any advice from you builders out there...here is a new buggy I am planning

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c202/art_lessing/buggy-pla...

it uses 1 inch square tubing
and I have not designed the forks yet
the swan neck is 1x2 inch tubing

Hmmm. I'd say add a little more hair and attach the arms to the body. Oh, and just get rid of that thing with wheels on it, it just looks weird.

........... OH!!! you mean the buggy!!! :cool2:

Hey Art, you might wanna add a piece across the bottom of your siderails ,like I did. It will greatly improve the strength of your frame.

What is your primary goal with this design? Speed, tricks, cruising? This alone will dictate the design more than anything else.

i would like to be able to cruise comfortably around 35 mph but still be able to do a 360...that is whu I have it sittng just about perfectly in a equalateral triangle

hey weldngod is that 1" square tubes on yours?

negative. 1.50"x1.50"x.125" siderails and prts of rear axle. 2"x2"x.250" for the down tube and siderail to rear axle connection sockets.

Art -

Looks like it will work, but kind of hard to tell scale with stick man in there. You think the side rails might be high, like your elbows might hit ? FWIW, I've designed and built a couple kayaks assuming horizontal postion of center of gravity 10" in front of back of my butt in upright seated position. Got that from Sea Kayaker magazine, and my boats trimmed true. You could "sit on a log" in your preferred psoition until you find an approximate balance point, then split weight 1/3 front - 2/3 rear, or different if you prefer.

Weldngod -

Is the gooseneck just pinched between the 2 plates on the buggy side rails? Looks like compression is what locates the the gooseneck, as it's not touching the bolts to prevent movement?

That must be one heavy buggy frame. I just built a mobile base for my mill out of 2x2x1/8" and it's a tank.

krumly

Quote:

Originally posted by krumly Weldngod - That must be one heavy buggy frame. I just built a mobile base for my mill out of 2x2x1/8" and it's a tank. krumly

Except his frame is out of Aluminium!

The basic design looks spot on to me....

Quote:

Originally posted by krumly Weldngod - Is the gooseneck just pinched between the 2 plates on the buggy side rails? Looks like compression is what locates the the gooseneck, as it's not touching the bolts to prevent movement? That must be one heavy buggy frame. I just built a mobile base for my mill out of 2x2x1/8" and it's a tank. krumly

Yeah, it's compressed between the plates and the bolts are used as bearing points. Once tightened it's ,bulletproof.
And it weighs 41.5 lbs. without wheels and seat. Like BBob said, It's aluminum. I have added some gussets on the siderails and a double rear axle assy. to make it strong enough for the wife to sit behind me in the seat and tandem ride. It is really big, like a papasan chair.

I thought Weldngod's bug was steel and was guessing he was affter the 120 lb monster and the 'big kite, lots of mass, and carry momentum through the turns' theory. I've never appreciated that one much in sailboats...

Art -1 x 1 & 1 x2 tube seems awful small, even if you used really heavy wall. But what would be the point? If you wanted to use square steel tube for low cost and ease of welding, go with bigger tubes and thinner walls. I'd guess using Weldngod's tube sizes with 16 ga walls would give 'roughly' equivalent deflection and yields to his aluminum at a bit more weight. Or maybe 1-1/2" sq. x 14 ga for side rails? Look at Popeye's site for clues...

krumly

it dose seem thin ...although I made my forks out of this stuff and realized how burly the 1/8 inch wall really is...so I figure that if the structure is good as far as trestling goes it should be plenty strong especially if there are supports exactly where they should be....i.e. under the side rails...I am probably going to use 3/8 inch bar for the rail support..its small but its going to be under extension pressure not compression...so I won't have to worry about bending the bar...unless somebody knows something about sideways torque in a buggy?

DQ

here it is again w/ more mods.

front view without backrest tube and fork/downtube assy.

What are you making? A transformer? Just kidding - the geometry reminds me of the old cartoon show. Have you had a chance to take it out yet?

the SANDSHIP ENTERPRISE! no not yet. gettin ready to powdercoat it.

So art have you done any more work on your designing? would like to see any new configurations or layouts - Thanks

I don't know ... the last time I was buggying I noticed that my front end had a serious plow problem...I don't know if its the rake or the fact that my rear axle is wider or if the newer tires are to grippy..or all of the above.......back to the drawing board......

D