Tri-Magnum the reverse trike

johncollins · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:30 am Post subject: Tri-Magnum the reverse trike

Has anyone considered building a Tri-Magnum, I thick they are cool looking but it would be a lot of work.
http://www.rqriley.com/tri-mag.html

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

What do you guys think?
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Nic · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:32 pm Post subject:

I agree it is a really neat looking vehicle. However did you REALLY read their site? They sell you the plans on how to make it. You build a buck, fill in the empty spaces with foam, sand and shape. Then apply fiberglass over the foam. Then cut out the canopy and window openings. Do you have the tools and fiberglassing skills for this? If so, awesome! Do it up and keep us informed. If not, you could end up with a huge headache, and no cool looking vehicle.

Letterman7 · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject:

Finished one here in PA for sale: http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/mcy/1270882654.html
There was one in Jersey for $3K a few days ago, but that sold quickly...

Tri-Mags aren't for the claustrophobic. They have a rather unique seating arrangement that puts your legs over the front suspension. It takes a little getting used to!

BL3Manx · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

The reverse trike is definitely the best 3-wheeler arrangement. I started out building one using a single seater rail frame from Prowler with a mid-engine 1 Liter Suzuki Sprint engine driving the rear wheel through a snow mobile CVT.

I came across a webpage about hydrostatic transmissions which have a lot of advantages over the snow mobile CVT system and decided to go that way instead.

http://www.hydraulicinnovations.com

I found a Miata A-arm front end and attached it in place of the VW front suspension I was going to use. I also moved the engine forward. Now I've decided to turn the engine around now so the transmission(hydrostatic pump) is in front. The hydraulic motor will be behind the driver, connected to the engine by hydraulic lines. I want to convert it to run on CNG.

johncollins · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:05 am Post subject:

Letterman7 · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:45 am Post subject:

What would be trick for the 2F1R arrangement using a Beetle front suspension is to use a narrowed beam - the smallest available. While I like the overall looks of each of these tadpole trikes, the front ends always looked clunky and too wide. With a smaller beam, all those dimensions could be shaved down to streamline them a little more.

BL3Manx · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:07 am Post subject:

didget69 · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:28 am Post subject:

Regarding the Vortex, I was in fairly regular contact with a local gentleman that built a Vortex; he did a pretty nice job on it. It is built in a fashion similar to the Tri-Magnum from RQ Riley; foam over wood stringer construction, yet the Vortex has a wood hull?

The narrow beam would be a detriment to handling on a 2F1R setup; you need a wide track for stability - however, a low CG point would also benefit you with better handling.

I designed & built a 2F1R chassis in college in '88; used a rear-drive setup with Yamaha powerplant. Five years ago I started back on the path of building another 3-wheeler, same 2F1R setup, and was headed down the Miata or Gen 2 Mazda RX-7 front suspension path... started looking at the Vortex & decided that if & when I pull the trigger on starting this project, I would drive the front wheels & have powertrain in rear.

Keep us informed if you opt to build a 3-wheeler!

Bryan
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.

BL3Manx · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:16 am Post subject:

Front wheel drive is the most stable drive system for a trike, rear drive has been known to lose traction in a turn on a wet street. However fwd requires a differential and usually means a transverse front engine which is difficult to streamline.

I'm hoping to stay well under 1000lbs and still have a full steel cage structure skinned with streamlined fiberglass. It will have a single Beard type seat in a conventional upright position. The Hydrostatic trans is a positive drive system and less apt to produce wheel spin. With the Suzuki engine, the hydrostatic CVT and a streamlined shape I'm hoping for 60mpg+, freeway speeds, safety and comfort.

didget69 · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:27 am Post subject:

Letterman7 · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:14 am Post subject:

wildew · Samba Member Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 2 Location: NY

BL3Manx · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

To use a VW bug transaxle in a front engine/fwd configuration all you have to do is flip the ring gear to the other side. There have been a couple different Morgan inspired 3-wheelers that use it. The Corbin Merlin was being produced with a VW transaxle and a Harley engine. There are a couple companies that produce adapters for Harley/VW transaxles.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~wktriker/adapter_eng.htm

Corbin had a lot of problems designing a damper/coupling because of the Harley's uneven power.

didget69 · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:35 am Post subject:

And by using the VW transaxle in front with motor in rear, you don't need to flip the R&P...

Bryan
_________________
I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door.

wildew · Samba Member Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 2 Location: NY

Thanks for the responses.
Guess I need to look deeper into the possibilities of using this "stock" setup.
I'll search Morgan links to see if I can find an example.

Apologies for the newbie comments. My automotive exploits so far are simply an engine swap and later the marriage of a 72 Chevy pickup chassis to a 77 Chevy Monza body (loved that cruck...)

Converting the back end of a bug to a steerable front-end has GOT to be an adventure....

BTW,, my game plan is to go electric,, maybe (LiFePo4=$$$$)
Dale

BL3Manx · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:33 pm Post subject:

This is the ultimate resource for 3-wheelers.

http://www.3wheelers.com/enter.html

xirxious · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

THe T-rex (terex?) is more of a complete motorcycle mated at the triple trees to a dual A-frame front clip? I haven't seen a good frame pic of one. They are classified as a motorcyle, are they all?

k1z4r · Samba Member Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 80

I think so , I know that here in Canada , Montreal you have wear an helmet to drive it , so I think it is in the motorcycle class

BL3Manx · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject:

Most home built reverse trike 3-wheelers are just motorcycles with the forks removed, attached behind the front half of a small car. There's a lot of deficiencies with that kind of design; the engine doesn't cool well, they're way too long, they look like an unnatural act, no reverse, only motorcycle tires will fit motorcycle wheels on the motorcyle swingarm and the center strip of their round crown tires wear real quick,

The T-Rex has its own frame, designed from the ground up as a 3-wheeler. They look great, they have reverse, they use 3 car tires. Their new Harley V-rod engine is liquid cooled by a front mounted radiator.

http://www.campagnamotors.com/

vpogv · Samba Member Joined: August 14, 2008 Posts: 230


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