Freewheeler "Chopper" Project

[Free Bird]

So you plan on being there Sat. morning, the 17th?

She is finished............. at least until I take her to the seat maker on Monday!:clapping:

Point is... It runs, it's dyno'd and dialed in, its loud, the headlights are bright as hell (I installed a Headwinds Tomahawk with an LED lamp and white LED driving lights with turn signals) and it is back to being a trike to ride!!!

It will make its debut at the Doc's Bike Show Saturday. I will post the pics then.

 

[MDO]

She is finished............. at least until I take her to the seat maker on Monday!:clapping:

Point is... It runs, it's dyno'd and dialed in, its loud, the headlights are bright as hell (I installed a Headwinds Tomahawk with an LED lamp and white LED driving lights with turn signals) and it is back to being a trike to ride!!!

It will make its debut at the Doc's Bike Show Saturday. I will post the pics then.

It should quit raining by 10-11 & I'm coming up to Doc's. Did you go to Ted's HD to dyno it?

 

[Free Bird]

It should quit raining by 10-11 & I'm coming up to Doc's. Did you go to Ted's HD to dyno it?

No Chris figured it out and did it in house. It sounds awesome. Love the SVT's

 

[Jack Klarich]

She is finished............. at least until I take her to the seat maker on Monday!:clapping:

Point is... It runs, it's dyno'd and dialed in, its loud, the headlights are bright as hell (I installed a Headwinds Tomahawk with an LED lamp and white LED driving lights with turn signals) and it is back to being a trike to ride!!!

It will make its debut at the Doc's Bike Show Saturday. I will post the pics then.

Pictures Please

 

[MDO]

I saw it today at a show and it's awesome. Free Bird will be posting pictures later, he had a function to attend.

 

[Free Bird]

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....



Here she is....

 

[Free Bird]

Got a pic with MDO but missed getting one with 2ndheart (Sorry Harrison)

 

[Free Bird]

And it sounds Freaking COOL! I have a movie.... but can't figure out how to load it....

Here is the final summary of what I did...

Front End

· Forks/Trees – HD

· 21” x 3.5” 80 Spoke (Twisted Spoke) Wheel – Paughco

· Metzler ME 888 120/70-21 Marathon Tire

· 21” Wrapper front Fender (Modified profile) with custom machined mounts/spacers – Klock Werks

· 19” Ape Hanger Handlebars – Santee

· Chromed Lower Legs, Calipers, Axel Nut Covers and Rotors - HD

· Round Mirrors – Biltwell

· Chromed Controls and Nostalgic Grips – HD

· Wheel Spacers – Willy Shiny

· Tomahawk 7" Headlight with LED kit - Headwinds

Clear Coated Braided Steel Brake and Clutch Lines

Rear Tires/Wheels

· Sportsman Radials 29x18 R-15 LT – Mickey Thompson

· 08/61 S/S 15x14 Wheels – Cragar

· Custom Wheel Adapter - 4 x 4.25 to 5 x 4.5 x 2” – Owner

· Fenders & differential/swingarm mounts – Jerry Hass Racecars

· DK's heavy Duty Axle Bearing Retainer Plates

· Custom Turned LED Tail/Brake/Turn Lights – Owner



Frame & Body

· 35” “Tipi” Sissy Bar – Ginz Choppers

· 19” Driver Banana Boards - CycleSmiths

· Banana Board Brake Pedal (Driver and Parking Brake) – CycleSmiths

· Parking Brake Pedal Extender - Mid Step

· Passenger Boards - Picard USA

· Chrome Frame Covers - Kuryakyn

· Extended Brake Pedal – Kuryakyn

· Solid Extended Shifter – Baker Customs

· License plate holder - Drag Specialties

· Illuminated license plate frame – Chrome Glow

EngineTranny

· Displacement – Stock 107”

· Woods 22X Cam

· Screaming Eagle Throttle Body

· Screaming Eagle HD Pushrods

· S&S Oil Pump

· Air Cleaner with Twin Can External Breather System - DK Customs

· Thompson Spark Plug Wires

· Screaming Eagle 10 Plate HD Clutch

· AIM Clutch Slave Cylinder

· Engine and Tranny Covers - Kuryakyn

Exhaust

· Vance and Hines Power Duals Header

· SVT Gen II Bonecrusher Slip-On Mufflers

BUT WAIT!!! THERE'S MORE!!!!



I take it to the saddlemaker Monday for fitment of a King and Queen seat

Then I get to ride it more and work on the foot clutch and hand shift!

Then.... for release in 2021.... "The Long Bike Trike" Science project begins anew orag:

 

[Jack Klarich]

Jeff, that is 1 bad ass Freewheeler

Keep an eye on Michael, I think he wants your trike

 

[MDO]

Jeff, did you take 1st. place?

 

[Jack Klarich]

Jeff, did you take 1st. place?

If not it was rigged

His trike is a true 1 of a kind, I dig it

 

[MDO]

I wasn't gonna mess with my engine, but he has me thinking about the cat less head pipes & the Woods cam.

 

[Free Bird]

Thanks Jack

Yes it took first place in the Trike Category. Bet of show was a really nice two wheeler chopper.

I am very happy with all of it. (Duh) WELL worth the wait and the journey!

The forum was a major help. I am really glad to have this resource.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Thanks Jack

Yes it took first place in the Trike Category. Bet of show was a really nice two wheeler chopper.

I am very happy with all of it. (Duh) WELL worth the wait and the journey!

The forum was a major help. I am really glad to have this resource.

Good to have you and your talent/ vision here

I would be scared to ride that beauty for fear some Bozo would gawk and crash into it

Enjoy your ride and your SMILES:clapping:

 

[Zammy]

Jeff, what a beautiful piece of machinery you've turned it into, very nice !!!!

 

[Jack Klarich]

I wasn't gonna mess with my engine, but he has me thinking about the cat less head pipes & the Woods cam.

That combo will make your trike a real sleeper, hang onto them handle bars

If I get a wild hair I may change my cam and dump the chain drive for gear drive like this

https://www.sscycle.com/products/465g-gear-drive-camshaft-kit-for-2017-19-m8-models/

 

[Free Bird]

That combo will make your trike a real sleeper, hang onto them handle bars If I get a wild hair I may change my cam and dump the chain drive for gear drive like this https://www.sscycle.com/products/465g-gear-drive-camshaft-kit-for-2017-19-m8-models/

Yep... It is a WHOLE lot more responsive now. From a dead stop it is going to take ma a little getting used to . On the highway it is very nice to know I can jump from 60-70 without it feeling heavy. This cam is a torque MONSTER. That is why I went for it. I am not a hot rodder, I just added a lot of weight to the bike and wanted to have the torque to deal with it.

The folks at Woods said the chain drive was net really something that needed to be changed unless you were building a hot rod. So I passed on it. I know the gear is more direct and reliable, but they said it was not really a significant adder to responsiveness given the mods I was doing.

 

[wheelerza]

Congrats Jeff, beautiful, one of a kind, machine. I followed this thread from the beginning, you must be delighted with what you’ve achieved! You’re still going with the springer front end?

 

[trikeman]

:clapping::wave4:

 

[Free Bird]

Congrats Jeff, beautiful, one of a kind, machine. I followed this thread from the beginning, you must be delighted with what you’ve achieved! You’re still going with the springer front end?

Yes.... but next year. I want to ride it for a while. I went for a 75 mile ride around Franklin County Sunday dodging light rain but had a straight up blast! The new shocks ride like a dream compared to the OEM air units. The response that I get from the Woods cam is great too. Reliable acceleration is nice! The bars are tall but very comfortable. Bottom line: The upgrades are awesome!

So the springer will wait while I enjoy some miles. It does go to the saddlemaker today to get a king and queen seat.... but other than that... it is ride time (finally)

 

[MDO]

Good to hear Free Bird. You deserve some ride time. When I return from my trip, maybe we can get a ride in.

 

[Free Bird]

Well.... I had my first operational design issue. Since I put the fenders on I have not been above 65 MPH (just realized that when this event occurred) as I have been riding the quieter blacktop two lane roads and not the super slab.

I was driving the bike to the saddle shop on a freeway and within a mile or two broke free of rush hour congestion and opened her up. When I hit 70 the fenders started a hard oscillation banging into and off of the tire. The sound scared the hell out of me at first as I thought the calipers had come loose or???? Then I saw it. The LH fender was trying to flap like a wing. I pulled over and inspected things. No breaks, cracks etc.... So I pulled off at the next exit. No problems. Got back on the highway and cranked it up. 50 MPH NP, 60 ..same... 65...same... 70? BANG BANG BANG.... :gah:

So, It appears as if airflow and/or nodal vibrations (harmonics) in the structural elements have an issue at speeds above 70.

Good News - I can pull the fenders off and keep riding

Bad news - Engineering a modification/repair likely means a re-paint for the fenders (Damn)

One of my theories is the gap between the tire and fender (~0.250") is too tight and the fender is lifting off the tire. Think about how those tires shed water from the tread pattern... air is a fluid too... so at speed they could be creating an air flow that lifts the fender. The solution for that fix could be swapping the MT 29x18 R15 tires for 28x12 R15 tires. That would give me 0.500" vs 0.250 clearance and perhaps provide an exit for the airflow. I lose width but save the paint.

It is just a theory though

The other fix would be to increase the stiffness of support structure by moving from 1/2" to 1" round bar in the fender frame. Essentially rebuilding the fender. I would also have to thicken the bracket and beef up the attach points as I would move that bending load someplace else by stiffening the uprights. But I could also add the clearance of the smaller tire at the same time and retain the tire width I like ...

So gotta make a choice

First thing is to remove the fenders.... I will be able to think better when I am riding orag:

 

[RedOregon]

I'm thinking it could get ugly if your tires picked up a rock, roadkill, bolt off a truck, or what have you at speed with that little clearance between the fender and tire, too! Something else to take into consideration...

 

[Free Bird]

I'm thinking it could get ugly if your tires picked up a rock, roadkill, bolt off a truck, or what have you at speed with that little clearance between the fender and tire, too! Something else to take into consideration...

You are right. I have thought that for a while. I actually had already planned on slotting the holes to give it a little more clearance, but this event makes it more mandatory that I make a permanent change.

 

[RedOregon]

You are right. I have thought that for a while. I actually had already planned on slotting the holes to give it a little more clearance, but this event makes it more mandatory that I make a permanent change.

Yeah, and with luck, the extra gap *might* reduce the airflow sucking on the fenders. DAMN sharp looking machine, saw it featured somewhere the other day... Instagram maybe?

(edit) Yeah, on the Ginzchoppers feed! Perfect sissy bar!

 

[Sidecarbill]

I had a t bucket with fenders. My fenders were rigidly mounted. They didn't move.They had 1" clearance,not enough. As the tires would grow the faster you went. At 70 you would start to hear them, at 80 it was like a siren. Its possible the tires are hitting and it's not an airflow problem? Just check the bottom of the fenders you should see the evidence.

 

[Free Bird]

I had a t bucket with fenders. My fenders were rigidly mounted. They didn't move.They had 1" clearance,not enough. As the tires would grow the faster you went. At 70 you would start to hear them, at 80 it was like a siren. Its possible the tires are hitting and it's not an airflow problem? Just check the bottom of the fenders you should see the evidence.

THANKS! Great thought... This is why I like this forum!

They only have 25 lbs in them and they are big and relatively soft so that is definitely something to evaluate. Where did you end up on clearance for the T Bucket?

 

[Sidecarbill]

I ended up with about an inch and a half. It wasn't what I wanted but it's what I ended up with. Those fenders were like the flat chopper fenders and had a little lip on the side. Helped to hide the issue. I know we don't use dragster tires. But it's an ideal example of how tires grow at speed.

 

[Free Bird]

I ended up with about an inch and a half. It wasn't what I wanted but it's what I ended up with. Those fenders were like the flat chopper fenders and had a little lip on the side. Helped to hide the issue. I know we don't use dragster tires. But it's an ideal example of how tires grow at speed.

Yep. Sure is. I had not given that consideration.