VW Coilovers for Leading Link Forks

[irondad01]

I don't know if it matters but keep in mind that the fender and braces will move with every bump the tire hits. Heavy = more reaction and maybe more chance to crack? I like the look of the rebar too.
I just realized I was thinking you meant 1 piece of rebar that is 2 1/2" in diameter. Did you mean 2 pieces 1/2" in diameter?

 

[Fowler]

Yep, 2 pieces 1/2" in diameter
The fender moved when on the old forks also, but not as much as they will on this new setup. Yes I am concerned about it holding up. I will just have to wait and see. It it does not hold up I will have to go to plan B (a 3D printed fender)

Yesterday I got the front brackets in place. Went with 3 pieces of rebar on each side. Right now they are just welded together at the bottom mount but I plan to make some other cross braces between them. I will post a pictures later.

I started on the back wraparound brace with the 1/2" rebar but I do not like how its turning out so far. I have not decided what I will do about it yet.

Tomorrow the temperature is going to get in the 60s so I plan to get it on the main road. Hope I don't get caught because I will not have any of the lights on it yet.
I should have tested it more on the main road before now but its been to cold.

 

[Fowler]

Its ready to take out on the main road tomorrow. I have no lights yet so I hope I don't get stopped

I still have some dress up to do and make the cross braces on the front 3 braces
I have not decided what pattern I want the cross braces to be
On the inside of the fender there is a flat bar across all 3 bolts on each side to distribute the force


Welded the rebar to the rockers and then welded a flat piece across both on the outside. I think the next time I tear it apart I am going to put one on the inside also

 

[Fowler]

Just got back from my ride. Only about 10 miles.
Got it up to 65 mph
It did turn easier
It pulled a little to the right. I think (not sure) I can adjust this by adjusting the left or right shock
It was stiffer then I would like and I have the shocks adjusted all the way down. I think I need to go with lighter weight springs. I know I can get 180lb springs.

 

[Fowler]

I ordered the 180lb springs. They don't get here until the 5th.
Today I am going to measure the angles again to see if anything changed
I'm also going to work on the lights again

 

[irondad01]

This might be a crazy idea but your handlebars are kind of long. With light pressure on the grips does it pull constantly to the right. What I'm trying to say is could it be your handlebars are just off center a little and as you ride you're trying to center them causing it to go to the right?

 

[LarryA]

Sounds like you might hve to park the trike on level ground stand back an do some serious eyeball measurments. both of my trikes had longer fork tubes and needed tweaking for twist and being square with the trees , also fork length differences and as you stated, rocker angles...good luck, you will get it!

 

[TomyJ]

Hay BIB! Before you do anything, "CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE'S" First ride at 65MPH, WOW!!!
Ride safe...

 

[Fowler]

This might be a crazy idea but your handlebars are kind of long. With light pressure on the grips does it pull constantly to the right. What I'm trying to say is could it be your handlebars are just off center a little and as you ride you're trying to center them causing it to go to the right?

It steers straight. The handlebars are centered. If I let go it pulls to the right.

 

[pwhoever]

Is it a hard pull to the right or more of a drifting?

Just to add, have you tried going down the left or right side of the lane or down the center to see if maybe the crown of the road is effecting this?

 

[Fowler]

Took some measurements.
left and right legs The angles changed from before but they are still only .1 degrees off


Left and right rockers
again .1 difference


One mount for the turn signal


They are just sitting on the mounts. Printing another one now

 

[Fowler]

Is it a hard pull to the right or more of a drifting?

Just to add, have you tried going down the left or right side of the lane or down the center to see if maybe the crown of the road is effecting this?

It drifts to the right. Not a hard pull.
Did the same both direction on the same road.

 

[Fowler]

Hay BIB! Before you do anything, "CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE'S" First ride at 65MPH, WOW!!!
Ride safe...

you know I did not check the pressure on any of the tires. I will do that today

 

[LarryA]

Bob ...just a thought, check for any drgging rear brakes , uneven rear tire pressure and any camber or toe differences on the rear axle.

 

[Fowler]

Bob ...just a thought, check for any dragging rear brakes , uneven rear tire pressure and any camber or toe differences on the rear axle.

Yep, I was just out working on the lights. I did notice my right rear wheel has more positive camber then the left. Not sure why yet.

 

[Fowler]

Did not get a lot done today. Its a nice day so we are going to BBQ and shoot guns.
My new springs came in. I will install tomorrow or Monday

Got my headlights coated. They are drying now. Will wire them up next.

 

[HyBird1]

I have not posted on this side for a long time Im usually on the Non-VW side now. But im working on my VW Trike now. So here I am
View attachment 130178
Anyway... I want to build new front forks for my VW trike. I want to build a leading link setup and was thinking of using VW coilover

Does anyone know the average spring weight of something like these?
Anyone ever try this with these
View attachment 130177

 

[HyBird1]

View attachment 131428View attachment 131429

This is a Pic of a rear end of Harley with 16" inch springs

 

[Fowler]

Got the headlights wired up and mounted. Still need to clean up the wires


Back when I first built it I numbered every wire. I put wire tags every so often on each wire.
Made it easy to know what was low and high beam wires. Did the diagram in an old version of Visio
I accidentally used 1 wire number 2 times.
Can you find it?

 

[irondad01]

Are you trying to drive these old eyes crazy? At least with Where's Waldo he was wearing a brightly colored shirt.
Your front end is really looking good with the paint.

 

[LarryA]

Bob .. I'm liking the look you've got going on there!!

 

[Fowler]

I just got back from another test ride. This time with the 180lb springs.
It was a lot better. I like the 180 springs much better than the 220 ones. It is a lot easier to steer then the last forks.
It still drifts to the right a little but not as much as before. If I have to I can live with it.
I am going to tighten up the left spring by 1 turn to see if that helps any. Not sure if it will since both rockers are connected in the back by the rap around
I need to get the turn singles done now. One of my 3D printers in down and I have parts ordered for it. It was the one I was printing the turn singles on. My other printer just finished what it was printing so I will start printing them on it. Oh I forgot, I made some improvements to the turn singles so I have to reprint them.
While they print I have to figure out where I am going to mount the stereo.

 

[HyBird1]

Looks like a Madmax trike...ready for the ride into thee apocalypse

 

[HyBird1]

Here's a better look at my front fork set up and straight arrow front suspension

 

[Fowler]

Here's a better look at my front fork set up and straight arrow front suspension

Interesting, I see that your triple tree plates are welded together and the neck is slid in between the 2 plates. I actually thought about this but decided against it. How is your steering setup? I see the 1 arm off the top plate.

 

[Fowler]

I was thinking......
I am not going to adjust the left spring yet. I still need to do a rear brake job and adjust the camber. That is not the next job yet though. I am working my way from the front of the trike to the rear. I do know I am going to replace the brake backing plates, adjuster springs, brake pads and drums.
Once that is done I will adjust the front springs if still needed.

 

[Fowler]

Cleaned up the battery area yesterday, I originally had another horn and more light in front but I took them off a log time ago. I cleaned up the wires. I also mounted the shocks and wheel again. My son noticed my headlights are a little crocked so have to look at that today. I think today I will tackle the stereo. At some point I have to work on the fender. It has some big pits in it. No cracks though.

 

[HyBird1]

Interesting, I see that your triple tree plates are welded together and the neck is slid in between the 2 plates. I actually thought about this but decided against it. How is your steering setup? I see the 1 arm off the top plate.

This steering set up my dad figured out is absolutely amazing. I'm not the expert on this. But I can get it up to 80mph and take my hands off steering wheel and it goes straight as an arrow. Absolutely amazing
I'll take better pics of the steering arm down for you and post

 

[Fowler]

Still working on it.
Working on Turn Singles, fender, seat, stereo.
I need to reprint the hand throttle assist
I'm getting ready to order brake parts.


I will post other pics tomorrow or Monday

 

[Fowler]

Thinking about this instead
Classic VW Beetle Rear Brake Drum 5x205 Overhaul Kit | eBay