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The Dangerous Trike

Dangerous Brian

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
I don't know if this trike has ever been on the road but a couple of things strike me that would make me check carefully just to be sure, don't think i'm taking the pee mate i'd much rather say & be wrong than you finishing it & then having to go back over it again :oops: so...……..

The prop looks at a very steep angle from the pic so I am wondering if the UJ might catch in use, maybe when the suspension compresses a bit, presuming reliant UJ's they will run at a 33 degree angle without catching (could be just the angle of the pic but worth mentioning I think)

Rear shocks are leaning in which is going to make then stick a bit under load I would have thought & even if not that will be hard on the seals & bushes ……………. not sure what's going on with the bottom shock mounts but they look like they could spin on the tube unless they are pinned to the frame ? …… and lastly sorry but the top of shocks need to lean forward a bit to work properly, as they are even without the lean (inwards) once the suspension tries to move they will stick, the rear wheels move in a big arc around the pivot point so as the shocks are I think you will get a little movement then it will effectively become a hardtail

On a good note, good work on the handbrake, I know how bloody awkward a job that can be (y)
43E314B1-7747-44FD-BBD2-B33105BD1D74.jpeg

Here is a better picture of the shocks, the bottom is solidly fixed and there is a forward lean at the top. I have built the whole setup to be firm but not quite hard tail. I have “load” tested the back end and am now happy. The other shocks were way too soft.
The prop angle is steep but the prop is specifically modified. I have done full rotation test with the axle off the ground and with it full compressed with a load. No interference but I won’t be able to fully confirm until I take it on the road.
I have no doubt that I will find problems when I do get to doing road tests. Luckily as I live in the sticks I should be able to do some road testing before I have to present it to DVSA.
 

slim63

Never surrender
Club Sponsor
Sounds good dangerous (y) I guessed you would have got all those things sorted but they are mistakes I have seen (& fixed) time & time again so thought them worth mentioning :)

One last thing that comes to mind & yes you have probably thought of this too :D
Is the axle in upside down to suit the rotation of the engine? I cant quite remember as its been a while but didn't they all have a breather on top of the diff ? ……………. what I am thinking is if its in upside down as I suspect the breather is now on the bottom & either needs to be or has been blocked off, if that's the case it does need a new breather on top of the diff
 

Squag1

Can't remember....
Club Sponsor
Checking the oil level routine is same as Bird. Run it for a while then a few minutes after turning it off check level.

Battery looks huge!!!
 
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Dangerous Brian

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
Sounds good dangerous (y) I guessed you would have got all those things sorted but they are mistakes I have seen (& fixed) time & time again so thought them worth mentioning :)

One last thing that comes to mind & yes you have probably thought of this too :D
Is the axle in upside down to suit the rotation of the engine? I cant quite remember as its been a while but didn't they all have a breather on top of the diff ? ……………. what I am thinking is if its in upside down as I suspect the breather is now on the bottom & either needs to be or has been blocked off, if that's the case it does need a new breather on top of the diff

Now I might make a few mistakes.. :crybaby2: but you live and learn.
I was worried about the prop angle but my trusty gauge says it is 17 deg off the straight line to the right. The diff is inclined (up) so that angle is even less.
The top of the shock is 25mm off arc but I can adjust the bottom if they bind.

This morning I have modified the flasher unit to allow full LED = 100% success. Easy when someone tells you how.:campeon:

Axle doesn’t have to be inverted because the drive from the bike is on the right. Only invert if the bike drive is on the left.
 
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Dangerous Brian

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
Sounds good dangerous (y) I guessed you would have got all those things sorted but they are mistakes I have seen (& fixed) time & time again so thought them worth mentioning :)

One last thing that comes to mind & yes you have probably thought of this too :D
Is the axle in upside down to suit the rotation of the engine? I cant quite remember as its been a while but didn't they all have a breather on top of the diff ? ……………. what I am thinking is if its in upside down as I suspect the breather is now on the bottom & either needs to be or has been blocked off, if that's the case it does need a new breather on top of the diff
Checking the oil level routine is same as Bird. Run it for a while then a few minutes after turning it off check level.

Battery looks huge!!!
YES :D full size car battery for those cold star mornings and running a few extras. Got plenty of space so I thought I’d go big.
 
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andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
View attachment 49830
Here is a better picture of the shocks, the bottom is solidly fixed and there is a forward lean at the top. I have built the whole setup to be firm but not quite hard tail. I have “load” tested the back end and am now happy. The other shocks were way too soft.
The prop angle is steep but the prop is specifically modified. I have done full rotation test with the axle off the ground and with it full compressed with a load. No interference but I won’t be able to fully confirm until I take it on the road.
I have no doubt that I will find problems when I do get to doing road tests. Luckily as I live in the sticks I should be able to do some road testing before I have to present it to DVSA.
Er, can you talk us through those curtains please?

Not what one might expect for a tough hairy arsed biker.
 

Dangerous Brian

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
6F261F56-8ACD-49DB-A8FD-850BD4C61921.jpeg
DD5B1253-1B84-4F2A-8EA1-9274D2401098.jpeg

So got me some spraying done today. Happy with the primer (yes I easily pleased) so tomorrow I might try to get some base coat on.
 

slim63

Never surrender
Club Sponsor
Now I might make a few mistakes.. :crybaby2: but you live and learn.
I was worried about the prop angle but my trusty gauge says it is 17 deg off the straight line to the right. The diff is inclined (up) so that angle is even less.
The top of the shock is 25mm off arc but I can adjust the bottom if they bind..

All good stuff but what about the breather ?

Axle doesn’t have to be inverted because the drive from the bike is on the right. Only invert if the bike drive is on the left.

Not quite right I have build a few trikes all left hand side drive & some have to have the axle flipped due to the rotation of the output but by no means all
 

Dangerous Brian

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
All good stuff but what about the breather ?



Not quite right I have build a few trikes all left hand side drive & some have to have the axle flipped due to the rotation of the output but by no means all
The diff itself does not have a breather. It is a Rialto axle so there is a small hole in the left hand tube about 6” from the hub.
I have read that it’s a good idea to tap it and fit a breather/filter. I will try to find the article and look at getting it done.
 

slim63

Never surrender
Club Sponsor
The diff itself does not have a breather. It is a Rialto axle so there is a small hole in the left hand tube about 6” from the hub.
I have read that it’s a good idea to tap it and fit a breather/filter. I will try to find the article and look at getting it done.

I have used a small air line fitting with a pipe off it bent over at the top to keep water out in the past that seemed to work well, not much for breather filters myself as they clog on the inside unless they are on a pipe a foot or so above the diff
 

Dangerous Brian

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
5272EEB8-8029-4530-8B90-9B63565A9F09.jpeg
B4887D9F-93BD-45E5-8296-854B88C24E6D.jpeg
98DF8D90-6884-479F-B41B-273DED3A4435.jpeg

Now putting the plastic on, seat will need a little modification to lock it on. The old tilt system is beyond repair so I’ll do a hook and bolt system.
All lights are wired and working just need to waterproof the connectors.

With the tank in place I have fitted the new fuel pump and filter. It still feels odd to have live electric contacts inside the petrol.
Once I connected the fuel feed and return the right way round :oops:, the engine fired up without a problem. Although I still have to build and fit an exhaust.
 

andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
View attachment 49872 View attachment 49873 View attachment 49874
Now putting the plastic on, seat will need a little modification to lock it on. The old tilt system is beyond repair so I’ll do a hook and bolt system.
All lights are wired and working just need to waterproof the connectors.

With the tank in place I have fitted the new fuel pump and filter. It still feels odd to have live electric contacts inside the petrol.
Once I connected the fuel feed and return the right way round :oops:, the engine fired up without a problem. Although I still have to build and fit an exhaust.
Only asking as I genuinely have no idea - will the drive shaft be ok at that angle?
 
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