Quote:

Originally posted by cheezycheese Quote: Originally posted by Kamikuza Meant to add - took me a while to figure out what "56k/3g death" meant :o I still can't figure this out... Care to enlighten the dimwitted among us (me)... :puzzled:

My brain couldn't get past "56 kilogram, 3 grams - uh???" for a while

Aaron,
Great work of art! Congratulations!
I'm thinking about replacing my current wooden backrest with something similar to what you built, but I want to make something detachable, maybe with two stubs attached to the axle and the rest of it removable.
How sturdy is the connection to the axle. I saw you're using some clamps that are wrapping around the axle and then bolted to a round plate. If those clamps are the same thickness and material used for conduit supports, they might be to flimsy. Did you try to lean harder on the backrest? I have no doubt about the strength of the backrest frame itself, but I'm really interested to get some testing feedback on the connection to the axle. What prevents the backrest to rotate around the axle is the friction you can create by tightening those clamps. (EDIT) I just realized you have also the straps that are preventing this rotation... should be better with those... but not sure if it's enough... the clamps are gonna bend under load.

By the way... that was my first buggy. I'm glad it found a loving home!

Hey Tibi,

Yeah those are the clamps you're thinking about, but they don't really support any of the weight. Most of your weight leaning back is supported by the straps from the seat that I wrapped around the middle of the backrest. The c clamps really just keep the bottom of the backrest from slipping off the rear axle. When I first made the backrest, I actually over tightened one of the bolts and snapped it, and even with only 3 of the bolts connected, I was still able to put my full weight back on it and it held with no problems. Its very secure, and I'm confident it won't be an issue

I'm looking to do something very similar with the buggy I have on the way, could you use PVC for the back support you created?

Vinyl on the foot pegs keeps your feet from slipping off at the beach, and old bike inner tubes(free at the bike shop) make the best thing for holding your feet in.

Use big washers over the end to keep the rubber from pulling through.

Nice looking bug!

aoxo~

I like the mods. Looks like a killer bee!! Orange and black are danger colors. Perfect!! I like the inner tube idea for the heel straps. But I was thinking the same dirrection for the foot pegs if there thick enouph. get some old school bike handlebar grips. Wrap double sided tape on the pegs, spray on some lighter fluid (like for a zippo type lighter) and slide the grips over. The fluid evaperates in seconds and the gripps are there till you wear them out or cut them off. Just an idea I had!

Quote:

Originally posted by OmniSmurfZ I'm looking to do something very similar with the buggy I have on the way, could you use PVC for the back support you created?

I don't see why not. My original plan was to make it out of PVC, but decided to go with metal piping instead in case I felt like powder coating it, which I ended up doing after all, so it worked out perfectly.

Alright cool thanks =). We'll see, if I get the itch to powder coat it I can always recreate it. PVC is just so much cheaper and easier to work with!

PVC is also way lighter!!