Some custom work going on in the "Matt-Cave" :~)

[recumpence]

It uses large sealer roller bearings pressed into plastic cups that press into the frame.

From my perspective, I think Catrike uses the plastic bushings to add some drag to the steering to reduce the tendecy of headshake at speed. This thing will use a steering damper for that.

Matt

 

[MitchJi]

Hi Matt,

That is very slick…

Would liked to have seen a 20x4.25in tire on the back…

I agree! 8)

Given your penchant for riding without a helmet I think a full roll cage and safety harness would be a very good idea:

For completeness (in case anyone is interested) here's the site link:
http://highmileagetrikes.blogspot.com/index.html#2751312040868354776

 

[zenon]

Thanks Matt for the info about catrike and Kmx steering system.

The mock-up looking great, 4 inches ground clearance with 47 inches wheel base would scrape the bottom of the frame in my neighborhood giant speed bumps, I would probably end-up with a skid plate :wink:

Not much but here a pic of the tadpole frame I'm working now 49 inches wheel base around 30 inches track, 26 rear rim, 3 disk brakes, rear suspension, still deciding 16 or 20 front wheel and direct or under steering system.

Cheer's

Zenon

 

[j3tch1u]

I used to do MIG welding for a living.
I wish I had a TIG.

for the calibre of stuff you're doing def splurge and get a TIG.

 

[GGoodrum]

I used to do MIG welding for a living.
I wish I had a TIG.

for the calibre of stuff you're doing def splurge and get a TIG.

Okay, I know I'm mechanically challenged, and although not particularly proud of that fact, I'm not too embarrassed either. In any case, I think I know what a MIG is (a hundred years ago I use to figure out how to kill these... :lol: ), but what the heck is a TIG? Seriously, what is the difference?

-- Gary

 

[flyinut]

Gary,
I don't think it was close to a hundred years ago... 8) I dealt with Mig-23s and 29s.
MIG: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/mig-welders.asp
TIG: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/tig-welders.asp

Mark W. Dickey
KHYS/KU42

 

[GGoodrum]

Gary,
I don't think it was close to a hundred years ago... 8) I dealt with Mig-23s and 29s.
MIG: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/mig-welders.asp
TIG: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/tig-welders.asp

Mark W. Dickey
KHYS/KU42

Thanks, Mark. Now I can at least spell them.

Years ago a few from Lockheed were part of a team that helped evaluate parts of a MIG-25 that a Soviet pilot defected with, back in the mid-70s. That beast was all engine, and heavy as hell. Lots of steel, which was surprising to the metal heads. The electronics were "brute-forced" as well, but it had a powerful radar, as I recall.

-- Gary

 

[rkosiorek]

brute force maybe. betcha it would survive EMP without any fancy shielding, shuttering or turning itself off during the event. the steel used was actually a very high quality stainless. chosen because it would survive high heat but being much easier to work with and cheaper than titanium.

also remember the MiG25 was good to darn near Mach3. was meant to battle the Blackbird. wait the recon version could almost keep up with and hit the same altitude as the SR71 for only a fraction of the price. the recon version even retained a pair of self defense missles. in some ways those old commie birds were severly underestimated.

rick

 

[GGoodrum]

brute force maybe. betcha it would survive EMP without any fancy shielding, shuttering or turning itself off during the event. the steel used was actually a very high quality stainless. chosen because it would survive high heat but being much easier to work with and cheaper than titanium.

also remember the MiG25 was good to darn near Mach3. was meant to battle the Blackbird. wait the recon version could almost keep up with and hit the same altitude as the SR71 for only a fraction of the price. the recon version even retained a pair of self defense missles. in some ways those old commie birds were severly underestimated.

rick

Yes, no doubt the electronics were not as "glitchy", as most of the boxes still used vacuum tubes, but not very reliable either. The cabling was a mess, and from what I understand, no two aircraft were wired exactly the same. Years later I oversaw Lockheed's part of a joint venture with a government-owned aircraft company in Malaysia. This outfit did maintenance and repair work on pretty much everything that flies in Malaysia. The RMAF ended up with a bunch of MiG-29s, and I remember the AIROD people complaining that none of the aircraft matched the drawings.

Titanium apparently is a bitch to work with. I remember some of the "old guys" at the Skunk Works talking about the tooling and processes they had to invent, in order to get the SR-71 in the air. They never did really solve the expansion problem because that thing would leak from every orifice and joint, when it was on the ground. At 70,000 feet, however, it was tight as a drum.

 

[rkosiorek]

gary,

as bad as some things maybe were/are. there was also a lot of good stuff there. DOD was so scared of the MiG25 that they invested a boatload of cash developing the F15 and all of its systems to counter it.

i still think that if a well-trained and motivated Russian crew was in one, and it was coming after me..... i would have some major concerns. i believe that many of us here in the west are used to making fun of the enemy cause it makes it easier to deal with it. if we were really as worried as we should be, we would never leave home.

just think it took all of our sophistication 40 years to improve the basic m16/m4 to the point that it reached the reliability that some dumb russian tank sargeant named Kalashnikov managed in 1947. and for years many here in the west laughed about how crudley it was built. ditto the RPG.

any now i am way off topic. i better say something about matt's trike else a moderator is gonna slap my wrist.

nice build matt. i can't wait to see it with the new custom rims after they are anodized. i also love how clean that machine shop is. you can tell this is where precision products are made.

rick

 

[Jeremy Harris]

I investigated a fair bit of Soviet kit years ago and it was generally built like a brick outhouse. They had different constraints and enablers to the West, like masses of cheap labour, little access to some materials (like titanium) and a philosophy of never changing anything unless it really needed to be changed (which generally tended to improve reliability). Their stuff may not have been cutting edge technology, but it was bloody effective.

For example, they continued using simple avionics and acorn valves, because they were EMP resistant. They used high strength steels because they had them in abundance, knew how to use them and accepted that this meant less endurance, meaning a need for a larger number of (cheap to build) aircraft (labour was cheap, and the employment was useful). It's easy to look at some former Soviet materiel and think it's a bit backward, but I'm under no illusion that it could have seriously kicked our asses had push come to shove.


Jeremy

 

[GGoodrum]

any now i am way off topic. i better say something about matt's trike else a moderator is gonna slap my wrist.

Consider it slapped, you socialistic, commie-loving Canuck!

<sorry about crapping all over your thread, Matt. On the other hand, if you want to slap a couple Stinger mounts on the sides of this sick, 3-wheeled bed pan, I think I can get you a few more high-paying customers.

 

[recumpence]

I am still in my 30s. But, I know about the financial fiasco of the F14 in the 70s. That thing was stupid expensive to develop and manufacture, partly because of the extensive use of titanium and the special welding techniques and equipment used with it. However, the F14 was far ahead of any other aircraft of the time partly due to it EXTREMELY stable high AOA capability. That fighter is one major reason we solidified our status as THE super-power of the time. The F15 was stellar with its over-unity power to weight ratio allowing vertical climb out of the frey. The F16 had better manuoverability than any fighter of its time. It is also a very reliable aircraft, along with a low enough price to enable high numbers in active service. Then we have various other craft that aided us in the technology department like the A10 (ugly, though it is), and the Harrier (super time comsuming to develop, though it was).

These jets put us in a good position millitarily. They also aided us financially (eventually), though we had much debt to contend with because of them.

I agree we should not take the enemie's weaponry for granted. However, we DID have the upper hand. I disagree that we would have been spanked if we tangled with the USSR. We would have lost alot of lives, for sure. But, the attrition ratio would have been very lop-sided in our favor.

At any rate, back on topic!

I will be back at the shop tomorrow doing some more welding and fabricating. I have trying to get as much done as possible because I have a bunch of drive orders to fill soon and that will delay the trike build.

Matt

 

[gestalt]

I demand the first test ride video have kenny loggins "danger zone" playing! ...I do demand it.

 

[recumpence]

I demand the first test ride video have kenny loggins "danger zone" playing! ...I do demand it.

How about Motley Crew "Round and Round" while doing a smokey donut?

Matt

 

[northernmike]

You guys should know, there's more to fear from Russian women than airplanes.

I had one for two years, and can attest - "z'ere iss no defense".

 

[def215]

I demand the first test ride video have kenny loggins "danger zone" playing! ...I do demand it.

hahaha...that was the funniest thing ive read this morning. that definitely made my day.i think hes way beyond the danger zone with that setup...lol.

 

[GGoodrum]

You guys should know, there's more to fear from Russian women than airplanes.

I had one for two years, and can attest - "z'ere iss no defense".

I've heard that. :lol: A friend of mine, who has been living in Thailand for about 15 years, has a stunningly good-looking blond Russian girlfriend, but to say she is "high maintenance" is quite the understatement. She has him completely whipped! :lol:

 

[katou]

How will you charge that massive battery? The capability of a large battery like that staggers my mind. I wonder what sort of backpack laser could be run with a battery like that...

Katou


"And why would crossing the streams be bad Ray?"

 

[recumpence]

I got a huge amount of welding done over the last 24 hours. Also, my CNC battery boxes are just about done. I will have some available for sale, by the way.

Anyway, I will post some pictures tomorrow afternoon.

It is looking stellar to say the least!

I think it will be ready for some color by the end of the week.

Oh, hey, anyone know where I can get some 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick foam padding (like the kind kneeling pads use) in black color? I am making hip side bolsters for the seat and I need padding in black for them.

Matt

 

[northernmike]

Check out marine upholstery shops... they might have some good closed cell foam to serve your purpose.

 

[Thud]

Another posible source for the closed-cell foam is Mc sports or any of the excersize retailers.
They will have some floor pads for the calastenic/yoga crowd.
3/4 inch IIRC.

 

[enoob]

for the foam check out some gardening or landscaping stores, round here they sell these little mats for kneeling while doing gardening. just what your looking for if im right, otherwise id try a fabric store . know ive seen the product you seeking at fabricana or a hardware/gardening center . otherwise the marine or the exercise outfits sound like a good bet.

nice shop by the way. solidify's my urge to finish my garage and make it into a proper home workspace.

 

[etard]

Not sure this is the same stuff, but what about wetsuits? I saw one at the thrift store the other day, might have to go back and get that in case I ever want to make a seat. :wink:

 

[recumpence]

Here are a couple pics of the finished seat with all trussing and bracing added as well as the seat side-bolster frames welded on.

I will be welding battery box tabs next, then I will inspect all welds and hit the messy ones with the flap-disc. After that it is on to the powder-coater!

It looks like I may be wiring this thing in under 2 weeks.

Oh, this thing is so low I can set it up-side-down without the seat hitting the ground!

Matt