Front Engine Trikes

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Me and eldest daughter (way back when she was a teenager ) rolling into a bike rally after a long ride there (note trunk is on).
I hope to have it back together and make the same trip this summer.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

[Lo Cash John]

SnuSnu, I really dig the front motored trike design. I understand they are very popular in Sweden and perhaps other European countries also.

I have a buddy that wanted me to build him one a few years back but I'm to busy with my own projects to build someone else's.

I really think you'll dig the injection once it's tuned. The intakes you made are bitchin'!!! They remind me of old Hilborn mechanical injection stuff from old midget race cars. Very nice!
_________________
www.LoCashRacing.org
More brains than bucks...Believe it or not!!

If you actually drive your VW, you need www.AirMapp.com

My boss told me I need to work on my mutli-tasking. So now when I use the bathroom at work I surf The Samba on my iPhone.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Yeah a bit of a motorhead.
I dont have any clearance issues so.....wide for the dramatic effect.
Would have been easier to adapt to my idf manifolds but just was not what I was wanting.
Should be even more of a handful than the 2110 was.
Still working on it. Behind schedule. Life gets in the way.

[gleep_54]

Deathbysnusnu- you mind if I pick your brain on the driveline estension, how did you go about lengthening the input shaft? I've seen the Bad ass Trike website but really can't make out what he did to lengthen it... woulda bought one from him and his adapter plate but he doesn't answer emails.

Have you ever had any heating issues without the tins on?

Also- why didn't you just flip the ring gear to the other side instead of mounting the transaxle upside down?

I have my cores collected, time and some extra $$$ now. Want to use this as a touring rig for me and the wife, see the country...

thanks for ANY advice in advance.

Pat

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Drive extension.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Heat.
You must go for it to cool.
NO stop light to stop light city life at all.
No hotter on legs than any other air cooled bike.

Big cams with low dynamic compression helps idle time.
Mofoco heads shed heat better.
Airplane mod the oil system.
Run a big full flow oil cooler.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

I flipped the trans to lower the ground clearance by 6 inches lower than normal.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

If you are going to cruise the country build something more comfortable.
Wide.
Long.
Something comfortable for seats.
Near stock engine.
All the cooling system on it.
Probably rear engined also.

Or just buy a converted wing.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Sorry for the broken up replies.
I am on a phone and the system keeps logging me out.
Hafta type quick.

Mine scooter is a hot rod run about.
I don't have the time to go anywhere.

I rode parade once at a motorcycle rally.
Was too slow and 100+ heat.
3 harleys seized and had to be trailered.
I made it barely.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Something like this would be a great distance rider.



A Facebook friend.
Full width irs rear.
Mid engine with no extension.
Flipped ring gear.
Full type 3 fan and all the tins.
Milder engine, but not stock.
Tall tires to get the gearing up for the highway.

Excellent trike.

Mine is a completely different beast. A fin hot rod.
Sorta the difference between a crotch rocket and a gold wing.

[vwbug72501]

Snu,
I was wondering about the construction of the actual drive shaft inside the extension case. I realize that you can use the input shaft and the reverse idler gear to built an extended shaft and I was looking at using another reverse idler gear in a bearing carrier for the "socket" for the actual trans input shaft. It looks like you are using a clutch disk hub for your input shaft end. Is that correct? Is it bolted to one of your "whittled out" parts on the shaft?

Here's an idea for the extension that I'm playing with: Rather than being limited by the fixed length of the VW case, I'm thinking of using a Type2 bellhousing with a flat plate bolted to it. Attached to that plate will be a sprint/midget torque tube assembly that can be any length. The other end will be attached to the flat plate that the transaxle bolts to. (2 torque tubes for the ends to built the assembly - used - Ebay) This way there is only a 3" diameter tube down the middle instead of the empty case.

I'm building a cross country cruiser type trike an need the longer length. I started out along the same lines as what you have built and have changed my design several times based on your posts here and elsewhere. Keep up the good work!

Still not ready to start a built thread. Just a pile of subassemblies and parts.

[gleep_54]

I kinda thought you went upside down for that reason. I intend to use IRS with Rabbit spindles and hubs, double "a" arms and coil overs. With two left side axles it makes about the right width I'm lookin for. The motor is slated for a 1776, very low cylinder pressure, likely a 2 barrel side draft carb, just a few more cubes for the load. No bar hoppin, get on the road, point "a" to point "b".

I've been studying your photos- really amazing build!!! Thanks so much for responding here- lookin forward to posting my build as I go along.

Please- when you're done with your revamp- more pic's! Just gotta say "wow"!!!

Pat

[DeathBySnuSnu]

I don't keep this thread up to date at all.
Not a lot of interest here for my oddball.
Look me up on Trike Talk in the vw section. Same user name.
Join some trike groups on facebook, I am probably there too. I will give ya any info I have. I did not document the other times I built it. Trying to document it better this time. Everthing I am currently doing is on top of a gazillion other mods.

[gleep_54]

Guess that's it for short...

Yes sir- happy for stuff that worked and stuff that didn't. Your pic's in photbucket are great! Perusing them as I go. I do understand about "dynamic C/R". Intend to get the cylinder pressure low. Really DO want a front engine and without tins... I have a panhead Harley I built and really do understand the importance of a great oil cooler. That IS in the plans as well as a t-stat operated fan for the same.

Will go check the sites you mentioned- and join...

Good luck with your revamp!!!!

Pat

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Yep.
As long as you can keep the oil within its usable heat range the engine won't seize. I would imagine it would drop a valve seat.
I have had my oil fan on a t stat. It has only turned on twice in all these years.
Once in a road jam, long idle. Did not realize what was going in and if I had been smarter I could have just shut it off and waited it out.
The second time is the parade I mentioned above.

Lotsa folks don't realize you can follow the source on those pics back to the photo bucket page.

I had some stuff on flickr. Most older stuff, truck, ect.
I will give it a look and see if there is anything to move over that might be of help.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Here's ya one.

[MIDEVW]

Thought I would be the first to add a mid engine trike pic own by someone... besides you

[BL3Manx]

A Type 4 engine with the stock flat cooling system and the exhausts which exit from the bottom of the heads would seem to be the ideal engine for one of these