it screamed and rolled up into a ball and wouldn't let me near it.
I will get one though but I hadn't thought about using it to check them as I go. Thank you again. Anything to keep my tired old hide of the tarmac.
Yes, we can fill out our plans when things get closer. The way time is going for me it seem like it will happen in two weeks.
Steve.
I will get one though but I hadn't thought about using it to check them as I go. Thank you again. Anything to keep my tired old hide of the tarmac.
Yes, we can fill out our plans when things get closer. The way time is going for me it seem like it will happen in two weeks.
Steve.
I did look at spoke tension gauge when I was thinking about doing them myself but when I took my credit card out to order one it screamed and rolled up into a ball and wouldn't let me near it.
Sorry to here about your timid cards,,,, Mine jumped into a meat slicer and committed suicide, they just couldnt live with the abuse anymore. lol
Yep, they just aren't what they used to be. Nothing worse than a namby pamby credit card that can't take it.
I had to call the bank the other day and tell them I wasn't broke because I still had checks.
They got right nasty about that so I changed banks. Hope the new one trains up better than the last one did.
Steve.
I had to call the bank the other day and tell them I wasn't broke because I still had checks.
They got right nasty about that so I changed banks. Hope the new one trains up better than the last one did.
Steve.
Rick of Ricks Rides PM'd me this morning and said the motor is done and ready to be shipped. The motor is going to be the main focus of the tricar for sure. Really looking forward to the, what motor is it and who built it, questions.
Willing to bet Rick will have a line up of eager buyers if he wants them.
On an interesting and rather (for me) exciting note I decided that I wanted to reshape the springs a little so I clamped them into the vise and started to pull down on them with my rather large self. Worked like a charm until the 5th or 6th pull and I found myself with a 15 pound spring in my hands with a 40+ pound vise firmly gripping the other end and the bench no longer attached to either of them.
After that resolved it's self by shear luck, I was waving the whole thing in the air as I fought to get my balance and it landed back on the bench, I found out that my brother had screwed the vise down with 1/4" lag bolts into the 1/2" ply wood top. This worked for years and was never intended for what I was doing. It now has a 3/4" plywood plate under it and 1/2" bolts holding it down.
No old duffers were hurt and the springs are now looking good. Tomorrow it's off to get the spindles and check on the wheels.
Steve.
Willing to bet Rick will have a line up of eager buyers if he wants them.
On an interesting and rather (for me) exciting note I decided that I wanted to reshape the springs a little so I clamped them into the vise and started to pull down on them with my rather large self. Worked like a charm until the 5th or 6th pull and I found myself with a 15 pound spring in my hands with a 40+ pound vise firmly gripping the other end and the bench no longer attached to either of them.
After that resolved it's self by shear luck, I was waving the whole thing in the air as I fought to get my balance and it landed back on the bench, I found out that my brother had screwed the vise down with 1/4" lag bolts into the 1/2" ply wood top. This worked for years and was never intended for what I was doing. It now has a 3/4" plywood plate under it and 1/2" bolts holding it down.
No old duffers were hurt and the springs are now looking good. Tomorrow it's off to get the spindles and check on the wheels.
Steve.
Sort of sounds like me using just my foot to hold a 2 foot piece of channel iron to check a test weld to another piece of metal with my foot.
I should have been using at least more sturdy boots than the sneakers. My arch took a little time to feel better, but the weld I'll smack it with a hammer later too.
MT
I should have been using at least more sturdy boots than the sneakers. My arch took a little time to feel better, but the weld I'll smack it with a hammer later too.
MT
Measure Twice,
Since I read that this morning I started limping in sympathy for you. That's one of those things that vibrates through your whole body in a wave of pain.
Hope it all get's better soon.
Steve
Since I read that this morning I started limping in sympathy for you. That's one of those things that vibrates through your whole body in a wave of pain.
Hope it all get's better soon.
Steve
It was not that bad really, but today I put on boots rather than sneakers when I got to doing work where my feet might be at risk.
I would have done more on my motor bike today, but I needed an did rotate the wheels on my truck. I'm cleaning up the over spray from the belt dressing I used on my bike, so I took the jack shafts off and will clean up, but not yet paint until the fish is done.
It sure does wonders that spray and the fish could be jumping. I can't wait to get it on the trails. I still also am going on with the fish look for the slow under 5mph parade speed.
MT
I would have done more on my motor bike today, but I needed an did rotate the wheels on my truck. I'm cleaning up the over spray from the belt dressing I used on my bike, so I took the jack shafts off and will clean up, but not yet paint until the fish is done.
It sure does wonders that spray and the fish could be jumping. I can't wait to get it on the trails. I still also am going on with the fish look for the slow under 5mph parade speed.
MT
Talked to the bike shop doing the wheels and the guy building the wheels got that familiar "Oh Sh8t" look on his face when he realized who I was and had a bunch of reasons why it wasn't done. I expected it since they are the only decent bike shop in a bike mad area.
The other bike shops here you get met by a guy dressed like like Lance Liestrong and a rather chilly attitude if your not looking at a $5,000 carbon fiber bike.
The spindles are going to take some time if they get done at all. They do a lot of commercial work and I'm sure my bits will be sitting on the floor for some time or maybe a long time. They will be there at least until Wednesday when I go and pick them up done or not.
Steve.
The other bike shops here you get met by a guy dressed like like Lance Liestrong and a rather chilly attitude if your not looking at a $5,000 carbon fiber bike.
The spindles are going to take some time if they get done at all. They do a lot of commercial work and I'm sure my bits will be sitting on the floor for some time or maybe a long time. They will be there at least until Wednesday when I go and pick them up done or not.
Steve.
I know the frustrated feeling, Steve. Sounds like the bike shop will do you right eventually. The machine shop, maybe not. Your little job is no doubt peanuts compared to other work they are doing. Who knows when they might be able to get to it. Now what? What is it that needs to be done? Maybe someone on the forum could manage it. Summer is coming, man!
SB
SB
Resolved the what to do about the spindles. I ordered two sets from BMI Karts with the tie rod ends needed for the steering. They are 3/4" axles, 6" long which is more than what I wanted but with spacers they will fit with no problem.
The bearings in the hubs are 22mm and 3/4" is 20mm. Just a little loose and I hear on the recumbent bike sites that you just need to tighten the axle nut up and that takes care of the slop in the bearings. I'm thinking that it's off to the bearing shop to replace them since it's possible to picture fasteddy doing the spin up the road bouncing and flipping and some of the good bits coming off as he goes.
There are very few good bits left so caution is a must.
Steve.
The bearings in the hubs are 22mm and 3/4" is 20mm. Just a little loose and I hear on the recumbent bike sites that you just need to tighten the axle nut up and that takes care of the slop in the bearings. I'm thinking that it's off to the bearing shop to replace them since it's possible to picture fasteddy doing the spin up the road bouncing and flipping and some of the good bits coming off as he goes.
There are very few good bits left so caution is a must.
Steve.
Sounds like a plan. We're getting closer. Engine is done. Wheels are being worked on. Spindle stuff is ordered. Good idea to change out the bearings. I walked out to the storage trailer today through sloppy, melting snow pack to look at the Hiawatha. Oh boy...
SB
SB