E-Trike Project

[docnjoj]

That is one big honking trike! Are you really gonna throw out the old test rig? It should be worth some bucks?!?!?!? Dont they do "tax donation" things in Oz? Donate it to a handicapped individual and take the tax break! then they can claim it was a "mobile medical necessity"!
otherDoc

 

[AussieJester]

Your change in avatar finally got me to notice your project.

Good work!

You've been doing a lot of fabricating and it's all looking to be going along very well. I'm going to have to start watching this thread now.

I love the fact that you are doing the "transaxle" idea to do a speed reduction and then going to a derailler. That's going to work so much better than a one speed. My guess is that on the back section of the trike you will put some pretty heavy SLA batteries right?

What are the limits of your disability? You've said that you could ride a bike, but getting on and off is difficult. Does that mean that it's a flexibility issue? Do you have feeling in your legs?

G'day Safe thanks for dropping in

The gear arrangement has worked very well indeed, allowed me to climb the steepest hills here at 40km/hr in first gear and hit 60km/hr in second gear (on the old trike)...yet to get into 3rd (4th 5th and 6th) as i need to find a long corner less "rounderboutless" road but with the slas i have been given i can't venture to far from home atm as they are in very bad condition and good for a couple of kilometers at best in my hilly surrounds, the nearest flat stretch of road is ~3km away from home...when i have 48v 20ah lifepo4s i shall venture out for some better speed testing OH...on the last trike i had the slas on the back of the trike yes, this one though they will be in the front section of the frame on the lower tube. I found the last trike somewhat top heavy, these things dont corner well to start with let alone when top heavy, i have attempted to lower the CG of this new trike to help out in this department

Limits of disability...One of many injuries was my pelvis in breaking in 16 places and it didn't 'go back together' the way it was made, one legs is an inch and a half shorter now, due to this and i'm unable to support my weight for long (while standing holding onto to something 'solid') i have pretty well full movement of my legs too my knees, knees down know movement at all, i have full feeling to my ankles none in feet. I coulde ride a motorized bicycle i wouldn't have the strength to ride a 'normal bicycle' I have VERY weak left leg and a left knee thats extremely unstable due to being shoved through a gas tank...My arms/upper body are very strong and i can lift myself up onto bikes no problem if they are held for me, i can support the weight of a bike from falling over no worries at all.

Cheers

Kim

EDIT: Sorry doc i didnt see your post, the 'test rig' will mostly likely be offered up to the 'trike gods' LoL...ie. cut up and the steel re-used for future projects..it has been :: cough:: stored away (thrown on the pile of donor bikes down side of house) The rear conversion and forks have been re-used as you prolly noticed already doc? so there is just the frame itself really no rolling 'chassis' as such..

 

[safe]

Well your disability sounds manageable, that's good.

Long ago I crashed hard and my right leg lost partial feeling for about 5-10 years before the nerves finally sorted things out enough to bring it back. I was still a young man then and if I crashed again like that it would likely never recover. That's why I'm wearing leathers all the time now because my skin and nerves wouldn't recover as fast as it used to. A broken bone would eventually heal. (I hope my good luck continues)

Yeah, this trike sounds like the perfect match to give you a really fun ride around town. Your work is very good. That's the great thing about these electric bikes the moment you are rolling you feel as free as an eight year old on his first bicycle.

So this is "Project #002" for you so far... nice...

 

[AussieJester]

Well your disability sounds manageable, that's good.

Well after nearly 20 years of it i have worked around it

Long ago I crashed hard and my right leg lost partial feeling for about 5-10 years before the nerves finally sorted things out enough to bring it back. I was still a young man then and if I crashed again like that it would likely never recover. That's why I'm wearing leathers all the time now because my skin and nerves wouldn't recover as fast as it used to. A broken bone would eventually heal. (I hope my good luck continues)

Yeah i know what your mean there...i had my accident when i was 21 years old..im now 39, if this happened now i would be dead...i was 'clinically dead twice' on the road before paramedics bought me back. Along with the pelvis i broke my back in two places (not spinal chord luckily) my left arm and right hip... Surprisingly i'm not 'feeling' it on cold days yet.

Yeah, this trike sounds like the perfect match to give you a really fun ride around town. Your work is very good. That's the great thing about these electric bikes the moment you are rolling you feel as free as an eight year old on his first bicycle.

HAHA indeed it does has given me some mobility (albeit briefly due to failing speed controller)as i don't drive a car these days (i can but don't) but i have the taste for these electrified bicycles now thanks to you lot on this forum CURSE you all LOL

So this is "Project #002" for you so far... nice...

Actually its #4 if you count frames LoL...tiz the second though that has gotten to 'ready to ride' status

Cheers safe

Kim

 

[safe]

...if this happened now i would be dead...i was 'clinically dead twice' on the road before paramedics bought me back. Along with the pelvis i broke my back in two places (not spinal chord luckily) my left arm and right hip...

Wow, that must have been one nasty accident.

I've been very lucky over the years, but also I've tended to shy away from taking the "big risks" when I ride. My approach is to very carefully and respectfully analyze all the possible things that might go wrong while riding so that it reduces the risks. At 21 people have this willingness to take enormous risks and end up paying for it with crashes. (young people don't think ahead much)

Was the crash an "unforced error" so to speak?

When dealing with cars they can be unpredictable and I've had two cars literally steer right into my path recently (you've read I'm sure) and the only option is to do a "sacrifice crash" offroad in order to avoid a worse fate.

When you look back on it do you see yourself as having contributed to the accident or was it some drunk driver or something that hit you?

I find crash analysis somewhat fascinating because so much can happen in a matter of a second or two. It's as though time slooooows down and you live an hour in a second. It would really suck if you don't remember it.

 

[AussieJester]

Was on my enduro race bike and the front tire was running low psi from earlier training session in the bush, i must have also picked up a small puncture as the tyre flattened completely and rolled off the side of the rime causing the bike to pull hard to the left and into a lampost, i glanced the first (breaking my left arm..still has titanium pins in it too) and ran smack into the second stopping dead from ~70km/hr the force snapped the bike in 3 places, the motor block itself was broken in two pieces....the near full tank of juice left a smaller stain on the road than the blood i lost... spent the next 3 weeks in a coma and 11 months after that in hospital/rehab half of that time with 6 steel pins protruding out of my pelvis holding it together, left and right leg in traction left asrm in full cast from the top of shoulder to wrist HELL i even broke ma lil pinky.. LOL i dunno if you watch The Simpsons but i resembled Lance Murdock

AFTER he falls into the tank of sharks and ends up in hospital hehehe...S.O.K though "bones heal and chicks dig scars" LoL..

Luckily i had a good helmet, it did take a hit and was cracked from top middle to the base of the back...i would be in Head Injured ward still if I wasn't wearing one (illegal not to here anywayz) or a cheapo...

Kim

EDIT: I remebered i have the one pic of me in Hospital around 4 months after the accident-->

Not pretty site, maybe keep it and show it to your kids when they ask for a motorcycle loL..

 

[safe]

Was on my enduro race bike and the front tire was running low psi from earlier training session in the bush, i must have also picked up a small puncture as the tyre flattened completely and rolled off the side of the rime causing the bike to pull hard to the left and into a lampost...

Interesting.

So a mechanical failure (flat tire) was the precursor that created the scenario where you ultimately lost control completely.

That's not normally the case...

Usually it's a combination of inexperience and overconfidence where the novice rider over commits to a situation and once in can't figure out what to do to get out. Though sometimes it can be just something as simple as an unseen oil patch on the road or ice that can take you down... it can be most anything.

I'd have to rate that accident as about 50% mechanical and 25% rider error and the rest just bad luck. (having a lampost in the way at the exact time of the crash) I'm totally paranoid about mechanical problems and pull over to check if anything is less than perfect.

I can remember one "really dumb" crash I did a long time ago. I had gone for what was becoming my weekly habit of doing a 200 mile ride through the twisting roads out behind Mount Hamilton near San Jose California. (one of the electric bike rides people talked about in the "E-vents" area also takes place on part of that ride) Anyway... I had done my 200 mile ride and got home and for some crazy reason I was feeling "drunk" on riding (riding so much you never want to stop) so I went out to ride some more. I find this road that had just recently been retopped with a thin layer of tar and gravel and I was realizing I could skid the front wheel while I was riding. So I kept doing it again and again until (you guessed it) I finally did it too much and lost the front end. No broken bones or anything, but I was bloodied and bruised pretty good.

My point in all that (what I learned) is the importance of not getting too "high" on the bike. It's great to have a good time, but you need to keep some sense of reasonableness in the back of your mind. That's the hardest thing for a young person to realize because they just don't want to stop the fun.

I'm more serious on my bike now... it's still fun in an "abstract" way, but it's a "fun" based on focus and concentration.

Disciplined fun? Seems like a contradiction but that's how I see it now. Sometimes I like the fear it creates... trying to stay "sober" while a big jolt of adrenaline gets shot into your system is half the fun.

 

[AussieJester]

Update

Not a huge update today, i fitted the foot pegs from the ol' trike and also picked up the 20x1.95in Hookworms and fitted them to the rear wheels of the trike--->

The 4 SLAs were also re-configured and strapped up with Kevlar packing tape to hold them together UNFORTUNATELY they miss by sitting flat on the bottom tube by a couple of millimeters no biggy really, the Lifepo4s will fit nicely there OR more likely on the frames upright seat tube, with room to spare...

Still know new news on my TNC Scooter consignment which among other things contains my new 48-60v electronic speed controller...cross ya fingers fellas i would love it to turn up in a few days

More soon...

Kim

 

[safe]

My mistake. I thought that you were going to place the batteries out on the back of the trike, but in the middle is a far better location.

Australia is in summer, America is in winter... we're envious of you right now...

 

[AussieJester]

FrankG the my1020 has been great thus far, only running clapped out slas though, it is
stone cold after a good thrashing i guess i have the gear ratios correct now, initial
run with larger cog on motor and in 4th gear i think it was, it climbed the hill OK
nowhere near as fast as it does now, but when i returned from the ride the motor was
very warm. Cheers for the comments..

safe Yes the battery location is alot better here i feel, i mounted them on the rear before really out of haste to get the bike rideable, it wasn't a good location having that much weight both high up AND on a swing arm, it wasn't doing the suspension any favors thats for sure...the lower down position should help the CG i hope...25kilo is a far whack of weight GOD i want Lifepo4s NOW

Our summer officially starts Desember 1st...we have 30-40C temps right through to March...
last 3 days though has been pissing down rain LoL VERY odd for November, hasn't been super cold ~23C

Cheers fellas

Kim

 

[safe]

last 3 days though has been pissing down rain LoL VERY odd for November

Yeah, but Perth doesn't get much rain, so you ought to be thankful you get any of it. Australia is a big desert... you would not like Missouri much because it's soooooo wet all the time in the summers. It's like a tropical climate with lot's of humidity. Then in the winters it's oddly sunny and dry with occasional snow.

One of these days I'm going to move back West (American West) which is a lot like Australia. I really prefer living in the deserts, though the green color of the midwest is kind of addictive. It's so weird to see green grass all summer long everywhere. Life is so abundant in the summers and this place looks like death in winter. (it's really ugly in the wintertime)

Have you ever been to the US?

 

[AussieJester]

Have you ever been to the US?

Nope ...too many Americans there with guns LoL...i haven't been out of Australia and have no intention of doing so, I'm more than happy with what Australia has to offer and traveling 1000's of miles to see a rock or a 200 year old building etc has less than no interest to me.(unlike my dearest mother she is always on a jaunt overseas) I can say though I know i wouldn't like the colder states, snow, ice and the like you can keep that LoL I have traveled extensively round Australia and still have much to see right here, Australia is very muli cultural so i get to see all types of people/customs/traditions etc etc etc... without leaving the country I think you would like it here safe, very friendly us Aussies with a beautiful country.

 

[AussieJester]

Been taking it easy waiting for the new speed controller to arrive...found out
today it only left Miami yesterday so chances of getting it this week are
slim to none...Not to impressed with TNC Scooters i give you the tip, they
emailed me 2 days ago telling me it was sent on the 20th the lying pricks...

So...I decided i would make a mount for my Watts Up meter today,
i didn't want to mount it on the handle bars, keeping the wire length
short is advantageous PLUS the thicker wire i will be using to hook up the
electrics wont be so pliable and might restrict the movement of
the handle bars.

Here's a couple of pics of what i knocked up (final assembly i will replace
the bolts with allen key variety and cap screws)-->

Once its powder coated and not hurriedly brushed over with metal primer paint
i think it will be more appealing

I have also been procrastinating the battery mounting situation, as i will be
ultimately buying a Lifpo4 pack i really don't want to weld mountings to the f
rame to suit the larger dimensions of the 4x12volt slas as i wont be mounting
the Lifepo4s in the same position it will interfere with the future planned addition
of bottom bracket/pedals....more on that tomorrow...

Kim

 

[AussieJester]

Update

I tackled the battery mounting today, keeping with the 'trend' to re-cycle
materials i opted for some 3mm thick angle iron picked up YES you guessed off the side
of the road during council rubbish collection LoL...I have raised the mounting up
slightly so as the 4x12v SLAs fit into the frame, I measured the spacing
so as they mounts will also fall between the overall length of a Lifepo4 pack
so i wont need to re-do them in the near future--->

I cut the 4 mounts from the angle, gave them a 'clean' up with flap disk to rid them
of rust before bolting them together and matching them up on the Linisher...Once
welded in place i slapped on some Kill Rust Metal Primer to prevent future rusting
before it gets to the Powder Coaters for sandblasting and powder coat...

I have used 3mm thick aluminum checker plate as a 'platform' to strap the batteries too,
the checker plate is bolted to the mounts, the 4 SLAs are fastened to the plate
via Kevlar packaging tape (i have been told 8 raps of this tape is
strong enough to tow a small car) so i think it will suffice for now to
hold the batteries.The lifpo4 pack will have a custom
aluminum box made with a padlock on it to keep them secure..

Shall run the wiring tomorrow, install a plate to mount charging plug and ignition switch...

Back soon fellas...

Kim

 

[safe]

I think you would like it here safe, very friendly us Aussies with a beautiful country.

When I watched "Picnic At Hanging Rock" by Peter Weir (seen first by me in about 1981) that made me fall in love with the idea of living in Australia. Just the idea of there being vast areas of land that are mostly ignored was so attractive to me. Since I grew up in a very crowded coastal city (San Francisco area) all I had known was crowds and high prices. I've seen just about every Peter Weir film that he made.

The thing that has prevented me from making the switch is that you just can't move to a different country without the hassles about citizenship. That's a bummer. I wouldn't want to live as an "illegal" there, though I'm sure no one would really care. Here in the US we have something like 12 million "illegals" and they seem to be able to do okay, so I guess it's possible. But it's nice to be an America who can trace their roots back to the Founding Fathers. I'm related to the Adams (Samuel Adams) family through my mothers side. Most of the founders were of Scottish/Irish ancestry because back in Ireland the "real" Irish didn't like us so much as we were transplanted there by the British from Scotland. When America opened up it was the perfect fresh start. My fathers side was Austrian/German who came over a hundred years later.

Australia is a great place to be... but America has most everything too if you just move to the right areas. Most of Western America (west of the rockies) is really dry and a lot like Australia. The easy thing for me to do is just move about a thousand miles west.

The bikes looking good!

 

[AussieJester]

We dont have the problem with 'illegals' like America does...we are a big island remember hehehe
we have 'junks' (boats) floating down from Asian countries rather regularly, the people on board get some comfy accommodation
in detention their boat burnt and a fre plane trip home so they can do it all again...very few get to stay. Its not
as easy as cutting a hole in a wire fence and crossing the boarder like it is in America...We have patrol boats constantly
patrolling our norths coastline...Might want to go see that new Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman movie safe i
hear it was shot in Kununurra that'll will give you a taste of outback Australia...I beenz there myself, you welcome to it LoL

Kim

 

[AussieJester]

Update


Matt dropped of the "old school" Electra handle bars he picked up for me from Electra Bikes today I'm as happy as pig in p o o p ::wink::
i have to say...

The bars aren't suited for use with 4 bolt stems like i have on the trike, so a lil
"relieving" was required...I have used my air powered die grinder for this, finishing
off with some coarse sandpaper wrapped around a largish round pen to even
out the job, not quite up to Matts (recumpences) high level but shall suffice ::wink::-->

The seated potion is sooooo comfy, no back aches foreseen
on long jaunts now that's for certain Only downside is i need
some longer brake cables for the front anchors now LoL

Have a pc to build this arvo for a mates father so wont be
another update on wiring till tomorrow folks...

Back then

Kim

 

[AussieJester]

Update

Not alot to report back having an easy weekend, my controller cleared customs Friday so will be busy tomorrow wiring, i have new connectors in the consignment from TNC Scooters so decided i would wait for those to arrive before tackling the wiring on the trike...

I messed about again... :: sigh :: with the trikes ride height, i have dumped it again not quite as low as before, i now know how much the suspension moves so was able to get away with it clearance wise for the sprockets etc... Matt was also kind enough to throw 2 of the ChoppersUS springer fork springs my way for my front end as they are to heavy for his Aluminum Chopper...my suspension is now alot stiffer MUCH better was bottoming out with lighter springs with me on it and the weight of the 4x 12v slas when i bounced on it...here's a pic of the trikes new "stance"

Shall be pacing tomorrow waiting for the courier to arrive with my goods i know that LoL..

Back tomorrow fellas...and ladies...

Kim

 

[deecanio]

hi Kim,

your trike is looking sweet as
I think you do yourself an injustice, sure Matts work is sublime but their aren't many of us that would attempt to do some of the fabrication you have done so well.
i do wonder - do you get any agg from the law when your out on it?? been seen yet?
"Big up" yourself fella, she's a beaut 8)

Cheers,

D

 

[docnjoj]

Hey Kim

nicely done! My chewing beavers are jealous! Too bad the rear wheels are at the wrong end! Now I understand why you masculine Auzzies use your heads as the fourth wheel when cornering at more than 10mph! Seriously, spring and shock rates are everything as to making the bike ridable!
otherDoc

 

[AussieJester]

hahaha Doc Doc Doc...it is you that looks like he is rolling everywhere in reverse my confused friend hehehehe...trikes have 2 wheelz at the back not at the front As for the cornering, i think this will fly around corners a heap quicker than the first trike, it is leaps and bounds more stable, just trying to rock it over sitting on it compared to the first tellz me that. The suspension will be fine Doc, tizz firm but will take the jolts out of any bumps im likely to see, with the 25 kilo of lead the light springs couldn't cope, the brake caliper mount was slapping up against the springer tube on the forks...

Tiz 6.51am and lastest ep of Top Gear has finished downloading...time to start the day with some lounging in front of the TV...back soon...

Kim

 

[AussieJester]

Update

Received my consignment from TNC Scooters Speed controller
is alot larger and heavier than the last.. I spent the last few hours
cutting and soldering wires, also knocked up a wooden cover for the
batteries painted it with Hammer Tone finish paint...

Watt Up meter all working, as can be seen in pics, all wires have been covered with
cable sleeving to tidy things up a lil...have the batteries on charge now, shall be having some
fun "testing" it come morning ..

Edit:

I took a short 'close up' video of the trike/speed controller
YouTube - New Speed Controller Insatalled

Back with more tomorrow...

Kim

 

[safe]

Count me as one that likes the look of the chopper styling and the set of two wheels in the back rather than the front.

Anyone ever thought about building a four wheeled electric vehicle that resembled the old style race cars?

...you could build a very lightweight carbon fiber frame and I once (long ago) dreamed about building suspension that was also laminated material much like a ski. So you would have four lightweight ski like things sticking out to connect to the wheels. These ski's would be very stiff and just give a little suspension. You then place four very small hub motors on all four wheels (maybe 250 watts each) and just go from their.

One of these days...

Given your circumstances this would allow you to get around and the carbon fiber frame would protect you better from an accident. Four wheels would handle great. You would probably be required to wear a brightly colored flag or something in order to be visible to cars.

I'm just throwing out ideas.

 

[AussieJester]

I think one of these would be good way to go...for a tadpole anywayz-->

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=4r9116Ksgxg&feature=related

Off to bed 11.42PM

Kim

 

[AussieJester]

I fiddled around some more with wiring, connected up my brakes unfortunately i didnt have
a cable still long enough for gears :: sigh :: have ordered will have end of week...so for now
i am stuck in first gear and more sadly 40km/hr LoL

Be the last pics of the trike i'll post in 'un-painted' form ... next pics will be of finished trike, powder coated and chromed..

Ciao for now...

Kim