Post by smokinguitarplayer on Nov 5, 2015 3:44:08 GMT
I've gotten in a few half-days working myself this week ... practicing my new skill ... welding ... well I don't know if I can refer it to a skill but I am getting quite skilled at grinding down and cutting off globular weld stuff and starting over. Also , I am very good at getting my MIG to make this peculiar popping sound and tossing little balls of stuff all over the place, later to be ground down etc. etc. .. I've fabricated the mount bracket for the rear fender and have it almost done ... hopefully finished tomorrow .. I copied Erik's bracket except it looks like he welded his on to the exhaust mount area, I made a bracket and am using the mounting bolt...well I'll get pics maybe tomorrow after I get done grinding down and redoing all my nasty welding.
My helper has the brakes almost totally installed.. need a few more bits and the brakes should be done. I also have to make a few more tabs to secure the "outer" fender / rear end .. have it almost done but it needs some tabs on the sides I think. I just have to do it.
Today also started sorting out the radiator filler and expansion bottle mounting .. I think I'm gonna put the expansion bottle where Erik mounted his ... ...
ok .. some pics soon and thanks for all the encouragement. I really feel that I finally have this thing moving and my plan to have it on the road by spring is probably going to happen.
Don't forget to add the 2 beads on the bottom of the rear fender strip this will beef the strip quite a bit.
If you want to use the original expansion bottle there is only 1 location to place it. I have been searching for it for 4 days and it routes the original hoses bends pretty well. Only minor detail is to fill her up is a bit of a hassle but this shouldn't be a regular maintenance job.
Man, You'll have it on the road sooner as I do! Mine is ready for 11 months now and still in prep for leglisation.
Post by smokinguitarplayer on Nov 15, 2015 18:48:54 GMT
Time for a status report.
** If anybody has an easier way to load pics to this forum , other than using another website like Photobucket etc ., please let me know ... a real pain to load photos .. one day I will put a link to the entire folder / collection.
OK .. status
Accomplishments the last 2 weeks or so:
Blew out my old / cheapo / Italian MIG welder that sat in my garage for over 25 years unused except by many people who borrowed it and used it heavily. Bought a new MIG welder. Learned how to mig weld. Leaned how to grind off and redo bad mig welding Rear fender bracket fabricated, painted, edging strip put on and fender fitted to trike. Rear body work completed including all mounting tabs, tail lights , license plate bracket etc. etc. Gas tank cover/ bodywork mounts / tabs all final welded Coolant expansion tank all mounted under gas tank ala Erik's build Radiator filler hose etc . fitted / mounted Rear mount for trunk / box is all fabricated and box fits well. Bought a metal bending rig from Harbor Freight got it set up and used it a couple of times already. Brake system mostly installed .. waiting for a couple of bits to finish this. Found / bought another seat , Tractor type I think it will work fine. Ordered rails/ mounts waiting for them Got necessary stuff for throttle cable. (pretty easy since my son owns a great bike shop Air Scoop and extra set of front suspension bushings ordered from manufacturer .
this weeks plan (and beyond) Paint undersides of all bodywork black Decide on side view mirror mounting positions ...do I like what I did? if not, R&R them. Mount parking brake actuator / handle assy. Start working on throttle stop. Fabricate the tab needed for the speedo at the front axle. Fabricate switches using handlebar and switches from donor aka Erik. continue to stare at the dashboard , front bodywork etc. to find simplest way to rig it all .
Projected "on the road" date was spring 2016 .. I would say I am slightly ahead of that timeline.
If anybody has really closeup pics of mounting their handbrake handle assy please send ... I think Erik might be the only builder that has the same parts that I have.
Post by smokinguitarplayer on Nov 18, 2015 3:19:58 GMT
I don't know if anybody is reading / following this ... Nov 17th 2015
Today I fabricated brackets to hold the side view mirrors. I felt that they would be too low if I just put them on horizontal plates off the side rails of the frame so I made brackets that raisesd them up 2,5 inches .. looks fine and works good ...
Painted the underside of all the bodywork black. Started fabricating the bracket(s) to mount the handbrake handle etc.
Post by smokinguitarplayer on Nov 19, 2015 3:39:57 GMT
Tonight my helper installed all the brake lines / etc. Next week we'll fill the system and test it. I am fabricating brackets for the handbrake mounting. Next up is the throttle system and seat rails. I think I am in fact going to make my seat slide / adjustable. I originally thought I would just mount it where I wanted it but now that I am such a good welder (tongue in cheek) I am up to more work/projects. FB
Post by smokinguitarplayer on Dec 5, 2015 22:38:57 GMT
Update 12-5-2015 - I'm really getting close to having all the mechanical and dry build things done. In the past few weeks fitted the seat and adjustment rails etc., dashboard, front cowl and bodywork, brakes, handbrake, throttle cable and pedal stop. I still have to fit the speedo tab at the front axle and most of the fitting / tack welding will be done. We are just starting to sort out the wiring harness and once that is sorted and the wiring done, I can test fire the thing and maybe even take a very short test drive before I tear it down to do all the final welding etc. My plan is to have this thing on the road by 4/1/2016 so depending on the date that I get the dry build done, I will decide if I will have my frame powder coated or just paint it. My hopes are that I will be able to finish all this preliminary fitting / fabricating etc. by the end of the year, take a month to do all the finish welding and fit the floor and then decide on the frame finish so I can start my final build by March 1.
It's just too much effort to post photos on another site, then copy and past trhe addresses here on this forum so my plan is once I have this thing more finished, to set up a photobucket site with all the pics and videos. Here 's a quick video update.
Oh ..I almost forgot, my plan is to visit Roger in Mass. in 2 weeks to take a good look at his trike before I finalize all my work and fabrication .
I enjoyed the video. You are well on your way to riding this spring Fred. Now once you get it all assembled, you have to take it all apart for final coating. Are you color matching the blue Burgman windshield garnish to the Eco-Exo bonnet, or leaving it? Also, it would be interesting to know what sort of seat you chose. Anyway, it all looks good.
Post by smokinguitarplayer on Feb 13, 2016 3:46:13 GMT
Yesterday was a big day ... wiring all done , mostly everything done . First fire up occurred successfully (after I got some fresh gas).... also EVERYTHING WORKS! In the next couple of weeks I will check the front suspension and get that sorted better and then a very short test drive, then I tear it down and start the final work ... welding , coating, painting, finishing, and final build. Still ahead of my scheduled first drive beginning of June ..I might be 2 months early. Here's a video of the first fire-up as promised to Roger et al.
"All Right" Fred.... congratulations on the 1st start up of your Eco-Exo-R. It is a milestone worth noting. When you complete the disassembly for painting and welding your tabs, the reassembly will go a lot faster than it did on the initial layout work.
You asked me about the floor pan. I used 6061 aluminum. I also preshaped and predrilled the pan and chassis before coating. When I attached the pan, I used stainless rivets. You can refer to my build if you need to.
Are you going to make a wiring tunnel or leave the bundle simply wrapped and secured? The tunnel shouldn't be to difficult to make. You could have it coated at the same time.
Post by smokinguitarplayer on Feb 13, 2016 14:06:20 GMT
I actually received a tunnel with my kit but I really don't want that thing under my feet etc. so early in the build I decided to just run the stuff along the side. My trike will be more of a "driver" than a showpiece so I'm not as concerned with cosmetics but don't get me wrong, I still like things neat and tidy. I also don't like things "finalized" ..I like to , as easy as possible, make changes after I start using something like this ... so for the first year probably , I will be making changes , improvements, mods etc. so for now , the loom will suffice .....I think anyway.
Got hot flash for ya.... a kit is NEVER finished. Kits constantly evolve until they are passed to someone else. Look at Eddie's, Erik's and mine. Not exactly the Kit in a box that came from the Manufacturer. They are more like a personalized product customized to match the owners likes or dislikes. Right now Eddie is in his secret lair, slide rule in hand trying to engineer something else to add to his Eco-Exo. He scares me sometimes, I think he is working on the first Eco-Exo-R flying submarine trike helicopter. ? (well maybe not a submarine) but something equally impressive.