Frame Tech
Harley Wide Glide Front End Ordered For The VW Trike
May 11th, 2009 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech, Front End Tech | CommentsAfter some conversation with my mentor Bud, I’ve decided to make the major purchase decision of a front end for the build…
I’d been watching these on e-bay for quite some time. One of the vendors that kept coming up was Demon’s Cycle. For a total cost of $442 with Free FedEx shipping I’ve picked up a Chrome Billet Smooth Front End 2″ Over for Harley Wide Glide…
Trike Build – Harley Neck Options
May 9th, 2009 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
It’s been a while since I posted an update on the trike build… I haven’t touched it for over 6 months as some other things came up. I’m still looking for a Fat Boy front end at a reasonable price.
In the meantime, I figure I can get the frame finished. Rather than use the front end and the neck from the donor bike, I’ve opted to find a good Harley front-end and a custom machined neck.
I found one on E-Bay today from the seller http://motors.shop.ebay.com/merchant/kirk1.309
His description is as follows and will help you in your build…”IF YOU ARE BUILDING A FRAME OR JUST CUSTOMIZING YOUR EXISTING ONE, YOU WILL NEED A NEW STEERING NECK. THIS NECK IS CUSTOM MACHINED FROM 1026 DOM STEEL. THE OD IS 2″ AND IS ID IS MACHINED TO 1.312″ TO ACCEPT THE BEARING CUPS. THE LENGTH IS 5-5/8″& IT ACCEPTS STANDARD 1″ TRIPLE TREE SHAFTS. SHOP AROUND & YOU WON’T FIND ONE CHEAPER! THESE ARE BRAND NEW & MADE IN THE USA. I WILL SHIP NEXT BUSINESS UPON CLEARED PAYMENT. THANKS FOR LOOKING!!”
Total cost was $25 plus $8 for shipping from Monmouth, IL. It was certainly worth my time to purchase rather than make one of my own. 20 minutes after the purchase I received an e-mail that he had already dropped it in the mail. Now that’s service.
I’m also looking at Fat Boy front-ends from the following…
http://stores.ebay.com/DEMONS-CYCLE-SOUTH
and
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/MOTOTEKS
If you have any input I’d love to hear it.
Justin
Reuse the Neck from a Motorcycle or Custom Neck?
August 7th, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | CommentsI’m still in the parts gathering stage and almost ready to get the Chiffarobe out of the garage to start working on the trike. I’ve cut the old front end off the trike, cut the neck off the motorcycle and amd nearly ready to get rocking.
As soon as I get the refinishing done on the wardrobe for my wife and as soon as I get that out of the garage and the rest of her teacher supplies organized and on the shelf I’m ready to move forward…
I figure I’ll be ready by Mid-August to dig into the building… I did get the body ordered from the Glassmann and it was a great experience. More when it arrives in my driveway… it was shipped yesterday.
I’m not going to do any frame building or welding until I get the body in house. It is scheduled to arrive from GA tomorrow.
I’ve got the disc brakes and shocks for the rear end rebuild and now have the wheels and tires as well… that’s exactly where I need to be when the body arrives.
I hope to be at the rolling stage by the end of August. I asked my mentor “If I cut off the neck from my 1980 Yamaha XS850 donor, can you weld these on to the frame or will they distort? Is it better to custom make the neck to fit the bearings and races and if so how much would it cost to have you machine it?”
Bud responded… “I like making a neck that’s heavier than the stock. Motorcycle are made into the frame to make them strong.” We both determined that I can actually reuse my neck.
By the way, neck angle for a non-springer suspension should be 36 degrees 32 Inches from bottom of the Tubing and internal V of the Neck to the ground…
Cutting the Transmotor out of a VW Beatle
August 1st, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
This is where you cut the pan for the VW Trike Frame start…
Hinged Trike Body – Service Bar
August 1st, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
Here’s another shot of the service bar and the rear seat framing…
Hinged Trike Body – Service Bar
August 1st, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
Here’s the front of the hinge for the trike body. This will be the best thing you’ll ever do in your VW Trike Build.
Service Bar and Rear Seat Frame
August 1st, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
Here is an example of the seat frame and the hinged service bar. The rear tubing that comes off of the seat frame is excessive…
Hinged Trike Body – Service Bar
August 1st, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
Here’s the front of the trike with the hinge in place… the front of the body has a piece of aluminum in the front so the bolts don’t pull through the body.
Hinged Trike Body – Service Bar
August 1st, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
This is the front side setup for the hinged body. This would mount inside the front of the body, the body would be sandwiched between the hinge and a sheet of aluminum to make it solid.
These hinges are nice and tight and have rubber/plastic bushings in between the joints. It is then bolted to a piece of metal that is welded to the 2×4 tube frame.
Service Bar on Hinged Body
August 1st, 2008 | Posted by Justin Kaiser | Category: Frame Tech | Comments
This is a moveable service bar. It swings up to lift the body making it easy for service underneath. This is anothe ingenius idea.
But the wiring is horrid…