That is a really nice seat. Did you make a pattern first, or just do it all by eye? I've been puzzled as to how to go about it, and you have helped immensely. Thanks!

I got some poster board and made paper to match my arse. You can see from the first picture what the pattern looked like since I use it to cut the foam. I then cut the fabric about an inch larger all around. The two side pieces, I made it curve to match my arse again... apparently I'm the only one that don't have a triangle shape arse. :frog: Lay it on the ground and it should look like a T-shirt or a penguin Since all this is an experiment , I still have not try it on the buggy to see how comfortable it is. I should be able to try it on once I get the buggy painted and put together today or tomorrow. I will update with pictures. I did not have the wide seat belt material so end up using the smaller 1" straps. I would recommend the larger straps since those look like they support you better.

I will be taking the buggy out to DBBB tomorrow so I thought I update everyone what I've been doing the last 2 days trying to get it ready. I still need to make a backrest and better foot pegs but it's good enough for a test ride!!


Got a local machine shop to make the bearing holder for the fork neck. The piece on the right is the same size piece as the tube that I already welded to the forks.


The bearing holder is a tight fit into the tube. Almost a press fit.



Bearings in place. For now, I will not be welding the bearing holder into the fork neck yet.. still too many mods. The fit is tight enough that it will stay.


Frame painted bright red..






Foam on rails. Got these from Home Depot. They are used on HVAC lines.


I made covers out of the same seat material


Seat strapped in and ready to go

WoW, great work! I've been viewing your build as guest. This is such a COOL build. I can't wait to see it in action. Where's the headlight...:wink2:

head light and tail light on order from ebay .. should be here mid week.

Van, that is freakin awesome!!!! Great work, love the recycled bits

Great work Van...love it, are you considering a back rest?

That was a very impressive build time - not to mention some very creative use of scrap. The only thing left is a go pro mount and some footage to post. Beautiful work man - she looks fun.

flexi .. I knew I forgot something! I am heading down to the beach in an hour or so. Better find something around the house to mount my gopro to.

ptw .. yes, I will make a backrest. It got push down the list with the mono fork due to time limitation.

Pretty simple camera mount solution here. http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=15823 I could see that 'T' clamp being usable for a back-rest, also.

WOW fast build , nice work! Can't wait to see the bling. (did I phrase that right or is it bling bling). Very nice.

I finally got some video recorded today. Most of the DBBB attendees have left the beach so I had the beach to myself.

Nice one Van...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED....., I must say that part on the front of your headstock....is crying out for a camera mount...I like that, and may do something along those lines one day.

What did you think after riding it...any faults, anywhere where you wish you had done something else differently...anywhere where you think you can improve on what you have done so far...it looks dam nice...10/10

Very smooth ride. I like the big tires much like the ones I used. It looked like perfect conditions, why did every one else bail?
Great video and a great ride.

The buggy rides real nice. Even with the knobby tires, I was able to do some cool 180 ( did not get it on tape since my wife was filming that part with a dead battery ... I swear it happened!!) . The buggy is very stable due to the heavy tires and steel rims. I have some aluminum rims that I might try to swap it out to see how it does. I believe the knobby tires are also heavier than the slicks. It definitely needs some kind of backrest. I was getting tire on the longer rides with nothing to lean against. I hear alot of negatives about the hard backrest in a backward OBE situation. Overall, I was surprise how the buggy performed consideration this is my first build. My wife keep saying it's gonna fall apart since I'm still learning to weld. :D

I can see a few improvements already. Most of it near the front. Of course, I still need to finish the monofork and test that out!!!

btw.. most people left DBBB because the weather got bad on friday. It was not good for camping. The weather was beautiful all week.

Buggy is looking good! It must be a joy and massive pride to ride in something you built.
From all your projects you do I can tell you are a person who sets his mind to something and gets it done ... all we have to do now is set your mind away from pansh kites and you will be good to go

Keep a back rest low, not much higher than you side rails...and adjustable if you can, most of the time when leaning back I can hardly feel the back rest, but when you brace hard thats when you need to feel it there for support

Great job on the buggy! The video was good too!

Awesome, Van!!!!
Put a great smile on my face.

Nice to see that you got some footage with your new ride - great to have a memory that won't fade. Looks like the buggy held up just fine, now you got to beat on it a bit and see what falls off. Better to give it a really hard test and see what happens then wait to find out when you're least expecting it. One test I find that sums up your welding skills is standing on the frame/swan neck clamp - it's a massive stress point of your body weight and side rail pressure. If it can handle you standing on it then it can take most anything. It's rad that you got some seat time so soon after your build completion. Here's to more footage in your near future.

Thanks for the compliments everyone!!! You should see the smile on my face when I did a donut with it. I need to get that on video!! Of course more buggy abuse video will follow. :o

I will have to start saving money for some nice kites to go with my buggy ...hehehee... :frog:

Quote:

Originally posted by van Thanks for the compliments everyone!!! You should see the smile on my face when I did a donut with it. I need to get that on video!! Of course more buggy abuse video will follow. :o I will have to start saving money for some nice kites to go with my buggy ...hehehee... :frog:

with your extensive skills.....why not make one


How to Turn a Sad Old Kite into a Masterpiece


Ps...watch the last video....its amazing

You've done well Grasshopper. Doesn't it feel nice to ride that which you created?:wee:

Now, where is your passenger gonna sit?:frog: Uh-Oh ,I mighta just lit the fuse..... TANDEM TRAILER!... free buggy rides at the beach...:wee:

Good job on the vid too!

This is how I transport it ... cool folding and transport. Very easy to setup and put away. I also added the BLING just for fun and a passenger seat ( quick 5 minute addition using old universal gym seat).

I will have to make a better seat with better support and seat belt for my passenger. I need to add a foot rest of some type for the passenger also. For the time being , I had a little sling right behind my seat that the passenger can put their feet on.

Transformers!!!!!

Awesome design work - that is simply inspired.

Ok.. it's the new year so I better get off my butt and build something!! I got my new TIG welder hooked up so I figure I learn how to TIG. The monofork seem like a good candidate to learn on. I got more of that scrap from my bike rack and started making a fork to see how it would work. It didn't turn out exactly like I would like but it's a good start. From here, I can modify it now I know what's wrong. You can tell that it will allow me to turn left on a dime but turning right would be a little harder. I guess that's why they make multiple prototype. Btw.. it's a #@%$#! to learn TIG on 1/16" thick wall tubes.

It may be difficult to do but if the pivot point was closer to the center of the tire it would be more in line with a traditional front wheel pivot. You would probably need to modify the rim.

Where do you plan to put the foot pegs?

turn the amperage down van, you're crystalizin your welds(too hot for too long.It's all about heat input). What kind of rig are you using? remote or scratch start?

WD,

I got an Everlast PowerTIG 200DX. It has a foot control and a remote button on the handle. I haven't used the foot control yet. I assume its giving me full amperage at whatever I'm setting when I push the start button on the handle. It's set for HF start right now. It's alot harder than I thought but I did do a couple good looking weld..hahaa.. the rest looks pathetic. I might have to give you a call and get some pointers. i've been giving too much heat or too little, just can't get it right. MIG welding is so much easier.

AD72,

It's not really necessary to put the pivot exactly in the center, just like your car. It's got a rake and camber so the turning point is directly right in the center and in front of where the tire touches the ground. What I need to work on is the arm so that it clears a sharp turn. If you look at my 3D drawings, I have a couple of ideas that will accomodate a foot peg.


btw .. here's the machine I have ...

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/PowerTig%20%20200DX-351-pd...