Yesterday got rained out, so for me it became a day for reading and naps. Steve got his camper organized and checked his eyelids for leaks a couple of times through the day. As the saying goes, "flat is where it's at". Old guys take naps. I never understood that as a kid, but now that I am a card carrying member of the Flat Earth Society I nap daily same as my elderly brethren all over the world. Some of them call it "siesta" They have a zesta for siesta.
Anyway, I did get a pattern made for the delta trike wheels, so that's something productive. Today has been programmed for sunshine and blue sky in my corner of the world, so we are fired up and ready to go... chomping at the proverbial bit even with most of our teeth missing (gumming the bit)... in a few hours we'll be off like a herd of turtles! Out of the way, Slugs, we're on our way! Still alive; time to jive!
Was just now lying awake in the pre-dawn thinking about this tri-car and once more getting excited about it. One thing that has weighed down my enthusiasm some is the fact that this engine is pedal start. Made in Germany in 1934 (model 1932 Fitchel & Sachs 98cc 2 cycle motorcycle engine) there were originally two versions. One was pedal start and a less common kick start version. Pedaling a tri-car to start it for an old guy with Guillane Barre Syndrome (like polio) is not so appealing. In that respect the engine may not have been the best choice, but what a fine one it is for someone with legs that work. I figured that I'd push the rig to a hill and start it that way. It does have a de-compression valve with a thumb lever I rigged up for the handlebar, but you still have to pedal it without a handy hill or one going the wrong way.
Then I got to thinking about the bike's rear fender (from a 1939 Hiawatha) and the two holes near the bottom which were no doubt for the original drop stand catch. I have one of those squiggly bits of spring metal from a 1938 Elgin and could look around for a drop stand. That way I could lift the rear wheel off the ground and pedal it by hand... with that valve it might start pretty easily. Good idear!
And then I got to thinking about the keyed drop-stand catch Tinsmith made a couple of years ago for a heavy duty drop stand he welded up for his stretch Worksman cruiser. Perfect! That's the answer! I could even sit on the seat and pedal start it with the rear wheel off the ground, let the engine warm up, shift it into neutral, get off the bike and raise the drop stand, fit that clever keyed catch Tinsmith invented to hold the stand in the up position, climb aboard and ride off into the sunset singing cowboy songs punctuated with Indian whoops. Followed by a nap.
So, I feel better about the tri-car having a plan for sure fire starts without catching me pants on fire pedaling me way to a stroke.
I wonder how stable this ride will be? It will have a wide footprint (48" up front) with suspension and adjustable steering designed to incorporate the Ackerman principle. And I wonder how fast it would go safely on a well paved secondary highway, like the one I travel to get groceries in town. If I hugged the right side of my lane so that traffic could pass me maybe I could use it for trips to town. Would it go 45mph? The engine was designed for light motorcycles and has a built in two speed transmission.
And could I get it licensed as a motorcycle? It does have an internal coil which powered head and tail lights back in 1934. I could rig up a set of vintage looking headlights and have a rear fender light with license plate holder from an old Amerchi Harley Davidson. Maybe next summer I could get it legally licensed and insured. That would be neat. Yeah, I'm getting excited about this tri-car alright! What a cool tadpole... woohoo!
A good work day is coming up. I'll take some pictures for show n tell.
SB
Anyway, I did get a pattern made for the delta trike wheels, so that's something productive. Today has been programmed for sunshine and blue sky in my corner of the world, so we are fired up and ready to go... chomping at the proverbial bit even with most of our teeth missing (gumming the bit)... in a few hours we'll be off like a herd of turtles! Out of the way, Slugs, we're on our way! Still alive; time to jive!
Was just now lying awake in the pre-dawn thinking about this tri-car and once more getting excited about it. One thing that has weighed down my enthusiasm some is the fact that this engine is pedal start. Made in Germany in 1934 (model 1932 Fitchel & Sachs 98cc 2 cycle motorcycle engine) there were originally two versions. One was pedal start and a less common kick start version. Pedaling a tri-car to start it for an old guy with Guillane Barre Syndrome (like polio) is not so appealing. In that respect the engine may not have been the best choice, but what a fine one it is for someone with legs that work. I figured that I'd push the rig to a hill and start it that way. It does have a de-compression valve with a thumb lever I rigged up for the handlebar, but you still have to pedal it without a handy hill or one going the wrong way.
Then I got to thinking about the bike's rear fender (from a 1939 Hiawatha) and the two holes near the bottom which were no doubt for the original drop stand catch. I have one of those squiggly bits of spring metal from a 1938 Elgin and could look around for a drop stand. That way I could lift the rear wheel off the ground and pedal it by hand... with that valve it might start pretty easily. Good idear!
And then I got to thinking about the keyed drop-stand catch Tinsmith made a couple of years ago for a heavy duty drop stand he welded up for his stretch Worksman cruiser. Perfect! That's the answer! I could even sit on the seat and pedal start it with the rear wheel off the ground, let the engine warm up, shift it into neutral, get off the bike and raise the drop stand, fit that clever keyed catch Tinsmith invented to hold the stand in the up position, climb aboard and ride off into the sunset singing cowboy songs punctuated with Indian whoops. Followed by a nap.
So, I feel better about the tri-car having a plan for sure fire starts without catching me pants on fire pedaling me way to a stroke.
I wonder how stable this ride will be? It will have a wide footprint (48" up front) with suspension and adjustable steering designed to incorporate the Ackerman principle. And I wonder how fast it would go safely on a well paved secondary highway, like the one I travel to get groceries in town. If I hugged the right side of my lane so that traffic could pass me maybe I could use it for trips to town. Would it go 45mph? The engine was designed for light motorcycles and has a built in two speed transmission.
And could I get it licensed as a motorcycle? It does have an internal coil which powered head and tail lights back in 1934. I could rig up a set of vintage looking headlights and have a rear fender light with license plate holder from an old Amerchi Harley Davidson. Maybe next summer I could get it legally licensed and insured. That would be neat. Yeah, I'm getting excited about this tri-car alright! What a cool tadpole... woohoo!
A good work day is coming up. I'll take some pictures for show n tell.
SB
Last edited:
