recumbent trike build
- Thread starter stuee147
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OP
OP
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
Wow that's perfect how did you find that ? What search engine do you use I use Google but never get anything I'm looking for I'm sure there must be a trick to it lol
Iv noticed on that same site they have a parking brake I like the look of that but im sure I can make one now iv seen the pic it might not look as good as the ones they sell but I much prefer to have the fun of playing about making things and of course there is nothing better than being able to say with all honestly I have designed this trike myself and iv custom made most of the parts myself
classic33
Leg End Member
Dual brake cable for tandem bicycle, and went from there.
I'll agree, making your own and being able to say it beats buying one any day.
Parking brake, use a toe strap as suggested or make a small insert that fits between the lever and the body of the lever. Sold some years(20+) ago for around a tenner.
I'll agree, making your own and being able to say it beats buying one any day.
Parking brake, use a toe strap as suggested or make a small insert that fits between the lever and the body of the lever. Sold some years(20+) ago for around a tenner.
OP
OP
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
Yes that's sort of how I ment with useing a bolt threw the bottom sort of turn the peace one the wheel frame into a handlebar stem
I have a large brake leaver quite a square body and I was thinking I could convert that quite well as its body is so big but would that not make the pulls on the cables different surely the cable further away from the hing bit of the lever could get an extra 5_6mm pull and with more power ? Or am I now over thinking it. If it was a standard bike and you used it for front and rear you would want that slight biass on the brakes so the rear didn't lock up
classic33
Leg End Member
fixedfixer
Veteran
I find it difficult to work out from the photos but has the steerer tube come apart from the original fork crown? Perhaps the brazed joint has suffered due to extra heat of you welding in that area? I could be quite wrong here.
OP
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stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
yea thats exactly what has happened. its my own fault really as i didnt have any plans or guide to go by i knew the tube and the forks were 2 pieces but i never thought of how they might be joined, it was only a few days ago as i was reading threw the plans i got from atomic zombie that i found that once you trim the forks leaving just the crown with the bearing seat on the end of the tube that i should of run a small weld around the bottom where i had cut it down to fix the two sections together.
as soon as i read it i began to worry but i thought i would of got it when i welded the dropouts on, but it looks like i was wrong lol. but hey thats how we learn just give it a go and if it dont work try a different way
in the plans i have it shows that there is a weld run around the bottom holding the tube to the fork crown and there is no sign of brazing on it at all. and i cant braze anyway lol dont ask me why i really dont know iv tried but can never get a secure joint lol
fixedfixer
Veteran
"lol. but hey thats how we learn just give it a go and if it dont work try a different way"
Like your attitude to making stuff.
Like your attitude to making stuff.
OP
OP
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
i think its so much more fun and rewarding to make things even if they dont work its the trying and playing about i like you just cant beat it"lol. but hey thats how we learn just give it a go and if it dont work try a different way"
Like your attitude to making stuff.
fixedfixer
Veteran
Any progress on this build or have you started a mk2 ?
OP
OP
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
not much been done im afraid i fixed the headtube but iv not tested it apart from a couple of runs round the garden. iv got lots of ideas of things to try but not been good enough to get out and do them
but on the bright side i have received a pair of 20" bmx wheels with 14mm axles and 48 spokes wheels today and i have some steel box section on its way and a bike with rear suspension and disk brakes on order and should arrive by the end of the week so mk2 is on its way
fixedfixer
Veteran
sounds like you've got plenty to be working on then. Keep the progress reports posted with photos.
OP
OP
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
well i have received the bike with suspension and rear disk brakes and i have carefully dismantled it after having a quick play lol and i have the parts to be welded all ground down and sanded ready to weld. iv also now got the inner tubes, tiers and rim tape for the 20" wheels and iv put them all together. now im waiting on the box section to make the frame from and ill be away. i haven't taken any pics yet but i will try and remember to get pics of all the bits and bobs so far tomorrow,
i think this build will be a little slower i just cant seem to get motivated properly, its taken me 2 days just to clean the 3 parts up ready to weld but im hoping that when the metal arrives it will give me the boost i need but we will see. but as soon as i do anything ill take some pics and pop them up here
i think this build will be a little slower i just cant seem to get motivated properly, its taken me 2 days just to clean the 3 parts up ready to weld
but im hoping that when the metal arrives it will give me the boost i need but we will see. but as soon as i do anything ill take some pics and pop them up here
OP
OP
stuee147
Senior Member
- Location
- north ayrshire
well today the last of the bits i had on order for MK2 has arrived iv now just got to prepare cut and weld it all together 
iv not got much done so far just a few little bits of cleaning up and stuff i have made a duel brake leaver here are some pics
the leaver and a plastic thinggy you find on the guide ropes on tents
slot cut out for the plastic thinggy
plastic thinggy inserted
2nd plastic thinggy with the 2 outer holes drilled out and taped to take cable adjusters
here is the completed duel control for the front brakes the 2 plastic thinggys are secured with self tapping screws and of course the tension of the cables,
iv not tested it out yet as iv not built the trike lol, but i cant foresee any problems with it the 2 plastic thinggys from tent guide ropes are very tough and dont have any real flex so i dont see a problem with them but just in case iv also made 2 metal ones for if i need them. but i think the plastic looks better as it matches the brake leaver quite well.
iv also started work on a leaver for the rear brake that will lock on at the push of a button but if you pull the leaver it unlocks automatic, so there shouldn't be any risk of locking it on as im riding. im trying to find the right stiffness spring. i started off with quite a stiff spring and 6mm bar but it was to bulky so im now playing about with an old cheap tent peg (the type that bends when you use it ) and the spring out of a pen and it seems to be working quite well im just having to fine tune it so it looks and works well.
the other thing i have made is a couple of jigs to hold the front wheels. on my first build the biggest problem i had was trying to hold things in place with clamps and by hand and weld with one hand and its not easy i can tell you i ended up sitting with one leg wrapped around the front wheel while the other had the frame balanced on the knee and still trying to hold the angel finder and make sure everything was in line. not easy i can tell you many a blue word was said
so a couple of bits of 2x2 screwed together with a 14mm hole drilled threw at the hight of the axle on a 20" wheel and tada
a couple of wheel stands then once the trike is built to a point where i dont need the stands any more i will trim down the axle on the side of the stand the free side is where it will connect to the trike im also going to make a couple of other jigs up as i did struggle with MK1 on my own some parts are easy to clamp but a lot are very hard if not impossible to get clamps around due to the size, shape and even angel that there at. one thing i can recommend for anyone thinking of doing a build themselves get your mates around to help the more hands to hold bits the better, or if your a billy no mates like me 
then the best things you can buy are the magnetic welding clamps if i didnt have a couple of them i would really struggle.
anyway hopefully depending on the weather and on how i am i will get the frame started tomorrow so fingers crossed
stuee
iv not got much done so far just a few little bits of cleaning up and stuff i have made a duel brake leaver here are some pics
the leaver and a plastic thinggy you find on the guide ropes on tents
slot cut out for the plastic thinggy
plastic thinggy inserted
2nd plastic thinggy with the 2 outer holes drilled out and taped to take cable adjusters
here is the completed duel control for the front brakes the 2 plastic thinggys are secured with self tapping screws and of course the tension of the cables,
iv not tested it out yet as iv not built the trike lol, but i cant foresee any problems with it the 2 plastic thinggys from tent guide ropes are very tough and dont have any real flex so i dont see a problem with them but just in case iv also made 2 metal ones for if i need them. but i think the plastic looks better as it matches the brake leaver quite well.
iv also started work on a leaver for the rear brake that will lock on at the push of a button but if you pull the leaver it unlocks automatic, so there shouldn't be any risk of locking it on as im riding. im trying to find the right stiffness spring. i started off with quite a stiff spring and 6mm bar but it was to bulky so im now playing about with an old cheap tent peg (the type that bends when you use it ) and the spring out of a pen and it seems to be working quite well im just having to fine tune it so it looks and works well.
the other thing i have made is a couple of jigs to hold the front wheels. on my first build the biggest problem i had was trying to hold things in place with clamps and by hand and weld with one hand and its not easy i can tell you i ended up sitting with one leg wrapped around the front wheel while the other had the frame balanced on the knee and still trying to hold the angel finder and make sure everything was in line. not easy i can tell you many a blue word was said
so a couple of bits of 2x2 screwed together with a 14mm hole drilled threw at the hight of the axle on a 20" wheel and tada
then the best things you can buy are the magnetic welding clamps if i didnt have a couple of them i would really struggle.anyway hopefully depending on the weather and on how i am i will get the frame started tomorrow so fingers crossed
stuee
