Bicycle question, three-wheelers??

[Elorrum]

Martiansky,
The derailleur is cheap, plastic mainly. I couldn't set the high and low points for it with any certainty since the set screws were just going through a plastic part. It's easy to throw the chain if I don't shift carefully. A decent replacement would solve that. I think your idea of a front chain ring set would be great (and I might steal it) A granny gear teeny one in front would be a nice option if pulling a trailer or something. The drum brake is squeaky on the playa... very squeaky, but it works.
Spooky tooth cycles has another kit option I was looking at, but the two chains at the back instead of the chain from the pedals driving the axle directly was confusing to me. http://www.spookytoothcycles.com/compon ... gory_id=74
I don't put miles on this trike, it's not put together except for one week on the playa, then I take it apart to put it in my car to my garage...etc.

[Martiansky]

Ellorum, I sent an email to SpookyTooth and the reply they sent back,
They are no longer offering the trike conversion kits at this time.
Ahem....
The link they sent me to http://www.motorbicycling.com seems to be for all things related to bicycle motors.
Im just looking for a trike kit, with wheels. Not having much luck.

[unjonharley]

Ellorum, I sent an email to SpookyTooth and the reply they sent back,
They are no longer offering the trike conversion kits at this time.
Ahem....
The link they sent me to http://www.motorbicycling.com seems to be for all things related to bicycle motors.
Im just looking for a trike kit, with wheels. Not having much luck.

Google: heavy duty bicycle hubs or wheels

[Martiansky]

Unjon, I will give that a try thanks.

Ellorum, is the drum brake part on your trike kit removable?
I was thinking that I could get one of the conversion kits, make sure it works on the bike I want to use and then bring the parts to make said bike(which should be just the rear wheel and chain Im thinking) with just in case the trike isnt working out there.
Sound feasable enough?

[Martiansky]

I didn't bring a rack 2011, took the whole thing apart and put it inside the car. I'll try the rack this year, and see how I can reduce the parts I need to break it down to. Best case scenario is it fits intact, but I have a feeling it's just too wide.
edit to add: Zeke, I love the stock pot cargo case!

Ellorum I just saw this picture of your trike! I dont know how I missed it before.
Its SUPER COOL LOOKING!
I love the frame and fork you used. I bet those alone were a pretty penny. Did you get them on the same site as the trike conversion kit?
And are the tires...painted or already that color?
I put purple tires on my playa bike in '05 and after about 5 minutes of riding they weren't purple anymore, they were playa coated!

[Elliot]

The derailleur is cheap, plastic mainly. A decent replacement would solve that.

I have a pile of surplus derailers. Want me to ship you a few? Send your address by PM.

[Martiansky]

Well dang my luck!
I was going to order a trike conversion kit today and now they have none in stock!

[gyre]

Foo

Keep looking.

[Martiansky]

I called the company and they arent getting anymore in stock either!
My fault for waiting so long.

[gyre]

Somebody will have one, even if it's an individual.

Keep looking.

[FIGJAM]

Kamikaze option, put the battery in front!

[Martiansky]

Looks great Figjam! Nice job!
Does the extra weight up front make turning difficult?
How long does the battery last before you recharge it?

I scored a 20" fat tire wheel set and a Giant Dub frame and fork off the net the other day.
Unfortunately the back wheel has a coaster brake set up so I'm going to try an old skool trick we used to do.
You diasassembe the back hub and remove the internal brake shoes, then add a washer, a spring and a nother washer(O@O)(can get at hardware store) to hold the tension inside and then reassemble the hub. It makes it so you can pedal backwards and the brake wont apply.
The only difference is I know it will work on Bendix coaster brakes but the wheel I have has a Falcon brand coaster brake set up that Ive never worked with before.
Still working on find a trike kit for the back but now I've got a frame and fork to build off.
I did pick up a little wire feed welder so maybe a will try to make my own bolt on conversion kit instead.

[Elorrum]

the tires...painted or already that color?
I put purple tires on my playa bike in '05 and after about 5 minutes of riding they weren't purple anymore, they were playa coated!

The tires are made by a company called sweekskinZ, they are colored and reflective. I found them online at a wallmart kind of store out of the midwest. They make or made many tread styles and sizes, and colors... getting the size and tread and style I wanted was tricky. These weren't my first choice of the many colors they offer, and it would have been nice if they matched. 2011 was the only year I could ride more than 19 yards and still notice that the tires had a color.

[maryanimal]

I'm thinking about bringing a tricycle to the playa. Having it motorized would be sweet. I've been searching for one for a while now.

[Elliot]

I scored a 20" fat tire wheel set and a Giant Dub frame and fork off the net the other day.
Unfortunately the back wheel has a coaster brake...

What do you seek to accomplish here? Could you not simply use a derailer wheel? They do exist in the 20" size -- I'm looking at one right here. You'd get five gears in the bargain.

[Martiansky]

I scored a 20" fat tire wheel set and a Giant Dub frame and fork off the net the other day.
Unfortunately the back wheel has a coaster brake...

What do you seek to accomplish here? Could you not simply use a derailer wheel? They do exist in the 20" size -- I'm looking at one right here. You'd get five gears in the bargain.

Ok Elliot ya "sold" me! I've actually been wanting more then a single speed bike/trike.
I just don't know if the wider tires will fit a different rim then what its already on. The rim its on now just looks like a normal size rim to me.
I need to take one of the tires (20"x3.0") off and try it on a different rim to see if it'll fit.
The real dilemma is.....a regular wheel wont fit onto a trike conversion kit because its not hollow hubbed.
Thats why I may have to come up with my own design (with borrowed ideas from Instructables and a low-rider conversion kit) that uses regular hubbed wheels on it .
Or do perhaps my good Sir...you have another suggestion?

[Martiansky]

Ellorum, thanks for the info!
Sheesh.....when did the price of BIKE tires jump to almost as high as a CAR tire??!!
It's outrageous!

[clocksnmirrors]

Kamikaze option, put the battery in front!

you are simply fabulous

[Elorrum]

The tires are made by a company called sweekskinZ,

typo: should be sweetskins

[Martiansky]

Gyre, I kept looking like you said and finally found a kit from the same company that I was originally going to order one from for a LOT less because its missing the gear in the back which I can order for alot cheaper then the money I saved!

Now a trip to my storage unit to dig for handlebars, pedals, tires and misc parts and then start assembly!

Pics to follow later........

[FIGJAM]

Look what I found!

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/bik/3709092477.html

[unjonharley]

wholly shit ,FIGJAM

[Shoeshine]

Found a schwinn meridian for sale cheap.

But I notice that only one of the rear wheels is driven by the pedals and of course this is a single speed.

Do you fine folk think this is playa worthy?

Do most trikes have two (rear) wheel drive?

Am I going to hate myself for not having a lower gear when I hit the inevitable dune?

Thanks in advance
Shoe

[unjonharley]

All trikes have one wheel drive.. When you turn one wheel has to slow.. If both wheels drove the slow wheel would bind/break.

[Shoeshine]

Ahhh, OK didn't think that through, but makes sense.

[theCryptofishist]

And you dont need multiple gears, either.

[TinkerMom]

Mine is a single gear.

I changed the sprockets around until I found the one I felt comfortable with.

[Shoeshine]

Schweet.

I think this meridian will do the trick. As I said earlier I am building a crawler/hauler. (plenty of regular bikes around camp if I really decide I need to be anywhere fast, though I honestly think I am over that @ BM).

Good point on switching out the sprockets till I find a sweet spot. Thx Tinker.

I am also going to try electrifying with a friction drive ala Fig's joyrider. Reading back on his post, I missed initialy how he is using his E-drive on the non-chain driven wheel. I scored a powerchair off CL for $75 (ripped seat and broken plastic bits, which I dont need anyway). The motor and controller are 24v so It will require 2 batteries but hey... Two 42 amp/hrs came with the chair, I'll have to do some range testing, no idea of their age but they charge up well so far. The motors are nice sealed units with integral gearboxes, torqe-y as hell (designed to move up to a 350lb body at slightly above walking speed).

Anyway, thanks for all the great info,
and I'll make sure to post back as this build gets underway.

[FIGJAM]

Your motor bracket may have to be more complex.

It can't have any flex or it will just slip against the tire.

[Martiansky]

image.jpg

The picture came out a bit blurry but this is what I've been tinkering with lately.
Just finished my little workbench so now I have more time to work on the trike....and a place to work.