I know what everyone is going to say, "its not worth the money, your better off with the xr+ etc etc," but I like the kite trike and I would rather ride that than the peter lynn. I am going to have some modifications made to the trike that I will go over.
Here is a list of things I am hoping to cover with this project:
- I am going to take apart the original seat, measure it, and make a new one with better hardware. If I dont like the final result, I will have learned something anyway and I will design my own by looking at various seat designs to figure out what I want.
- I am going to make some mods to the axle, that I dont want to reveal just yet. I want it to be a surprise.
- I am going to get the frame powder coated.
- I am going to make a belly pan maybe.
- I will fix the head stock so there is no speed wobble. either fix it or a rebuild
- I am going to either buy or have made some high strength bolts for the axles, so it is no longer just machine bolts.
- and finally I am going to have rails to neck attachment point reinforced.

Feel free to offer input and suggestions or offers to help on this project but PLEASE dont try to discourage this. I know it sounds weird that I am doing this to a cheap buggy, but it is something I really want to do.

I will try to include as many pictures as I can as I progress.
The first part of my project is going to be the seat.

Sounds like a plan. Home brewing has a higher satisfaction anyway. IMHO

i agree.

I am going to post construction process and photos on here but the reference photos i will send a link to

its a good candidate for reworking , custom hacks are the best! one of a kind everytime...everybody can have stock but custom shows up through pure will my man, and thats beautiful.

why would it be discouraged? modifying kite stuff is the next best thing to kiting and gives you something to do on the non wind days. Just to clarify, is this the cloud 9 kite trike?

its the rockville kite trike with the pointed foot gaurds

Sounds like a good plan to me... Can't wait to see how things turn out... I saw you mention reinforced bolts above... I prefer to use Grade 8 stuff when I can... It's not listed as rust proof, but I haven't seen any of my Grade 8 stuff rust at all. You can get a lot of grade 8 stuff at most Ace or Truvalue Hardware stores in limited sizes for a way better price than places like Fastenall or Grainger, but if you need something bigger you will have to go to the specialty stores or order it online.

Good luck

Can't wait to see the progression. I love projects like this. I can't really tell in the pics. Is the seat home brewed already? Either way, looks good.

Here is a thread I posted a while back where I did some mods to one of my buggies in case there's any helpful info for you. It has a link to an even older thread where I had done some previous mods as well. I didn't get into redoing the seat or any of that but I sure did a BUNCH of welding on it.

Enjoy:
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=29088

I have got fabric to make the seat, I still need to get webbing. for seat padding I was going to use 1 inch foam rubber. Is this what is normally used?

I found an online store that sells different foams, I think I am going to go with 1/2" minicell foam. it is the same foam that is used for kayak and conoe seats. and its not too expensive.

THey sell foam at Jo-anns fabrics so I am going to try to get some today and start sewing this weekend.

Gonna try to finish the seat this weekend and the try to find a machine shop to have the mods done at

JUst need to add edge binding and a couple straps and it will be done. spent almost two hours folding edge binding

Quote: Originally posted by shortlineflyer

spent almost two hours folding edge binding

so far the seat building has been going alot better that I suspected it would originally. I have changed a few things from the original design, I put on axle straps similar to the PL seats. and I am going to play around with the overly complicated straps on the original seat side panels.

I hope to get all the work done soon, so I can show it off at WBB.

seat is basically done. still need to but the backrest on but that is simple. Now to find a machine shop

the buggy is in the shop