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MazdaFlyer

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I’ve had this JC Higgins frame and old shopping cart for a few years, setting idle collecting dust. The 24” wheel set are from TrikTor surplus parts. After doing TrikeTor I see steering issue right off. Hopefully this fits in class one, no welding ahead all bolted together.
I guess to stay active I’ll at least give this a shot, very well could be my first DNF. If this halfway works I’ll add a chain, seat, changeout the handle bars, maybe the fork, do some rattle can paint and roll with it. Might add a rear caliper brake.
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Mock-up ideas.
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This is gonna be way cool!
 
I removed the shopping cart wheels, a chore in itself. I started playing with the geometry. Then I temporarily attached the old TrikeTor wheelset. Need to take the axle apart to get it where I think I want it to mount. Kinda looks cool the way it is but stability is an issue. Thinking I need something like parade bars for stability.
The cart will need some reinforcement in a couple of places also.
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I'm thinking you see the small problem because you mentioned stability. It's the fork trail. Angled headtube makes one wheel lift off the ground when turning. While that thing looks cool it won't be a reliable rider. All front wheel trikes, carts or quads have a vertical turning point to keep the wheels on the ground. I know a few folks that have built something similar and they always end up trashing the idea. Art? Absolutely. ( I can't believe I'm saying this but...) just not a practical ride because at any speed a turn becomes a tipping point. That said, the cart is awesome and would make a nice sidecar...

Carl
 
I'm thinking you see the small problem because you mentioned stability. It's the fork trail. Angled headtube makes one wheel lift off the ground when turning. While that thing looks cool it won't be a reliable rider. All front wheel trikes, carts or quads have a vertical turning point to keep the wheels on the ground. I know a few folks that have built something similar and they always end up trashing the idea. Art? Absolutely. ( I can't believe I'm saying this but...) just not a practical ride because at any speed a turn becomes a tipping point. That said, the cart is awesome and would make a nice sidecar...

Carl
Yes, you’re correct on the steering. I had the same issues with TrikeTor. It maybe just dangerous rideable rat rod art ahead. I have plenty of reliable riders.
 
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Adjusted wheel location. Axle housing and fork mount next up. Trying to use the one of the failed fork mounts from TrikeTor. As @GuitarlCarl pointed out the frame will tilt as you try to turn rather like a clown bike.
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Great Grocery Getter!
or
The Best Beer Bike Ever! (Hero of the party🎖)

Hope you can figure out the steering. I think of some cargo type bikes that have a vertical head tube an hinge almost like a swing bike. The would be more work and turn into a class2, however.
 
Hitting the subscribe button after reading half of the first sentence in the first posting... :inlove:

When I was thinking around my initial idea of the eggbeater build in BuildOff 13 I cracked some eggs around the same lines:
What if you take a skateboard axle (upside down) to connect fork and cart and maybe create another flexible joint on the hight of the handlebar? This would allow the axle to tilt when taking a turn...

These are my rough sketches from back then:
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Adjusted wheel location. Trying to use the one of the failed fork mounts from TrikeTor. As @GuitarlCarl pointed out the frame will tilt as you try to turn rather like a clown bike or swing bike.
Tried two versions of the fork mount so far. The bracket has a center pivot point. Have a couple hatchback shocks I might try to allow the bars and frame to flex with pivot.
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I sourced a piece of black iron pipe for an axle sleeve. The axle is 5/8” UNC threaded rod. It fits through the pipe with 3-3/4” long ends exposed for mounting wheels.
This was done prior to mounting the fork bracket.
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Ride right from home, pull into Walmart and never get off the bike. Many of the customers who get one of the stores mobility carts aren't disabled and never show any proof to go for a ride. Some of them even call Walmart to have a cart brought out to them in the parking lot. Tell them you are saving them some work. "It's my emotional support bike!". You might want to think about a patent on this, it might catch on and everyone will want one. :113:
 
Just wrenching today along with some experimental design.
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