I've posted a few photos of the new frame attachments for the Monark and sidecar. I wasn't happy with the way I had it before and a quick and very short ride was enough to prove it.
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I built a whole new mounting system that I think makes it safe and easy.
I used scrap from an old tent trailer. The down piece is tied to the seat and chain stay.
I welded a short piece to this so it ran along the chain stay to just short of the rear wheel nut. I would recommend using channel iron or have a sheet metal shop bend some channel for you. It will be worth it.
I cut the sidecar wheel mounts out of the old frame and welded them into some bent angle iron from Home Depot because the frame needed to be lighter.
The frame was built like the old one so I didn't take photos of it.
The only difference other than the sheet steel angle iron was that it was welded into the piece of metal running along the chain stay.
Make sure that the metal you use is wide enough to drill holes for the U bolts to hold it on to the bike. Center the metal on the chain stay because it has to be clamped there and the chain stay must be in the middle.
Yep, that's how I found out.
I cut three, 3" lengths of 1-5/8" outside diameter water pipe to hold the frame to the seat and chain stays. I cut about a 1/2" strip out of each side so when I was finished it looked like a clamshell.
I used water pipe instead of exhaust pipe because it is stronger and wouldn't bend.
Then I cut two donuts out of a hockey puck to fit inside each piece of pipe with a hole saw and drilled a hole in the center of them to fit the seat and chain stays.
Put the donuts on the stays, then the pipe halves, then put the muffler clamp on { both pieces } and then slide the mount over the threads on the muffler clamp and then put the nuts on and tighten it down.
I taped the pipe halves in place so they couldn't move while I put the clamp on them and the mount.
Two on the chain stay and one on the seat stay.
I cut a thin angled piece of wood to make up the angle on the two stays. You can see one of them in the photos I think. I left it unpainted so it showed up.
On the front I cut a clam shell of pipe out of 1-3/4" water pipe 4" long to fit the down tube and 3 donuts.
On one half of the clam shell I welded a 4" length of 3/4" water pipe across it. Drill 4, 1/4" holes. On all of these I welded nuts to the pipe so that the bolts could be tightened down.Turn a nut on the bolt, put it in the hole and weld the nut in place.
To make the brace cut a three foot length of 3/4" round bar in the middle on a 45 degree angle. Weld it at a 90 degree angle. Weld a small brace into it to add strength. I didn't think of it at the time but 3/4" rebar might be cheaper and easier to find.
On the frame drill a 3/4 inch hole in the front corner and weld another length of 3/4" bar. I used 3' with half in and half showing.
Take 2, 6" sections of 3/4" water pipe and weld them into a cross. One on top of the other with equal distances showing. I drilled 4 holes in each pipe and welded nuts and bolts in each one.
Slide the cross shaped pipe on the frame bar then slide the 90 degree angle brace in the other half. Slide the top half of the down tube clam shell with the pipe welded on it on to the other end of the brace and clamp the pipe halves together with the puck donuts and two pipe clamps.
I had to go and get longer clamps from Home Depot since the muffler clamps were a bit to short for my liking.
I know this is long and drawn out but I'm going to weld the same mount up for Silverbears canoe sidecar so I'll take photos and post them. It will be a couple of days before I can get to it though.
If this is done properly you should be able to move the sidecar between bikes
just by drilling new holes. SB and I will find out very shortly wether I'm right or not.
If you stayed with me this long God bless you. Your a brave person indeed.
Steve.