Electric Recumbent Trike

gstrope said:
As I mentioned before I am using bottom brackets for my kingpins. I am going to use one of the crank arms for direct steering arm. I cut off part of the other crank and then split it right down the middle to make a good mating surface for the axle plates. I am going to groove the axle plates and bend them for the correct steering geometry. Check out the pictures.
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That is a COOL idea!Did you think of that?I wish I did when I was building mine!You can see pics of the Taddy I started building in BarelyAwakes Thread
Titled Morgan SuperSport.Ours look alot alike I was just going for the china girl and human powered hybrid.Your way past my stage of completion!Kip.
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I have built several tadpole three-wheelers,Using motorcycles for power,One even had a Chevy 2.8 V6 automatic mounted mid-engine with rear wheel drive that I designed and built by myself and a few bicycle tadpoles.
I has been my experience that the more you keep the weight back and low the better the thing will handle.
Looks like your on the right path.
I have seen some tadpoles that have had to much weight above the axles and to much foward with this they run the risk of folding the front wheels in turns or high siding the whole thing.Or both at the same time!OUCH!
Also if you don't have the front to rear weight balanced right you WILL run the risk of nose diving when braking,expecially if the front stearing is suspended but your on the right path with your build!Looking good.Kip.
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kipharley said:
That is a COOL idea!Did you think of that?I wish I did when I was building mine!You can see pics of the Taddy I started building in BarelyAwakes Thread
Titled Morgan SuperSport.Ours look alot alike I was just going for the china girl and human powered hybrid.Your way past my stage of completion!Kip.
[email protected]
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I guess it is original, I can't recall seeing it anywhere. I liked the bottom bracket because isn't too tall to start with and the crank works really good for direct steering.
 
BarelyAWake said:
A bit yea, but the 3/4" bolts available where I work are a (very) coarse thread and seem a lil sloppier fit that even jus' one millimeter off... I was thinkin' of turning down some stainless rod stock to make my own axles & I might still do that - but I jus' found these fer only $16ea, so Im gonna order a set to experiment with;

FK9992.jpg

Marzocchi QR20 Bolt-on 20mm Thru-Axle Non-QR style, All years/models @ eBikeStop.com

I dunno if they'll be strong enough even welded for single-side support or long enough for my app, but given the sweet endcaps, the good fit & for the price - I figure it can't hurt to check 'em out :)
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Keep me posted when you get them. I am interested in how well they will work.
 
gstrope said:
I guess it is original, I can't recall seeing it anywhere. I liked the bottom bracket because isn't too tall to start with and the crank works really good for direct steering.
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I can't say I've seen it anywhere either!
Yeah because It has upper and lower bearings!
You right also that the cranks offer a perfect mounting surface top and bottom!,for controls and steering linkage.MAN!I wish I'd of thought of that!
Again COOL idea!
I might have to get the reciprocating saw out and "borrow" your idea when I get back to the "Ant roller".
Did you check out my build?
With my steering you push the left stick forwards and pull the right stick backwards for right turn and the opposite for left!
I like you can't say I've ever seen my method done on a trike either but it very well could have!
I didn't like the tiller method,too annoying for me!Again NIce job! Kip.
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kipharley said:
I can't say I've seen it anywhere either!
Yeah because It has upper and lower bearings!
You right also that the cranks offer a perfect mounting surface top and bottom!,for controls and steering linkage.MAN!I wish I'd of thought of that!
Again COOL idea!
I might have to get the reciprocating saw out and "borrow" your idea when I get back to the "Ant roller".
Did you check out my build?
With my steering you push the left stick forwards and pull the right stick backwards for right turn and the opposite for left!
I like you can't say I've ever seen my method done on a trike either but it very well could have!
I didn't like the tiller method,too annoying for me!Again NIce job! Kip.
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Where is your build again, I looked for it but that thread is so long. Do you know what page it is on.
 
I put everthing together today to test out the battery and to see if I have enough seat padding before I cover it. Here are some pictures.
 

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Nice! Nothin' like the maiden voyage ta put a grin on yer face lol... I particularly like the nice & tidy chain routing - where'd ya source up the idlers ifn ya don't mind me askin?
 
gstrope said:
Yeah I found one on Craigslist fo $60. All it needs is new batteries - another $60. It seemed like quite a bargain seeing as you can't touch most electric kits for less than around $300. I think the 20" wheel will work ok, I just finished one with a 16" back wheel and it rides fine on pavement.
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I've found that 20" wheels have handled better for my builds!Kip.
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BarelyAWake said:
Nice! Nothin' like the maiden voyage ta put a grin on yer face lol... I particularly like the nice & tidy chain routing - where'd ya source up the idlers ifn ya don't mind me askin?
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I got them online from MSC Industrial Supply this link should bring it up

MSC Google Search Results

They are a 3" diameter mounted on a 1/2' bolt. They are a v belt pulley made out of nylon. They work nice and I think they are easier on the chain than metal. They have a nice built in bearing also.
 
Here are some pictures of the seat. the base is plywood with 2 layers of foam from an exercise mat. Then I covered it with black leather like material. I didn't want the staples to show so I covered the bottom side with thin Luan plywood painted black.
 

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gstrope said:
Keep me posted when you get them. I am interested in how well they will work.
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Hmm... sorry for the wait lol, they arrived on Thursday and I was so distracted by them, tryin' to figure out how to incorporate 'em into my build I forgot to post :o

These inexpensive 20mm axles are well made, a good fit (they're actually 19.5mm OD) w/decent threaded endcaps... The catch? I was suprised to find they're aluminum - which makes it a bit inconvenient, even downright awkward to try an' attach them to steel ofc. I feel a bit the fool - none of the websites mentioned construction material and I didn't even think to ask, assuming that they'd be chromoly or sumfin' o.O

So... I've remade my spindle brackets out of aluminum stock... but I can't advise this because they could well fail - although a quality alloy, I simply don't know how well they'll stand the abuse of single-sided support.

They would however make excellent sleeves, fitted over a grade 8 or stainless bolt for a proper fit in a 20mm hub if yer havin' problems - it's my back up plan anyway heh ;)
 
BarelyAWake said:
Hmm... sorry for the wait lol, they arrived on Thursday and I was so distracted by them, tryin' to figure out how to incorporate 'em into my build I forgot to post :o

These inexpensive 20mm axles are well made, a good fit (they're actually 19.5mm OD) w/decent threaded endcaps... The catch? I was suprised to find they're aluminum - which makes it a bit inconvenient, even downright awkward to try an' attach them to steel ofc. I feel a bit the fool - none of the websites mentioned construction material and I didn't even think to ask, assuming that they'd be chromoly or sumfin' o.O

So... I've remade my spindle brackets out of aluminum stock... but I can't advise this because they could well fail - although a quality alloy, I simply don't know how well they'll stand the abuse of single-sided support.

They would however make excellent sleeves, fitted over a grade 8 or stainless bolt for a proper fit in a 20mm hub if yer havin' problems - it's my back up plan anyway heh ;)
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Could you post a super close-up of how the end caps fit and also the axles laying next to a ruler so I can gauge the length?
 
erm... not exactly "super close ups" lol, but ifn ya click the thumbnails they'll prolly be good 'nuff, my cam is gettin' a lil old & I'm startin' to think it needs bifocals for the close ups :p



I really don't know if they'll be strong enough for single sided support, I'm willing to give it a shot but it could get... exciting *shrug* The ID is approximately 5/8" BTW, can't be more accurate than that as I left my calipers at work :-{
 
BarelyAWake said:
erm... not exactly "super close ups" lol, but ifn ya click the thumbnails they'll prolly be good 'nuff, my cam is gettin' a lil old & I'm startin' to think it needs bifocals for the close ups :p



I really don't know if they'll be strong enough for single sided support, I'm willing to give it a shot but it could get... exciting *shrug* The ID is approximately 5/8" BTW, can't be more accurate than that as I left my calipers at work :-{
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They look nice, if they are 5/8 ID they would make a nice high tech sleeve for 20mm hubs.
 
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