Recent content by Presterjohn

Ok, i've got my 3 wheeler going now. The steering is actually very precise [ I'm using wire and bobbin]. it drives hands off in a straight line . I've got a bit of toe - in and the axles trail the suspension mounts. I will alter it in line with your comments if i need to but I've got a more...

Hi, i've been making some progress so here are some pictures. As you can see I've decided to make it a 3 wheeler because I don't want to be the one to test the law out regarding whether a quadricycle is legal. I am incorporating lugs etc to make it easy to convert it to a 4 wheeler at a later...

Ok, that's interesting. At the moment I just want to make it without pedal assist. What kind of new bottom bracket can I buy that will fit? I haven't got any cranks or chainwheel etc. I don't want to spend too much on this because I'm eventually intending to buy a mid drive unit.

Thanks Matthew, I'm not so sure. The thread looks different. It looks like a coarser thread than the bsa ones. I managed to get apart another rusty bottom bracket and it wouldn't screw into the Peugeot threads. I read somewhere that they are not all the same. Also the square taper spindle...

Thank you. I'm looking at hydraulic brake kits. I am thinking of using an old Peugeot bike frame I have which I will cut and build into the vehicle. This will get me the bottom bracket and derailleur mountings. I intend to fit a rear hub [ without a wheel] and take the drive from it to twin...

Hi, this is going ahead. I'll post some pics when I get some bits made. I am going to make it just pedal to begin with rather than shell out a load of money on a mid drive motor. I am wondering about the braking and would appreciate some input please. It seems that most tadpole trikes have...

I've been looking further into the differential question. Early cyclecars did not usually have one, instead they used two belt drives to the back wheels. A belt will slip whereas a chain will not so I guess this solved the problem in a simple and cheap way. I could do the same, mounting the...

I've been thinking about this and have realised that the reason tadpole trikes have the pedals stuck out in front is to bring the centre of gravity just aft of the front wheels. As you move the rider further aft then the effective wheelbase decreases and the machine becomes unstable. A four...

Hi, something that still isn't clear to me. Can I build this thing and use it on the road or do i have to get some approval done by someone?

Thanks Matthew, that's really helpful.

Thanks , I've watched all the videos on the Mott car. I have the plans too. I would really like a 4 wheeler though. Actually Tim Rowe started off in his videos with the idea of 4 wheels until the Irish Government told him it wouldn't be allowed on Irish roads.

Thanks for the drawing, just seen it.

I'm not asking it to lug around much weight, I would like to keep the pedelec down to 60 kg. I'm only 5foot 6inches and weigh about 150lbs. I have a question about wheels. Are all bike wheel spindles only 3/8 th diameter? I think this would be liable to bend if it is only supported on one...

Yes , I'm familiar with the video about the Grafton. You can't legally build one with a petrol engine to use on the road but you can do it as a pedelec. I like the other photo of the GN, have you more pics or drawings please?

Hi, thanks for all the input , it's all helping my learning curve. What I have in mind is something very like an early cyclecar such as the GN or Grafton which were very simply put together using motorcycle components. In my case I will use ebike components. The body would be thin plywood...