Basket-Case 🛒

[MazdaFlyer]

Conceptual idea in rat rod style at this point.

The fork has a pivot point, a sliding connection at bars to basket to ease up the frame lean when turning. Need to fine tune this, along with adding a failsafe bar to handle connection.
Now what kind of stress will the basket handle? Possibly looking for a crash test dummy…

 

[handyandy1100]

Looks like somebody threw a wrench in the works!

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Looks like somebody threw a wrench in the works!
View attachment 192312

At least not a Monkey Wrench…use what’s “handy”.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Dugout a couple of old skiptooth chains. Started them soaking in some WD-40. I like to bag them and freshen up the solution every other day for a while. Hopefully one of them will workout.

 

[gowjobs]

The trick to getting a reverse trike like that to lean into the turns is to angle the headtube/steering pivot slightly FORWARD at the top. If you can come up with a bolt-on solution to make that happen, you could even keep it in class 1.

 

[rat krate orange]

Conceptual idea in rat rod style at this point. View attachment 192311
The fork has a pivot point, a sliding connection at bars to basket to ease up the frame lean when turning. Need to fine tune this, along with adding a failsafe bar to handle connection.
Now what kind of stress will the basket handle? Possibly looking for a crash test dummy…

Call up Sheldon Cooper, he'd make a great Crash test Dingus... Good luck...

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Bolt the cart solid to the frame, allowing room for the handlebars to turn. The ends of the forks could move rods that pivot the axle. Centering springs and cambering the wheels out at the bottom might help it handle too. Really just trying to figure out a way to get the steering on a flat plane...
Just thinking out loud, this is a cool project. That vintage cart is awesome.

Carl

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Bolt the cart solid to the frame, allowing room for the handlebars to turn. The ends of the forks could move rods that pivot the axle. Centering springs and cambering the wheels out at the bottom might help it handle too. Really just trying to figure out a way to get the steering on a flat plane...
Just thinking out loud, this is a cool project. That vintage cart is awesome.

Carl

What you describe is what I did with Trike-Tor a couple of years ago.
Going to experiment with reducing head tube rake angle without scraping pedals on ground.

 

[handyandy1100]

What you describe is what I did with Trike-Tor a couple of years ago.

I thought it kinda sounded familiar.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

To avoid falling onto the slacker page I did some mock-up modifications this morning. I made a new fork pivot bracket that let me reduce the head tube rake and lower the mount about 2”. This reduces the frame tilt some more. Still need to work out a slip connector at bars.
I also dropped the basket an inch. I still have pedal clearance, low and slow…

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I noticed that making sparks fly is considered a highlight…
In making my new fork pivot bracket, I used a cutoff wheel and grinder to fab the rusty steel angle into shape. I just didn’t record any video of all the sparks I generated. I even drilled three holes and made metal chips.

Added some pedals to check for ground clearance.

 

[GuitarlCarl]

Sparks huh? You know the drill, without pictorial proof... It didn't happen. lol.

GC

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I noticed that making sparks fly is considered a highlight…

Lol cutting an Elgin is a little different than grinding angle iron

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Lol cutting an Elgin is a little different than grinding angle iron

Really, the steel angle is probably as old as an Elgin. It came from my folks property at least 70+ Years ago, so not quite as old as an Elgin.
And the angle came off the end of a long piece that acts as the wheel stop for my wife’s Mazda car.
1/4”x 3” x 3” angle, it got shorter by 4”.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I played around with the steering while it was still cool, 94 now. Also made a todo list. The frame is pretty much vertical in the following pics. The steering is limited and the turning radius would be large at this point.

I thought I had a couple hatchback dampeners, but I think I sold them at a swap meet as I can’t find them.
so I’ll try to make a couple of springs work as counteracting dampeners.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Really, the steel angle is probably as old as an Elgin. It came from my folks property at least 70+ so not quite as old as an Elgin.
And the angle came off the end of a long piece that acts as the wheel stop for my wife’s car.

Let them sparks fly!

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Rough mounted a couple of 1” DIA x 35.4 lbs safe working load springs to counteract the steering pivot. It’s a start, needs a little rat rod tuning.
Also picked up a couple of eye bolts to stabilize the axle with the cart basket.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Decided to mock-up axle stabilizer using a couple 3/8” x 4” eyebolts with a 1”+/- opening which fits over axle black iron housing. The eyebolt snakes through basket and is held in place with a washer stack, lock washer and nut. Still need to redrill one hole on basket clip angles.
Funny how the forum software doesn’t place photos in the order you select them when uploading.

Probably going to work on cleaning up a chain in order to find out how squirreling funny this rides as is.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I had a pair parade bars…so experimented with attaching them to basket and fork pivot. Just an idea at this point. We’ll see how it goes when I get the chain on.

Just combining unconventional parts in a unique, maybe crazy way to make a functional mechanical device in this case a rat rod rear drive tricycle.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Working with two chains to get one skiptooth the right length. Need to find the quick links in my shed. Hope I have two and I still need to remove one pin.
Maybe a death-ride on Monday…