looking good..!!

I now am trying to figure out how to hold everything square.
I made a fixture from things I had around the garage. It is lining up Ok.
I still need to trim the back of the rails a bit. The one on the right side is not angled correctly.



I am hoping to finish up this week. Then I will need to figure out the fork.

Thanks for looking.

Ok, here is more progress. I was unhappy with the way the fixture was holding the buggy parts. So, I decided to change a few things... Now, I did not want to spend money on a fixture that probably will only be used one time. (we'll see) Anyway, here is what I came up with after scavenging some parts which have been laying around my garage and at work.

Here are the parts loaded into the fixture.

After welding the side rails, I borrowed the seat from my other buggy just to see what it would look like.

Looking good. It's fun to see your progress and what you use for holding everything in place. Keep your fixtures or good photos for when you build your next one. N+1

Looks awesome. I like the look of the wide axle and those tires.

Where did you source the wheels or what is their standard application?

Thanks all for the encouraging words.

The rims are....
https://www.bmikarts.com/8-x-7-Rim-with-Bead-Lock-_p_10510.h...

The bearings....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/6304LLUNR-NTN-Standard-Small-Ball-B...

If you are willing to go with a 25mm or a 3/4" axle you can find the bearings for less. I really wanted to stay in the kite buggy "standard".
Which seems to be 20mm axles.

The tires are....
Carlisle Straight Rib Lawn & Garden Tire - 18X9.50-8 4 ply...
I think I got them on Amazon.

It was really difficult to put the tires on the rims. I had help from my sons (Kyle and Tyler). I could not have done it alone.

Quote: Originally posted by rtz

Looks awesome. I like the look of the wide axle and those tires. Where did you source the wheels or what is their standard application?

It's funny you should mention that. Because the tire size is what started this whole build. I saw Claude's VTT Black Widow at the Wildwood Buggy Bash last fall with this size tires on it. The tires were mounted on a wider rim, I think the rims were an 8 x 8 Sysmic. Well to buy Sysmic was a lot of $$$ with shipping. Then I found these rims, I was originally thinking of putting them on my custom Flexi wide axle.

(http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=36640)

But the buggy would have been too high up. So, I finished that build with Midi tires. And made the decision to build from scratch.

Looking very good so far.
When you finished it, how are you going to treat it?
Galvanized or powder coating or....?

Quote: Originally posted by jantie

Looking very good so far. When you finished it, how are you going to treat it? Galvanized or powder coating or....?

Thank you...

As far as finishing I am not sure yet. I was thinking of primer and paint.
One of the main reasons for paint is... I am not sure if I will need to change some thing, make any adjustments, new parts, or modify existing parts.
So, paint will make it easy to strip / repaint and mach parts.

This exists. I have never used it. It is a generic version of "steel-it" a weld through paint.

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Protective-Spray-Pain...

Quote: Originally posted by eric67m

This exists. I have never used it. It is a generic version of "steel-it" a weld through paint. https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Protective-Spray-Pain...

Thanks for the link. I think this might be a good option.

Ok, started working on the front fork. I did not have a final design in mind. So, I did not put anything on paper, just started working to see where it was going to end up. I knew I wanted some adjustment in the fork for trail and for the foot pegs. With that in mind here is what I have so far. It is only tacked together at the axle plate and at the foot peg plate, the rest is still loose. If anyone is interested, I can get some measurements and post them.

Nice...!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to the end result.

I like the curved fork tube surrounding the axle mounting plates. Looks good and stiff for speed.
I am slowly cleaning my garage back to the corner where the welder is buried. I keep discovering little projects on the way. Even though I am going back to work, I hope to keep this project in sight.

Ok here is this weeks progress.

I tacked the fork together. And I made a back rest. The back rest is not my design. I found a YouTube video by Popeye the Welder, the back rest turned out nice. Thank you Popeye for your contributions.



So, then I put the seat on again and sat in it. It was really flexi... the side rails 1.25 tube .125 thick still really bouncy??? I could not let that go. I am a bigger guy, and it felt like it would not hold up with me riding in it. So, I made struts to stiffen the rails. At this point all is tacked into place and the buggy will stand on it's own, with out any supports.



Things left to do..... Finish the foot pegs, finish welding, paint, make seat, make side rail covers, and bag.

Foot pegs....





I was hoping to finish all welding/grinding this weekend but I ran out of welding wire. Hoping to finish up in the next few weeks.

Also, I found this to use as padding..
https://www.zoro.com/tundra-pipe-ins-poly-1-18-in-id-6-ft-6x...

This insulation is 3/4" wall, the center is to size and it is more firm then the stuff at Home Depot.

Here is a side by side.

OK, Jacks back......

It has been a while since I had any time to work on my buggy.
This week I finally got some time in.

Here is the long story... Finished the front fork.

If you notice, I put supports in in the middle. Once I did that I could not take the fork of the Swan Neck. The wall of the yolk was a bit taller then the bearing. Both on top and bottom. Here is a picture hopefully you can see what I mean. To get the fork off, I had to grind the top and bottom of the yolk.



Now, I also noted that the bottom tube of the swan neck was a bit too long, about 4 inches.



So, I ground the top and bottom of the yolk, shortened the bottom tube, and I added a sleeve in. The sleeve will, down the road, give me a place to tie / hook off an AQR. Here are a couple pics.

Next up, I will be making some wheel spacers. As rtz pointed out they are needed and are not optional. And really it is not that much work to make them. Thanks for setting me on the right path.

I like your pierced bottom of the swan neck. I have had my rope slide off of the rod that it is tied around. Good thinking.

Completely agree with Eric - I've had to come up with several work around solutions to keep my AQR webbing from sliding off the stinger and this would be a nice solution.

This also means your swan neck needs to extend back underneath you. I don't believe I have space to fit a tube or a wedge section of a tube. Other people's buggies will vary...

I have not used an AQR system. I am actually still getting comfortable with using a harness with my power kites. I have a homemade harness and a PL Divine. The swan neck extends about two inches into the seating area when the buggy is adjusted for me. That puts the thru hole just in front of me. I will put a grommet around the front area of the seat to allow for access. I know the object is to get as close to the release point as possible. Well if it dose not work having the sleeved hole there wont effect anything.

Quote: Originally posted by Jack.Oh

I have not used an AQR system. I am actually still getting comfortable with using a harness with my power kites. I have a homemade harness and a PL Divine. The swan neck extends about two inches into the seating area when the buggy is adjusted for me. That puts the thru hole just in front of me. I will put a grommet around the front area of the seat to allow for access. I know the object is to get as close to the release point as possible. Well if it dose not work having the sleeved hole there wont effect anything.

The extra hole may come into play when attempting to set a PB. :evil:

Anyone else have a fetish for new tyres with spikes or just me ? Great build.

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by Jack.Oh   I have not used an AQR system. I am actually still getting comfortable with using a harness with my power kites. I have a homemade harness and a PL Divine. The swan neck extends about two inches into the seating area when the buggy is adjusted for me. That puts the thru hole just in front of me. I will put a grommet around the front area of the seat to allow for access. I know the object is to get as close to the release point as possible. Well if it dose not work having the sleeved hole there wont effect anything. The extra hole may come into play when attempting to set a PB. :evil:

And brown pants

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky

Anyone else have a fetish for new tyres with spikes or just me ? Great build.

Time to make wheel spacers...

Look at them spikes ....


Thanks!

Ok, I am sure that all of you people here know about wheel spacers.

This is just the next step to the build. I am using 1" steel tube /.083" wall, this was left over from a fork I made for my other buggy. (pic above)

First take the bearings out, setup a flat surface, place the wheel on it, and measure the hub. It measures 3.250".


Next, setup the bearing, measure it and do some math.

Hub - Bearing seat times two = Spacer length
3.250-(.450x2)=2.350

I do not have a mill or a lath so sawzall and a belt sander.


Job Done!