Showing posts with label wheel supports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wheel supports. Show all posts

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Wheels?

This needs explanation:  
I used flat electrical panel plates to make the parts that support the wheel axles.  2 of the plates I took and inch off the top.  The other two plates I drew a line across one (1) inch from the top.  I placed these plates in the vise with the line even along the top of the front jaw, with a piece of 3/4" round tubing clamped behind it.  Then I used a hammer to wrap the top of the plate back around the tubing.  Those are like the one you see clamped around the tubing closest to you.  The straight ones are clamped to the cargobox square tubing.  At 1-5/8" in from the bottom edge, and centered side-to-side, I drilled a 3/8" hole, then used a hacksaw to cut a 3/8" slot from the edge to the hole.  Then I placed a piece of 1/4" angle Aluminum (just a handly piece of scrap) to line all these up as I clamped them for welding.  These aren't centered on the sides, but located just aft of the pivot point.  Why?  I don't know.  Just because most of the cargotrike frames I have looked at, had it that way.   

Here it is with the plates welded on to hold the axles. 
Notice the 3/8" slot cut  down to the drilled hole.

Here it is with 24" wheels 

Looking at the bottom with 24" wheels on.
The rope is because I was trying  drag it to the house to show my wife, and it just kept pivoting back and forth.  So, I had to lock it down with the rope in order to tow it behind me.  It will be okay once I weld the aft portion of the bike to the main tube and attach some kind of steering bar to the cargobox frame.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Needs Wheels

To the cargobox frame, I have added the outside support tubes for the wheels.  These are large enough to contain 26" wheels.  Designed for the use of front wheels only.  I marked the 3/4" tubing at 4" and 37".  I aligned the 4" mark with the arrow on the tubing bender and gave it a 45° bend.  Then I cut the tube at the 37" mark, measured back 4" and put another mark to align with the arrow in the tubing bender for the other 45° bend.  Before doing the second bend, I eye-balled the tube to make sure both bends would be in the same plane of reference.  Rotated the bent end until it lined up straight, then made the second bend.  Make sure the tube parallel to the box frame, is 4-1/8" out from the frame along the middle straight side.   Also check by laying the tubing down on the frame and supporting it with a bit of scrap to make sure the outside of the tube ends don't extend beyond the cargobox frame.  If necessary, you may want to tighten the bends a bit.  Draw extensions of your frame line and cut off the tubing at an angle for welding to the box frame.

This definitely won't roll through a door now.