Custom Reverse Trike Builds and Other Custom Projects
on to the next project
Posted on
22
Jan
2010 - by
stevem In:
electric 2 seater trike
well we brought back the old frame we made before the motorcycle. got some front spindles from peter d motorsports and fabbed up some control arms. then we mounted the hubs to the spindles and here we sit. check out the pictures.
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TomA
January 22nd, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Well, I’m concerned.
You have the attachment ears for the heim joints perpendicular to the direction in which they move. that means that you will have the minimum amount of deflection (suspension travel) available before the joints go into bind. What is the maximum deflection (angle from dead flat) that these heim joints can take? Typically, its about 20 degrees. Really expensive heim joints with almost spherical inner races are 27-28 degrees, and I’m not aware of anything more than that. That’s 10-14 degrees of angle up, and 10-14 degrees of angle down, assuming everything is assembled with all the heim joints in a perfectly neutral position at ride height.
I know a lot of work went into this, but the design is simply not the way heim joints are supposed to be used. Those frame tabs are all supposed to be vertical. The arc of movement in the heim joint is supposed to be axial around the heim joint mounting bolt that passes through your frame tabs, putting no angular force on them, and not angularly away from the bolt, trying to twist it out of the tabs. This design will bind one or more of the heim joints, then either break the joint or tear it out of the frame. I’m worried you only have maybe 3-5″ of safe suspension travel this way, which you will then really have to firmly limit both up and down to protect the joints and frame tabs from failure. Please check your heim specs and carefully measure how much they will deflect (and compare that to your specs) before you put any more work into this design.
Not trying to be alarmist, but this just isn’t a proper use of these components. unless you intend to have so little suspension travel, and so firmly controlled, that the suspension arms basically aren’t going to move.
I’m very sorry I don’t like it, but I really, really don’t.
TomA