Starting my 3.8 v6 Super Charged Trike Build

[FunkyOldMan]

Like your Pics of the project. I too decided I wanted to have something with a auto engine. I am just getting mine on the road after many slow years. Mitsubishi 2.4L Auto. In hind site, I would have gone with a little more power than I have (160hp) but tons of hot tune up stuff available so the sky is the limit. Still happy though. Ran into some wiring challenges with the CPU and it being an AUTOMATIC. Other than that pretty smooth build. I have had it to 75 in 2nd gear before it shifted to 3rd and have 4th left. Lopes along at 60 at 1800rpm.

Good luck with build.

I'll be watching.

Read over your posts and so many issues you have been working thru I too had. Like me it sounds like you just took each problem on and kept your head down and worked thru it. I would love to see your trike some day. I will have to look where you are from. Good luck. You will get -er-done sooner or later.

 

[irmagoo]

Read over your posts and so many issues you have been working thru I too had. Like me it sounds like you just took each problem on and kept your head down and worked thru it. I would love to see your trike some day. I will have to look where you are from. Good luck. You will get -er-done sooner or later.

thanks funky
I'm working on front end now... staled for a week or two as working on our motor home(installed a samsung house frig ) -going to small bluebird rally in shipshewanna in. will finish up front end later this month-i'll post some pics then..
magoo

 

[kodiak93657]

thanks funky
I'm working on front end now... staled for a week or two as working on our motor home(installed a samsung house frig ) -going to small bluebird rally in shipshewanna in. will finish up front end later this month-i'll post some pics then..
magoo

ThumbUp Look forward to it sir!

 

[irmagoo]

worked on front end for trike build this wk.

ok I got a little work done ...

here's the proof !!

first 3 shows the rockers in construction axle bore .986 and rocker to tube mount is 5/8-bushed to 1/2 for grade 8 shoulder bolts,,,

4 shows the slot for rockers and 3/4 bore for 3/4 to 1/2 sleeves that I machined to weld in tubes.. makes a nice tight and smooth rocker

the rest show where I was going with this,,,, next I will assemble all this and finish axle - cut it to length and get some threads too! put al this stuff on trike :xzqxz: yes yes yes

I will get it all on trike!! and add a couple pcs. of tubing simulate shocks- to hold rockers in proper orientation or proper place so that I can get weight of trike front end (I will add weight to simulate trike loaded) so I can calculate springs for front shocks. then I will build a 1 3/4" loop from rocker to rocker to complete leading link!!! add shocks etc.

magoo

 

[irmagoo]

ok here's a couple pics of front end on trike..
1.just a shot of that big tire
2.ok I like the wheel/tire Its what the trike needed!!
3. side shot of front end .. I think I will set this up with rocker pivot 1/2" lower than axle center,,, any thought out there in the brain trust???:xzqxz:
ok next
i'll finish up link around wheel and get brake caliper mounting worked out- may need to trim some more off side of wheel where sprocket was mounted - think I removed 1/2" or so may take off 1/4" so wheel can center up-will figure that out tomorrow for now,,,I'm heading out for some Mexican food!!!
more later
magoo

 

[Gorilla]

Keep it going starting to look like a trike.

 

[irmagoo]

Keep it going starting to look like a trike.

thanks Gorilla
yes it is starting to look like a trike,,,
but still a long way to go hope to finish up front end next week if all goes my way - sometimes things come up that keep me from working on it that's life,,, I can always take a ride on my sidecar rig for inspiration !
magoo

 

[irmagoo]

front end work goes on


hi fuzzy

well at this point it does look like its a springer in construction but when I finish the lower link you will see the difference,,, the rocker you see now will loop around the rear of wheel and be welded into a kind of a "U" shape so both rocker will move as one there will be a coil over shock in front of each tube so I can adjust front ride height and adjust shocks for best ride-in a true springer the rocker are made to "move as one"

by the"H" (for lack of better description)connectors/tubes that go from rockers up through some bracket-ry that hold them inline with main tubes and to springs you know what I'm trying to say- no shock in the old days-now hd has shocks?? confused myself!!:xzqxz:

anyway

I just wanted to build this style cus I never have

in a few days you will get it... today a finisher axle and wheel spacer, I'm going to add a few other link pin locations (the 1/2" holes in rockers)so I can play with trail little,,, I'm 99% sure I will go with 2.5 inch but every trike will handle different due to weight and wheel base. I think this will be fun to play with trail a little after trikes done,,, hey if you can understand what I'm trying to say you must have some of my pain pills:laugh:

magoo

 

[irmagoo]

weight of trike front end-with trike loaded

well I know weight will change a little as I finish up but I needed a starting point so now I have one,,,
1. shows the scale set up I use its an set what uses bathroom scales and a set of "weight rite" beams- all stock car guys in this area used these for ever,, now high dollar guys have gone digital- this set is 30 years or so old but they still work the same 27/9 to do the math.
2. shows wheel on scale and wife and I were on trike in our seats and I snapped the pic.
will weight other corners this afternoon for now.......
I can get to work on shocks and spring rates now!!
oh ya what do you think it weight?
magoo

 

[irmagoo]

hi fuzzy
499 lbs - with connie and I on trike, in our seats
when I first made a drawing I knew engine/trans and cradle weight I estimated material etc. and thought this trike would weight about 1500 lbs. when completed,, this afternoon I weighted rear of trike its weight its was 930 lbs. so
499-350 connie and I =150 + 930= 1080 I would bet it will be close to 1500 finished
I don't have 3 beams 2 are at a friends shop I will weight all 3 corners at once tomorrow if he's in town he travels a lot !! hey I'll get shocks coming tomorrow for sure...
time to cook pork chops on the grill !! life's great magoo

 

[irmagoo]

ok weighted the trike all three corners, no one on trike total weight 1257 lbs. - 255 on front end-fuzzywazhe was close at 220!!

worked on link also I looked at a couple different ways to do tubing chose to cut angles and weld I like the industrial look!!

1.shows loop ends open I at first was going flat plate ends but think rounded looks better

2. left side looking towards front .

3.right side looking towards front.

4. shows brake for front .

5.showes rounded cap my choice - more work but I'm in no great hurry although would like to see it running this summer for sure!!

6. just a look at link as it will be when done parallel to ground. now need shocks!!

magoo

 

[irmagoo]

shocks

well called about QA1 shocks - they don't have springs light enough for my front end so will try a set of hd rear shock see how it go's,,,, hey I can spend the money on something else for trike!!!
magoo

 

[irmagoo]

well shocks should be here by Saturday,,, and I'm going to look at a fender tomorrow in the am its 7 1/4" wide tire is 7" so we'll see how it looks!

pics 1-4 just show the brake system

I first changed the rear wheel rotor to a new front wheel rotor

(had to open mounting holes in new rotor to accommodate the largerer rear wheel rotor mounting bolts:xzqxz new rotor is not as thick as rear wheel rotor was so-the pm caliper is happy with the thinner set up- It a has some play now so rotor won't drag so I'm happy too!!.

I then welded mounting bracket and made caliper mounting spacers 2 @ .354" thick they still have lay out dye on them in pic.,,, and the tig welding was going to look like a stack on dimes but I had to do it so looks like I pile of something else:blush: old eyes can't see puddle anymore eye doc says eyes got to get a little worse for Medicare to pay,,,, I guess they do eye surgery for ya right after you get the seeing-eye dog!! ok enough wining!!

hey I'm make'n progress !!

magoo

 

[Papa Zook]

Looking good Mike!

 

[irmagoo]

Looking good Mike!

thank you my friend,,

its been fun for me so far!!- I have not got to build anything for a while so I'm motived .

went over to a friends bike shop found a few fenders that will get me going, bought the 3 he had

1&2 . show a fiberglass fender that is 1/2" or so narrow- easy fix for me ...

3. shows 1 of two black abs fenders they are 8 1/2 or so a little narrow for rear and a little big for front???

does anyone know can abs be reworked I have added and removed material from steel and glass parts many times don't know anything about plastic.

if I can't rework them I could use as "mold" form a fiberglass fender- and then stretch it to fit rear then maybe sell the 2 abs fender :xzqxz:

sounds like a lot of work but I got time so we'll see maybe something easier will come along

magoo

 

[ride3]

Impressive!

 

[irmagoo]

Impressive:clapping:

thanks for look'n ride3,,,
I say your trike is what I'd call "impressive"
magoo

 

[butchvoss]

nice job on leading forks. May i ask what deg did you weld the neck at...I read the thread but missed the neck degs .. Im just now converting my junk over to leading link.. I still get confused with rake and trail.. thanks butch

 

[ride3]

thanks for look'n ride3,,,
I say your trike is what I'd call "impressive"
magoo

Thanks, but the huge difference is, I "didn't build that"

 

[irmagoo]

Thanks, but the huge difference is, I "didn't build that"

I considered a front end build similar to the one on your trike as I like the looks of it a lot, but I have wanted to build a leading link for many years - anyway I will ride this a while and then I may try a variation of the leading link style ,,,,but it takes time and its hard to say how much time I can give to play'n with this as I have many irons in the fire!! a lot of work that needs to get finished if it ever stops raining here in central il.
magoo

 

[irmagoo]

well guys I'm still waiting for shocks I ordered,,, I have a set of hd ultra air shocks I took off my bike @ about 500 miles - if others don't show up soon think i'll go with air shocks- just though springs and fluid would be less trouble- all-tho
I just set air pressure in spring & seems to hold all year in my sidecar rig,,,,
I just want to finish front end getting antsy!!!
magoo

 

[irmagoo]

I'm try'n
but old guys want what thy want and they want it nowww!!!!

 

[irmagoo]

ok I got the trike on wheels!! front end is close to done still work'n on a couple of things but heres what I got
1. shows you a good view of my junk and how front end sets
2.is a closer look at tubes and upper mounts they are not done but hold trike up with wife and I on it a few min. agoThumbUp
3.just a different view ,, I jacked trike up 3/4 inch and tacked upper mount
I will cut them loose and re-attach them about 3/8's so link will be leave with trike loaded I guessed wrong that's why I don't play the lotto !!:laugh:
you can see the 1 1/2 inch circle cut in on inside of tubes over tire that's where a tube/fork brace will live it will be different than that your use to seeing but should be cool... then I need to move on if I'm going to get this going this summer !!!
magoo