MAKING A TRIKE

[Fred Camper]

Good to see steady progress.

[transitman]

thanks Fred. Work will slow up a bit now, got to get the caravan to daughter's house in the wilds near Barnsley this weekend, ready for Christmas visits. That will take me a day or two and whilst I'm there got to look at her 58 BSA Bantam, a rorty little 175cc two stroke. Had 3 of those a while ago, 60's and 70's, great little bikes but she will need speedway steel plates on her boots this weather.
Should get back to the trike by Thursday next and press on with the rose joint fittings. Life couldn't get much better, could it!
Now to walk the dog whilst the sun's up, I shall post a picture of my other trike soon...

[transitman]

Dean
decided to run with your idea but mount it on the nose of the diff
where there is plenty space. Off to the breakers yard Thursday am to find
a starter motor and flywheel ringgear

[transitman]

bit of a festive pause for a few days. gone down with a cold and sore throat so staying away from Chris, he doesn't need more challenges for the moment.
still working up Dean's idea of the starter motor for reverse, hope to pick up the bits at the breakers soon.
sold the 2 Morris Minor wheels and made a profit of £1. can't be bad.

Seasons greetings to everybody, all the best for the Christmas holiday and the new year to you all, and may all your traffic lights be green.

[transitman]

happy new year to everybody

started back on the trike today - no pictures yet, not properly organised. Working on propshaft and reverse gear thingy. found a free flywheel plus ringgear from an 02 Alfa 156, sourcing a starter motor for it now, shouldn't cost too much.
Chris still laid up and unable to do much other than watch tv so have decided to order the carb overhaul kit and give him something to do...

[transitman]

the Randakk carb kit and pipes kit came just 24 hours after ordering from Wingovations, great service. Put the box of carbs, the kits, and a handful of tools in front of Chris and gave him something better to do than watch all those American custom bike shows. He is slowly getting his new knees working but the ankles are as bad as ever.

I pressed on with the propshaft, rummaged around Chris's rubbish bin found this delightful gizmo:

IMG_1144.JPG

which after a little effort turns into this:

IMG_1146.JPG

you will see where it goes later...
then found a length of scrap seamless tube with a rather good 1/4 inch wall thickness and carefully turned down a short length of it

IMG_1147.JPG

finish is not an issue, fit is. Laid out the bits on the bench

IMG_1148.JPG

At the far end is the blank adaptor for the flywheel and ring gear, resting on the UJ of the shaft. the other end of the shaft has had it's UJ carefully cut off. The tube with it's turned end will fit snugly into the open shaft. The scrap gizmo will fit in the end of the tube. The splined end of the bike propshaft will get chopped off next and the gizmo drilled and reamed to take it. The flywheel work will come next.

could only manage a couple of hours today, old age takes it's toll. Can't help getting excited about it now, most of the tricky stuff is nearly done, I hope.

[transitman]

Very little progress for a couple of days - Transit in for new exhaust and a big heavy front suspension joint to be changed, both too much for me these days. the exhaust on it is the original from April 2002 so it's not done bad at all. putting a proper Ford one back on

Second hand starter motor for the flywheel and ring gear is now in the post, £29 delivered, one month guarantee! flywheel was given for free by the engineer doing the Transit work, it was just lying around his workshop. When I pick up the Transit tomorrow I shall take the flywheel to Chris's workshop and get on with the fitting. Can't wait

[scootsx2]

I just stumbled across your project. Very interesting - I'll be following your progress.

[Fred Camper]

Good solid progress, sure hope your head cold is resolved. Nice to see Wingovations doing an excellent job.

[Old Fogey]

Good solid progress, sure hope your head cold is resolved. Nice to see Wingovations doing an excellent job.

Yup, sure coming on. As to the service, well, we do try. In fact my father always said that I was very trying!

[transitman]

head cold sorted, thanks!
Hi scoots - hope I can keep you interested, and thanks again for the service John. Chris hasn't started the job yet but promises to have it done on time. he has made it out of the house for the first time on his own since the double knee job - improved his temper no end. I'm just waiting on the call from Ian the garageman to go and collect the Transit. feel lost without it.

[Liam]

A fascinating read there, Transitman (currently without Transit)
Keep up the GREAT work.

[transitman]

thank you Liam, and yes, still without Transit. Ian the garageman rang today, said it's ready, but I have to wait in for the rat man so can't get it til tomorrow. Our cottage is around 200 years old and has loads of places for rats to hide in winter. Alan the rat man has joined the ranks of old car users, got himself a Morris Minor. I know far too much about them so it will be good to catch up with him again.

[Old Fogey]

For all them across the Pond wondering

a) what a Transit is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit

b) what a Morris Minor is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Minor

This NOT factory!

morris-minor-sii-01.jpg

[transitman]

that looks like a bog-standard production run Moggy to me...