My descent into madness.....come along (multi project thread)

Parts deliveries are almost keeping pace with me for a change. Ran to the hardware store to get stuff to mount the axles to the spring plates. Got home, box on porch. Rear shocks, perfect timing. Start mounting stuff, back to hardware store to get 3 nuts to replace the ones which were in the wrong bin and I didnt pay attention...sigh...(right size, wrong thread pitch) Modified the lower mounts for the rear engine cage so I could mount that up. Drilled some reference holes through the tubes into the mounts. I'll eventually insert rivnuts in the mounts so I can secure the tubes to the mounts, overall the tension alone holds it in place pretty well so a solid set screw in each tube should suffice. hmmm thinking on it as I type there may not be clearance for a riv nut there. If not I'll fall back to self tapping screws I guess.

and yes....I made the reference marks on the lower tubes to the outside...instead of on top which I almost did before I remembered there was gonna be an engine there :)

New switchgear. Mostly because I wanted an all in 1 with headlight switching. Trying to keep the switches/gauges/lights cut into the body to a bare minimum, even has a high beam indicator built in. Kinda a cheap unit but I'm kinda cheap. They only make them for 7/8 bar but its a plastic housing so a little gentle dremel work and it fit the 1 inch bars fine.

Remade the rear body mount for a few reasons. First the old one was just ugly and cheap. Second it was not removable so someone hacked into it pretty bad to get the starter out. New one is removable and has nut inserts for the body mounting so I dont have to fiddle with trying to wrench from both sides.

Old mount was low with a 2x4 in between body and mount. At first I thought that was just lazy but then I realized that provides better cushioning and wider load spread for the body to prevent cracking so I will do the same (but with some 1" ply instead of a 2x4)

I've always wondered: How does the clutch operate on one these? Is there some sort of pedal mechanism? I have to think a bar mounted leverage wouldn't provide enough leverage to operate a larger car engine pressure plate.

Ian F wrote: I've always wondered: How does the clutch operate on one these? Is there some sort of pedal mechanism? I have to think a bar mounted leverage wouldn't provide enough leverage to operate a larger car engine pressure plate.

Riding/driving one of these is an experience. Take everything you know about driving a car, and everything you know about riding a motorcycle and forget it all.

Controls are as follows

Throttle - traditional twist grip on the bars.

Brakes - Right foot pedal

Clutch - Left foot pedal, cable in this instance but hydraulic is common as well.

Shift - standard H4 turned sideways and shifted with left hand

Add to that you have to steer when you mind says "lean" and it will be a big re-learning experience.

Given the light weight how much shifting is really required? Is 1st even useful aside from traffic crawling?

BrokenYugo wrote: Given the light weight how much shifting is really required? Is 1st even useful aside from traffic crawling?

First is useless unless you like wheelies. It will even lift the front in 2nd if you aren't careful.

JThw8 wrote:

BrokenYugo wrote: Given the light weight how much shifting is really required? Is 1st even useful aside from traffic crawling?

First is useless unless you like wheelies. It will even lift the font in 2nd if you aren't careful.

So, first is the most fun gear?

Got the alternator installed. A bit more fiddly of an effort than it may seem. Also had to drill and tap the engine tin screws which broke off. Waiting on some new screws and miscellaneous seals to button the motor up and put it back in. Im down to re-running the wires, running the throttle cable (need to get the engine in first) and drilling the body to mount it. My caliper brackets should arrive this week so I'll be able to button up the brakes when they get here.

I understand why shifting gets done on the left, but why does the H pattern get turned sideways?

Woody wrote: I understand why shifting gets done on the left, but why does the H pattern get turned sideways?

I guess "sideways" depends on how you look at it. Still the same pattern but the shifter is rolled over to the left so first is down and forward, down and back for 2nd, up and forward for 3rd, up and back for 4th. Its just the whole side shifter thing.

one more update for the day. The nice thing about working with VW based stuff is you can buy anything you need. The bad thing about working with VW stuff is you can buy anything you need. Leaves that custom fabrication itch unscratched. So with an exposed motor I need a fan belt guard. There are pretty much 2 available and everyone has em. Boring. So let's make our own. Sorry just started tonite so its not near finished.

Started with the guard that came on the trike, no point in reinventing the wheel as far as general dimensions and mounting points.

cut out the center and cut an aluminum filler panel. Still noodling ideas of what to do with the aluminum center but I think I have a plan.

That's as far as I got tonite, the dogs are tired of me ignoring them.

Dimples! Lots of them

java230 wrote: Dimples! Lots of them

wish I had a dimple die, that would be the plan. Im gonna go for a low buck version of that I think

so, opinion/vote time.

The rear engine cage. Previous owner called this thing the "murder cycle" and as such rattle canned everything flat black. Needless to say I've been changing a lot of that. It appears the cage used to be chromed. I've had good luck removing the flat black from other bits with some goof off graffiti remover and fine steel wool. Problem is I dont think I really want a chrome cage back there either.

Leave it black (maybe the satin/semi gloss I've been using instead of flat) Back to chrome Paint it something else? Thinking about flaking it in the gunmetal grey Im using on the wheels if theres enough flake left.

and as long as we are talking opinions. I have a front fender that I'd need to make some mounts for. Not sure if I want to add it or not. Until the local popo makes me I wont be running rear fenders so I'm not sure if a front fender with no rears would look odd or not.

Thoughts?

JThw8 wrote:

Woody wrote: I understand why shifting gets done on the left, but why does the H pattern get turned sideways?

I guess "sideways" depends on how you look at it. Still the same pattern but the shifter is rolled over to the left so first is down and forward, down and back for 2nd, up and forward for 3rd, up and back for 4th. Its just the whole side shifter thing.

So... sort of like a column shifter, flipped to the other side.

Fenders... I'd vote for full fenders. Especially if you might have a passenger. Last thing you'd want is for them to inadvertently lower an arm/hand onto a spinning tire.

Ian F wrote:

JThw8 wrote:

Woody wrote: I understand why shifting gets done on the left, but why does the H pattern get turned sideways?

I guess "sideways" depends on how you look at it. Still the same pattern but the shifter is rolled over to the left so first is down and forward, down and back for 2nd, up and forward for 3rd, up and back for 4th. Its just the whole side shifter thing.

So... sort of like a column shifter, flipped to the other side. Fenders... I'd vote for full fenders. Especially if you might have a passenger. Last thing you'd want is for them to inadvertently lower an arm/hand onto a spinning tire.

I won't be doing rear fenders unless I get hassled by the local authorities. They look like ass on this body style. I don't intend to have passengers much. Heck I dont even have rear upholstery and its very low on the list :)

Its more the thought of front fender or no if I'm not running rear fenders.

My missing box of brake parts is on its way today! Woohoo, I can finish a system.

Finished up the fan guard this morning, nothing too crazy but at least it doesn't look like all the other off the shelf parts.

In reply to JThw8:

Nice!

Looks good!

My only thinking for running a front fender is that tire can throw a lot of road crap right at your face. Is there a good looking option?

java230 wrote: Looks good! My only thinking for running a front fender is that tire can throw a lot of road crap right at your face. Is there a good looking option?

I got a fender with the bike that doesn't look terrible. I guess I'll make some mounts for it and paint it when I paint the trike. I can always take it off if needed.

I should also note on the road crap side of things. As "uncool" as it is I only ride with a full face helmet these days so I'm covered there :)

In reply to JThw8:

Sounds like a good plan!

Ugh, frustrating morning. Got notice from the PO that my lost box with my 2nd wheel and caliper mounts was arriving today. Woohoo. Shift gears from the plan to work on wiring to finishing the brakes. So if you've ever done brakes on a VW there's a 36mm axle nut torqued to OMFGTHATS TIGHT and then glued in place by years of rust, I knew this would suck. First one was only on hand tight...hmm, good thing we're doing this job. 2nd one was the usual battle and with no weight on the trike it was fun. Won the battle though. Installed the new caliper brackets, went to install the rotors....long spline rotors, short spline axle. Shows how "vintage" this brake kit really is (much nicer caliper bracket than the new stamped steel stuff) since I haven't even seen long spline rotors in years. They just sell you the short spline with an adapter. Oh well put those on the shelf for something in the future and order up a new set of rotors. At least I can mount the calipers temporarily to run the final brake lines. Then I think its shop clean up time before I start wiring, its a mess in there.

Great builds, man you work fast, make me feel like a slacker. Love the color for the trike

Billy_Bottle_Caps wrote: Great builds, man you work fast, make me feel like a slacker. Love the color for the trike

Thanks, Im off work this week so things look faster than normal. Im motivated because I promised the wife she'd have her jeep by June and if this trike prevents that from happening Im in the dog house a long time. But she's out of town for the week and I really need some warmer weather for the next step on the jeep so Im trying to take advantage of the time.