spring mounted pillion.

[cavie]

Got a little time on my hands and I'm asking for some input on a passenger seat mod. Looking for ideas on mounting the passenger seat on my 1300 VTX trike on a spring or springs. Front of the seat has a tong that slides into the back of the Mustang driver seat. The back of the seat bolts to the fender with a single bolt. This is where I'm thinking of installing a long bolt/stud with a spring. I'm thinking something along the lines of an automobile valve spring might work. Seat would ride up and down on the spring and hinge on the front tong. Does this sound plausible???? Think of the old springer bicycle seat when you were a kid. Moma's got a couple bad discs. When I can't dodge a pothole with one of the three wheels I get the head slap!

 

[MDGeorge]

" Looking for ideas on mounting the passenger seat on my 1300 VTX trike on a spring or springs."

This is so you can shoot her off the trike?

 

[Trikerbobbilly]

I understand what you are looking for and the concept is doable but an automotive valve spring has a very stiff spring rate designed to prevent the valve from bouncing when it closes at high RPM rates, this would give it a very harsh ride if used for a seat spring. What you would need is a progressive spring that starts off with a light spring rate and increases as it is compressed. The problem is you would have to have one that is long enough to handle the weight without bottoming out, once the spring bottoms out the jolt to your wife would be worse than if you hadn't used the spring to begin with. I feel your best option would be to have her seat refoamed, a company that redoes seats could use varying lairs of differing density foam to create a seat that not only provides good support but offers better cushioning. I also have Mustang seats on my VTX and though they provide good support for long rides they are not what I would call a soft seat by any means, just my thoughts, hope they help.

 

[Gold Rush]

Butch do you remember those old bicycle seats had two springs and a pivot up front? That three point arrangement kept the seat from twisting as the rider shifted their weight. If you do decide to pursue the spring idea, I'd recommend the three point idea as a minimum. Four point (two pivots & two springs) would be even better.

Good luck with the project. Photos of the process would be interesting to see. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[keepinon]

You might consider an old tractor leaf-type spring. I put one on an old BSA many years ago, worked really well for the driver of the single seater. I just don't know how you would mount it. My X 2-whlr has the steel fender, but I don't know about your trike.

I used similar to this:

http://www.tractorpartsinc.com/ford_tractor_seats_6833_prd1.htm

 

[skuuter]

Yep, You'll have to mount the front with a pivot, and two rear springs to prevent side to side roll......

 

[cavie]

Butch do you remember those old bicycle seats had two springs and a pivot up front? That three point arrangement kept the seat from twisting as the rider shifted their weight. If you do decide to pursue the spring idea, I'd recommend the three point idea as a minimum. Four point (two pivots & two springs) would be even better.

Good luck with the project. Photos of the process would be interesting to see. :xszpv: :xszpv:

Yep, that's just what I had in mind