The White Warrior - 40mph+ tadpole trike FINISHED!

[Pure]

Thanks, that's a very interesting picture. Just how strong is this steel? Or does it give you much flex?

I'm wondering what's it's weight limit?

I really am curious about the strength of the steel, not trying to sound like a ass.

[Xanda2260]

If you're looking for tensile strength etc. I'd reccommend google
The guy that writes the plans reckons this is good for people up to 300lbs (130kg!!), providing the welds are decent.
If you look at the rack I've made you'll see that the rear fork is 2 pieces. The rear section is curently only welded top and bottom (not sides) and each side is capable of supporting my weight. They are only attached to the frame at one end, so they're pretty strong!
There is a little flex, which nicely absorbs some shock from the road, however it is still like riding a hardtale!

Hope that helps.

[Pure]

Thanks for the info. I've been researching tinsel strength in various steel. I can read specs till I'm blue in the face, but to see an actual working design of only one bent tube that should support the weight of a full grown man, kinda puts it all into perspective.

[Xanda2260]

Woohoo! Ive got brakes!! Just got back from my first 48v run. Glad the brakes work, cos it's reasonably fast!! Defo need more current though, 20amps coipled with lead acid voltage sag sucks arse! Through a straw!

Need lipo...and lyen controller...NOW

[Xanda2260]

Thanks for the info. I've been researching tinsel strength in various steel. I can read specs till I'm blue in the face, but to see an actual working design of only one bent tube that should support the weight of a full grown man, kinda puts it all into perspective.

Just to clarify, the rear section isn't one piece of bent steel, it's two pieces welded together (just not properly yet). Even like this and only supported under one end it will still hold my 65kg (145lb ish).
I'll get a pic for you...


There you go. This shows how I made the rear section.

In other news, lyen 12fet on its way! Now need lipo!! Come on payday!!

[Xanda2260]

Woohoo! Batteries ordered! Credit card 4 the win! Now, need a charger - to the for sale section!

[Xanda2260]

I have officially joined the lipo club
6 x 6s 5ah are sat in my garage. And best of all, all are with 0.02v of 3.8v! Except one cell that's at 3.72. Not bad at all! Whoop! Just need a charger and harness now...

[Xanda2260]

Oky guys, sitrep.
Batteries have arrived, I've nearly finished a temporary battery box, and the trike can be pedalled!
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i293/ ... EO0019.mp4

This is a bid of my bro in law pedalling it up our street (yes, the girly laughing in the background is me). The rasping noise is the connector for the halls rubbing on the tyre! Apparantly the cable shifted when he hit a bump.

Below is my temp batt box


Will make a better one when I find some material that is strong, tough, easy to work, and thin!
Im tinking carbon fibre, but I wouldn't know where to start. Clearances are VERY tight. With is box I have around 10mm between it and the rear tyre, and maybe 3-4" clearance with the ground which annoyingly makes the batteries joint lowest point on the trike!! Eek!

[Xanda2260]

Balancing batteries right now! Made the charging and discharging harnesses, still need to make up the balance tap paralleling harnesses so i can balance charge the entire pack at once.
Soooo colse to getting this beast cruising!

[Xanda2260]

It lives! And 38mph withe you arse 5" from the floor is scary!

[Xanda2260]

Ok, battery box is a fail. Comes far too close to the ground, and is too flimsy. Sooo, new build! Found a massive sheet of aluminium diamond plate in my gradads garden, so I'm using that. Had a redesign too to get it further away from the floor. Pics will follow, once I've taken some.
The ali is 6mm thick and damn, is it ever HARD ( thats what she said...).
I always thought ali was a nice soft metal, but I've gone through 4 cutting disks so far (versus 2 disks doing all the steel on the entire trike). Welding the ali has been problematic too. Tried Durafix rods but couldn't get the base metal to 390C, it just acted like a massive heatsink. So I cheated - two part epoxy putty for the win!

Also, progress has been slow cos Ive been caning around on it so much! Was pacing a 4x4 the other day at 40mph (wide cycle path at side of 40mph limit road). When he spotted me, I smiled, waved, and started pedalling. His face was a picture!

[Xanda2260]

New battery box!

And installed ( bolts will be other way up ultimately).

Much better, still fouls the chain though. Now I gotta make up an idler...

[Xanda2260]

Epic Fail! Ok boys and girls, it seems that I am a complete idiot!
When I made the alu batt box, i used a 2 part putty to stick the edges together. This stuff sets like steel.

I stood on the box and it held beautifully, so I'm like 'that'll do fine. WRONG!
Of course, that was under compresssion, with my mounting, the box was under tension.
So, I'm out crusing last night, trying out the new battery position. Handles great. Join a nice long cycle track near my house, blast past an old guy on an invalid carriage, and open her up. 41mph GPS verified. Slowing down, thinking I should check my voltages (speedict still not showing speed - grr), then all of a sudden my battery box disintergrates

I look back to see my precious lipo strewn out on the floor behind me.
Had to do the walk of shame 2 miles home

Soo, new design



Fugly as hell, but hopefully it wont come apart!

[Xanda2260]

After discussions with several people who know more about this stuff than me (cheers Dogman and AW), I have found that this box is destined for a rather messy end. Sooooo... On to attempt 4!

[TopCat]

Looking at your first batt box and your most recent, I see that you have a metal band around the wooden batt box. Couldn't you go back to your alumininum batt box and secure it a bit better with a couple of metal bands bolted around it to stop it disintegrating?

Regards
Tom

[Xanda2260]

Could potentialy work, but this top mounted system is destined for failure...

So, I have just completed a test ride using this beauty.




Took it to the park cos the path is properly bumpy. Even at 10mph I was bouncing all over the place. At 20 the box was still perfectly secure, even though I wasn't!

[Xanda2260]

Ok guys, sitrep.

Trike now has cargo capability, is hitting 5kw (60A battery, 150 phase, peaks of 70A plus), and flies!
Heres a pic of bro-in-law on it, and a vid of a 30mph driveby.



http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i293/ ... EO0029.mp4

[Xanda2260]

After several million years of rain, the weather finally got good enough for some paint!



All primered up. Painting the little bits while the primer hardens, then we'll get to the painting proper.

[millzy555]

Great build! What wind 9c are you using? Thanks

[Xanda2260]

Great build! What wind 9c are you using? Thanks

Good question. I think it's a 2807, but not certain. It'll do 43mph in a 26" wheel at 73v and controller set for 120% if that helps

[waynebergman]

Nice bike Xanda. I have purchased the plans from AZ for the Warrior myself and look forward to the project. Should be a winter project after I research a few things for it. I like your seat, did you make that or where did you get it and how much did it cost and weigh. I have some fiber glass experience but I do not like working with the stuff very much so if there was a store bought solution for a nice seat I would most likely go that route.
Wayne

[Xanda2260]

Nice bike Xanda. I have purchased the plans from AZ for the Warrior myself and look forward to the project. Should be a winter project after I research a few things for it. I like your seat, did you make that or where did you get it and how much did it cost and weigh. I have some fiber glass experience but I do not like working with the stuff very much so if there was a store bought solution for a nice seat I would most likely go that route.
Wayne

Hey Wayne, glad you like

I bought the seat from a company called Ocean Cycles based in Cornwall, UK. They are also on ebay (just search 'recumbent seat').
If you fancy a look at the build log, it's on the AZ forum for the Warrior.

If you haven't already, check out Spinners Warrior - absolutely top notch work!

[Tpower]

Very good job Xanda,please post pics whan painting job it's ok.
43mph it's good speed,and 5kw with 9c it's great result.

[Xanda2260]

Very good job Xanda,please post pics whan painting job it's ok.
43mph it's good speed,and 5kw with 9c it's great result.

Oh I will

I've dialled the power down a bit now. 5Kw was not noticibly quicker than 4KW, and the motor heated up much quicker. So I'm back at 50A battery, 125A phase. Peaks hit about 4KW (59A battery spike).

Oh yeah, and 43mph is a SCARY speed on UK cycle tracks! Those things are bumpy! Nice on the road though...

[Xanda2260]

Frame painted!

Just need some retroreflective clear coat, and she'll be ready for reassembly! Yay!