Steve, I had to smile while reading your thoughtful post. Yes, it has been a journey, hasn't it? A few feet away from this laptop is my version of the tri-car which was originally to be made in the spirit of the 1906ish Indian, the one with an in frame gas tank which came after yours with the camel back tank. Early on I broke away with something less restrictive as I don't have the skill set you have. (Mine became an Indian Hiawatha or Hiawatha Indian or something fictional like that.) I'm happy with it as an interesting and to my eyes beautiful art object which is part rolling sculpture and part furniture. Even more-so than yours, it is an "unfinished melody" as it was dreamed as a functional motorbike to be ridden down Bearhead Road in concert with your Indian tri-car. Two aging children going putt putt on wonderful tribute time machines... until that day the fat lady ain't done singing. Ha! Here's to you, bud.Rick,
Thank you for the kind words. As I told a fellow member a few weeks ago I honestly don't see myself as a great builder. I spent most of my working life restoring antique furniture which led to being asked to build copies of furniture that had to fit into a certain space with pictures from pages torn out of Good Housekeeping magazines as a guide.
Most often when your close to the subject you don't see what others do.
My welding and fabrication skills such as they were when I started were learned in a vocational school 50 years before. Took a lot of dusting off and video watching to get them going again. My son the highly skilled fabricator and welder emailed me when I was do with most of the welding and said that my welding was much improved compared to when I started.
I guess when it came to building the tri car which I saw in a photo taken probably 25 feet away I naturally reverted to guessing just what size it was from different known sizes such as the bike frame and the size of the average chair ( I measured the office chair I was sitting in at the time.) and then guessed the rest.
Looking at the computer as I measured across the front of the office chair to judge the front wheel spacing allowing for the fenders and turning radius. Once the front axle and bike were put together the rest sort of fell into place. I just wanted to keep it as visually real as possible.
The seat was the easiest part since it is basically a piece of furniture. I did mess up the foot rest and had to remake it after I put it on the bike. The best part of working with wood is you can burn your mistakes and no one knows.
It has been frustrating at best to make it. I've done the "What the *&#$/why me." dance many, many times and the whole bike has been seconds away from being cut up and scrapped even more than I can think of. I've learned to walk away and come back later when I cooled off so I don't do anything rash and live to regret it.
When I started this there was as I said one photo taken at a motorcycle meet. The bike had the seat on it and I was in love/lust. I had to see if I was up to the challenge. Then a couple of other photos showed up but always a side shot. I had to guess about the spindles and how they were made by trying to see through the wheels spokes to get a clue.
Now of course they sold the most original one that is left a few months ago for $161,000 + the buyers premium with a bunch of photos showing all the details.
When I started building I made up my mind that if anyone wanted to follow me and build their own I'd do everything in my power to explain in words and photos just what I did and the problems I encountered and how I worked my way around them.
All to often some one tells us that they did something but not how or they bought something but not where.
My greatest hope is that someone makes another tri car. Indian or otherwise and I would very much advise doing one of your own design. While the Indian was a known and identifiable design it was restricting to do because you couldn't add all the great ideas that came along as your building or you see something you could buy that would add to the appeal of the build. Such as go kart spindles for the steering instead of making you own.
If anyone who reads this want's to build another Indian tri car or for that matter their own tri car please click on my name at the heading and the click on "Send a personal message." on the menu that drops down or use the menu to send me an email. I have all the patterns for the parts that need them and will offer advice freely as you build.
You will however be responsible for buying your own aspirin. From personal experience I'd suggest going with the big bottle.
Steve.