home built trike

[ufkacbln]

Trikes need two wheel trailers.

When the single wheel trailer corners, the trailer tips in alignment with the rear frame of the cycle. On a trike the rear frame stays upright. The trailer still tilts, but puts stress onthe frame, in particular the pivot for the rear triangle

 

[XRHYSX]

Trikes need two wheel trailers.

When the single wheel trailer corners, the trailer tips in alignment with the rear frame of the cycle. On a trike the rear frame stays upright. The trailer still tilts, but puts stress onthe frame, in particular the pivot for the rear triangle

This is my trailer

 

[Night Train]

This was mine.

The trailer is now being dismantled as it is too heavy. The wheels are being used with my Brompton trailer.

 

[XRHYSX]

For people who don't know, this is what I'm trying to build
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK2WK0ax_gU

 

[XRHYSX]

Made the track rod the other day, just finished the tabs to bolt it to the steering arms this morning,
I will weld and bolt it together tonight after the kids go to bed, need space in the garden to test it before I weld it fully

lovely weather today

 

[XRHYSX]

Steering tabs welded, Track rod attached and adjusted, one ball joint is left hand thread whilst the other is right handed, so to adjust it I just have it roll the bar back or forward

 

[XRHYSX]

Also made the handle bars, Cut two MTB stems down, and cut a kids handle bar in half, then welded them together

 

[starhawk]

!!Beware of that washing machine!!
No Ackerman? How would that affect the steering, or is it just a little more wear on the tires. See that it uses direct steering not a fan of that, seems very awkward to me. I wonder about those hooks on the steering arms, are they intended for anything else beside mounting the fenders?

 

[Wobbly John]

I think the in-board set of the tie-rod pivots gives the Ackerman steering. I'd guess that the 'hooks' on the stering arms are for mounting caliper brakes.

I'm makinga similar trike but making slower progress:

 

[XRHYSX]

Its got Ackerman, just doesn't show it well in the shot,
No fenders planed at the moment,
Yes those 'hooks' are for mounting caliper brakes

 

[XRHYSX]

A better shot of the Ackerman effect

 

[Night Train]

It is looking really good!
Well done!

 

[starhawk]

Well mine has drumbrakes so I didn't count on calipers, then the sturdy hooks make sense. I have fenders on the front wheels but I am planning to remove them, they are in the way when you need to go in reverse. I don't ride much in rain anyway, I will however keep the fender on the rear wheel.
Interesting to see the build progress and the different solutions, even though I would for example have changed the steering to indirect, makes more sense! even though it is more complicated

 

[XRHYSX]

Well mine has drumbrakes so I didn't count on calipers, then the sturdy hooks make sense. I have fenders on the front wheels but I am planning to remove them, they are in the way when you need to go in reverse. I don't ride much in rain anyway, I will however keep the fender on the rear wheel.
Interesting to see the build progress and the different solutions, even though I would for example have changed the steering to indirect, makes more sense! even though it is more complicated

I think I may fit a fender on the rear. The indirect steering is more complicated, this is ment to be a very basic/cheap build hence no expensive drum/hub/disc front brakes,
not planning on taking this on the road or doing any sort of long mileage on it

 

[Night Train]

On my Ratrike the track is fairly narrow, and I have long arms, so I am able to reach the outside of the wheels to reverse, despite having chunky wooden mudguards on.
I do like having mudguards as my first time out, on grass, I ran over some hidden dog poo with the right front wheel and got splatted in the face!

Drum brakes are a bit more fiddly to sort out, especially trying not to have an asymmetric layout as many brakes, drum and disc, don't come in left and right hand versions.
I am designing mine around having a front and rear SA drum backplate, as they are handed differently. If it doesn't work out then I might make my own and have twin leading shoes. It then becomes quite a major engineering project.