I need some advice on what to do for the Head tube you know the part that connects the front fork to the downtube. Is it as simple as getting some bearings and a small piece of pipe or can I buy one? I was thinking of cutting one off a bike maybe...

Have you checked out popeyes web site yet? He's got a lot of great info there

O yeah I love that website he's the man!!! I just sit and scroll all day at least for the past two weeks figuring out how I am going to build my buggy got almost all the parts just need to get it to the shop and get to welding. Pretty excited... We'll see how it goes...

The 2 guesses and the suggestion of visiting Popeye's site will do the trick. A headstock from a bike works great (tricky welding thin bike material depending on the type of welding unit used and the skill of the welder). And some cut plate and pipes (forks and head tube bearing housing) will do it with a little more pizazz. Popeye's site will show examples of both.

Here's an old pic of my bug with a mono-fork with a bicycle head tube. The mono-fork only lasted a few sessions until I smashed it into a sand burm, there is a reason you don't see too many of these.



Here's the same bug with a fully custom built head tube (still using this one)



and here are some plans that I made for some forks and foot pegs that I made for cheesycheese.

Hey man thanks alot is that a lawn mower seat? I just got one like that today... It felt pretty comfortable...

I bought a downtune off of a PL comp buggy today at the local kite store... easy enough.. the downtube alone cost more than the rest of the frame....

give us some pics of your progress, we all love the innovation of our fellow kiters/buggy builders...
Good luck and keep it up...

Here’s a pic of what I have so far.

Yeah I guess the pic didn't make it in with the message. How do you do that?

Upload to photobucket, then copy and paste the code here

http://s839.photobucket.com/albums/zz311/ICTKITEFLYER/Kite%2...

Do you have a pipe bender? I picked one up at harbor freight for $80 - would be perfect for bending your siderails. And yes that is a lawnmower seat - for securing your seat in a cradle I found seatbelt straps, first epoxied then stapled before epoxy cures, bonds the straps really well. Example -



I would also suggest using clips attached to the strap rather than just permanently attaching the straps to the frame - makes doing alterations to the bug and painting a lot easier.



and for putting in photos from photobucket just look under the photo and where it says "IMG Code" there will be a box, copy that info and simply paste it into the post. should look like this - (I changed the last bit from [/IMG] to [/ IMG] so you could see the code.

[IMG]http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp229/waxphone/photo4-7.jpg[/ IMG]

here's your bug parts -

I have most of the parts just need to get the welding done.... and a few bolts and back to buggying....

I have head set bearing holders for the stem to fork connections for sale. I make quite a few different stem and fork setups and keep the machine shop busy keeping my stock up. Ask Brex as he has used quite a few.

I will have to keep that in mind for the next buggy. Which I think I will make out of aluminum.... We will see....

Just curious if you are going to weld the 2 pipes that you have pictured under you seat as they are (strait with no bends)? If so you need to take into consideration the side pull of the kite - it will pull you right out of the seat rather than applying that force to a foward momentum. If you could sketch out a design so we can see what your end goal is we can be of a lot more help and avoid critiqueing the misunderstood.

I have a seat belt that I was planning on using to keep me strapped in and since you mentioned it and from doing some research I just might add some side rails. I wanted a really good ground clearance and right now I am at 7.5 in with the tires that I have. I have figured out where I will be cutting the rails. They are 4ft now cut to 30 inches and then the 18 inches at a 140 degree angle to meet at the down tube. The 18 inches will be shortened once I take out the spacing for the down tube and the side rails bolting I estimate around 16 inches but we will see. 1.5 in for the down tube and 1/4 and 1/4 for the bolts to hold the down tube to the rails. Hope that all made some since...

In the photo, the pipes under your seat look to be 1" which may be a bit small for a main support system unless you created a lattice network with the tubes, this will add weight but will become more structurally sound. Here is what I think you're describing -



and here are what I think should be added.



Also a 2"x 2" square down tube will clamp up much easier than a round one - Popeye has been using round down tubes for a while now but his are using a pretty beefy material with a lot of clamping pressure to lock it into place. A square tube by its nature will be more stable when clamped than a round one.

Just looked at your photo a little closer and realized that the pipe your using for a down tube and your side rails are actually square and rectangular tubing. I would still reinforce your frame's structure - but the down tube should be good to go.

Yeah I will I have two sections that will be reinforced the seat will also sit on top of that part...

ahhh crap........

[IMG]http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz311/ICTKITEFLYER/buggyfrontview.jpg[/ IMG]

[IMG]http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz311/ICTKITEFLYER/buggywideview.jpg[/ IMG]

I hope there's plans for side rails on that, otherwise you're likely to slide right off the seat.

Yeah there are this is just the progress pics....

So how's it do with a sitting and a little bouncy test? I can tell your pretty cautious by the frame buildup - after you get it going you may want to trim it down - but for the meantime if it rolls and can hold onto you - then it works. It will get you on your way to learning the basics of buggying - and it looks like you already know how to fabricate - so your future is already decided - MOD MOD MOD oh and a little more modding because you felt like it.

Yeah I use to own a PL comp so I know how to buggy.. I made it big enough for two people. The axle is 2inx2inx5ft, siderails 1in, downtube 1.5in. and 1in round tubing for the front forks. I need to measure the entire length havent dont that yet hopefully sometime this week it will get its powder coat.... It rolls very nice and turns pretty well. One thing I need to fix is when I get out of the buggy the front fork cranks over and hits the frame. I think its actually the pegs. I am hoping for the test run tomorrow.... I will have some more pics in my photobucket tonight....

I just got off the phone and the guys are done with the powder coating and I get to pick it up this evening. Sweet!!!!!!