Centrifugal clutch or torque converter?

[sparkwizard]

Note on the picture of the homebuilt trike, it has a differential.

 

[Thepaetsguy]

Note on the picture of the homebuilt trike, it has a differential.

With how small op’s trike is I don’t see him finding stability above 20mph... Maybe I’m completely wrong though.

 

[sparkwizard]

On pavement, with those kart tires and a solid axel, you are right on target. Not gonna happen.

MAYBE going in a straight line....

 

[OrangeAnimal]

Yeah it’s a bit squirrelly on pavement. I think I can get it better. The guy that made the frame had one he built. He said 30mph was all they had the guts to do on paved roads.

Now in my yard the experience is totally different it handles at speed just fine. And something tells me if I had some flat dirt it would be a riot for sure.

the funny thing is the tgv trikes have done 40+ mph but aren’t any bigger. Use the same tires etc. I only notice they are a tad closer to the ground but we are talking like a half inch.
I am going to play with it more see what I can do.

 

[sparkwizard]

A differential would make all the difference in the world.
Northerntool used to sell them pretty reasonable.

 

[ole4]

steep rake = quick steering less stability more trail more stability from oscillation To me it looks simple to do, reverse your forks.. Right now it looks like you have zero trail. here is what trail does,

How much trail should a motorcycle have?
between 3 and 6 inches

Normal trail should be somewhere between 3 and 6 inches. Over that your bike will not to be responsive at high speeds. Under 3 inches and your bike will not be stable at high speeds.

 

[OrangeAnimal]

Yes as I understand it. Trail is how far the tire is ahead of the steering tube. If you drop a plumb bob from the head and measure forward to the front axle. I can take that measurement easy enough.

 

[sparkwizard]

I believe you use your plumb bob from the axel to the ground, then draw a line through the steering head, following the pivot bolt, to the ground and measure the difference. I might be wrong, but I am pretty sure you are, too.

 

[OrangeAnimal]

I would say there is not enough trail.

 

[sparkwizard]

Imagine this: If you elongated the bottom hole where your steering pivots, left the top hole alone, move the tire and fork forward about four inches. The pivot point remains the same, but your axel moves forward. That is trail. (I think that's right)

 

[OrangeAnimal]

Here is a picture that shows the relation.

https://www.motorcycle.com/ask-mo-anything/whats-the-difference-between-rake-and-trail.html

 

[ole4]

No guys trail is the distance the tire contact patch is behind an imaginary line along the axis of the fork where it hits the ground. Best to Google motorcycle trail dimension and they show it in pictures.

 

[sparkwizard]

Tire contact patch is directly below the axel. the other line is drawn through the center of the bolt to the ground. The tire should be behind that imaginary line.

 

[OrangeAnimal]

I flipped the forks around as suggested and that got me about 2.75 inches of trail or so. It rides great! No fear! Need to lower the front a touch.

 

[OrangeAnimal]

The only catch is now the front sits up higher. I am going to have my buddy Tig weld the axle tabs up about 1 inch. I know I will lose some Trail though.

 

[sparkwizard]

The only catch is now the front sits up higher. I am going to have my buddy Tig weld the axle tabs up about 1 inch. I know I will lose some Trail though.

While he has them cut off, that is your chance to space them back a little more.

 

[OrangeAnimal]

Yeah maybe up an inch and back a quarter inch. I don’t want to get too carried away. Cause I am loosing overall length.

 

[ole4]

You can make offset neck bushings out of Derlin to add more rake and lower the front.

 

[wjustice]

For the pulling to the right. Use a sewing tape measure and check the circumference of both tires. You will probably find the left is slightly larger then the right. Adjust the pressures until they are both the same. You may even need to make the right side a bit bigger to stop the pull.

 

[ole4]

For the pulling to the right. Use a sewing tape measure and check the circumference of both tires. You will probably find the left is slightly larger then the right. Adjust the pressures until they are both the same. You may even need to make the right side a bit bigger to stop the pull.

Brilliant!