Strike! (Stretch trike)

[PaveLow]

I'm going to stretch this practically new (still had the film on the head badge) Schwinn Town and Country with a 3 speed Sturmey Archer.

 

[PaveLow]

Going with 27" apehanger bars above a suspension fork for the disc front brake, 26" front wheel with 2.125" rubber and 24" rear with 3" rubber on Mongoose mag wheels.
The stretch job is going to be cut and weld free.
I'm going to fab up a grip shifter to a stick. Found a couple of good ideas in RRB threads.
I don't have any idea what I'll do with the basket/cargo area.
I'm torn between a rattle can murder job or powder coating.

 

[Bike from the Dead]

I'm going to stretch this practically new (still had the film on the head badge) Schwinn Town and Country with a 3 speed Sturmey Archer.

As someone who tried to build a "muscle trike" last year, I wish you the best of luck. I'm curious to see how your trike will turn out!

 

[PaveLow]

I've seen some really amazing trike builds around the interwebs.

 

[PaveLow]

As someone who tried to build a "muscle trike" last year, I wish you the best of luck. I'm curious to see how your trike will turn out!

Why do you say "tried", what problems did you encounter?

 

[Bike from the Dead]

Why do you say "tried", what problems did you encounter?

Oh gosh, I almost feel like I'm having Vietnam flashbacks or something.

1. Spent way too much money just gathering parts, only to not use most of them
2. Found out it'd cost even more money to have someone fabricate the parts I didn't have (think like $1000 minimum)(not a fabricator myself)
3. Frequent changes in build direction
4. Should have shelved the build for later when I had a better idea of what I wanted to with it, before spending more money on it (Didn't)
5. Sandblaster nozzle clogged, then broke just a week or so before the deadline, preventing the last chance of submitting a rideable entry
6. Constant burnout from how out-of-control the build got, on top of burnout from real-life stuff

Overall, I got way too over-ambitious for my own good, and I didn't know how much everything would really cost to do the way I wanted. I also ran into a number of problems that were beyond my control, such as bad weather and a broken sandblaster, which really hindered progress at the tail-end of the project. And to this day, my trike is still not done. I still want to finish it someday, but I seriously need to figure out how I really want to build it before I spend another dime on it.

If you want to see the whole train wreck in action, just click on the link here.

 

[PaveLow]

Sounds like you were way more ambitious than me. Mine will be almost completely bolt on swap out mods. I gathered the stuff before I knew the BO was coming.

 

[Bike from the Dead]

Sounds like you were way more ambitious than me. Mine will be almost completely bolt on swap out mods. I gathered the stuff before I knew the BO was coming.

Yeah, and it was my first MBBO too, so I was uncharacteristically competitive and determined to prove myself to the RRB veterans. Now, I'm just trying to play things a little more conservatively and realistically. I'm not competing with anyone except myself this time. Sounds like you're playing it smart. You planned ahead, got the parts you needed, and odds are you'll get your trike done the way you want with time to spare!

 

[PaveLow]

I picked up 2 24" rim brake front wheels from Mongoose Alerts to use as rear wheels and 1 26" disc hub from a Mongoose Mack for the front. I need to paint the 24s to get rid of the rim braking polish and get the 1" hubs on the non drive side machined out to 1 1/8" to fit the axle bearings. The drive side hub needs to be modded to fit on the flat axle.

 

[PaveLow]

I did a mockup today and really like the direction this build is going to go. Just imagine this murdered out.
Profile

Front

Rear

With the cup holder.

Cup holder will be replaced with a stick shifter.

https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/threads/cheap-and-easy-shifter-mount-and-stickshift-conversion.66386/Suspension fork and disc brake.

Bolt on triangle will be extended about 6 inches.

 

[GeePig]

Oh yes, take out that cup holder, someone else can hold your beer while you're riding this!

 

[PaveLow]

Got it torn down as much as I need to for painting. Left side rear wheel is getting machined out from 1" to 1 1/8 to fit the axle bearing.
DIY idea for a paint stand.

 

[sdframe]

Excellent choice of wheels/tires. I'm looking forward to the finished product.

 

[curtisfox]

I got to say the same, really looking Kool.........Curt

 

[PaveLow]

I have the unfortunate task of withdrawing from the MBBO competition. While everyone is ok, all three of the residents of my home, my wife, daughter and I were diagnosed with and fought off the Evil Covid. We are ok but I was set too far back in my schedule to complete my build by the deadline. I will finish my build and show it off when it's done. Good luck to everyone.

 

[Karate Chicken Industries]

Be Well, Man

 

[sdframe]

I'm glad you're all okay. Stay well.