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Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion? (Read 1571 times)
JimFPU
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Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Jun 6th, 2008, 3:12pm
 
New to the forum, but have a ?
 
I have an old Infinity LWB.  I'd like to put a fairing on the thing, but with a caveat.  I'd like to see what it would take to turn it into a tadpole trike...so I don't have to build bombay doors or the like.  
 
I know it's hot here in God's Country (Texas) but I'm only 8.5 miles from work and I need to start riding this thing to work more.  I'm having pain at the pump like everyone else, except I have a wonderful HPV to change out my car for.  
 
 
Any ideas?
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FlyingLaZBoy
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #1 - Jun 6th, 2008, 5:12pm
 
Now THAT's an Opus-worthy project....  I can hear his welder firing up already!!!   Shocked Cool
 
Welcome, Jim!
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« Last Edit: Jun 6th, 2008, 5:12pm by FlyingLaZBoy »  

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Bud_Bent
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #2 - Jun 6th, 2008, 9:29pm
 
Welcome to the forum, Jim! Your project sounds a little more serious than most here would tackle. There are lots of hpv building and modifying ideas at recumbents.com, though.
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JimFPU
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #3 - Jun 7th, 2008, 5:35pm
 
Well I'll have to figure out something...first thing I'll do is build a model.  Discussed with DW and she things it would be cool.  If I can't get Opus to help out, maybe I'll have to buy my own welder...hmmm new tools...
 
When is fathers Day again!?  LOL!
 
Thanks for the welcome.
 
 
The idea that came to mind this morning was something along the lines of what a dragster has on the front of it.  Another was taking the front of two DF's and using them welded together sideways and then somehow mounting it to the front of my Infinity.  Now I just need to get some models going.
 
DW said since it would be so much bigger than a tadpole, I should call it a frog!!  She even hinted that I just save up and buy a trike, but that's way more than I want to spend, and I test drove some in Stephens Point WI (the Hostel Shoppe) two years ago, and I topped out the gears too quickly (for me) any way.
 
Back to the brainstorming...
 
ETA: visited the Atomic Zombie site...maybe something good there in the tadpole design he has.
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« Last Edit: Jun 7th, 2008, 7:24pm by JimFPU »  

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Opus the Poet
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #4 - Jun 8th, 2008, 2:03am
 
I would need a pic to start design from, or you could design it.  Roll Eyes I'm in the Go Kart axle school of tadpole trike design, I even have a jig somewhere to build spindles and king pins and to mount disk brake calipers to it. A LWB tadpole would require some kind of remote steering (like a car or ATV). The biggest design problem with a LWB tadpole is keeping the pedals out of the dirt on rough roads, the second biggest is keeping the rubber side down and the shiny side up, as the best method of doing that conflicts with the first problem.
 
My favorite trike build was the FWD rear-steer delta trike. It was so low that it would drag on every speed bump and high center on the big ones which would make me have to get out and push it off. and it was very prone to flip going around corners. So why was it my fav trike? Because it was made to go like a bat in a straight line, which it did to the limit of the installed motor. The rear wheels were entirely in the wind shadow of the seat, which was only 1" off the ground unloaded. Just don't steer too much at speed, or you'll be testing the roll cage...
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JimFPU
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #5 - Jun 14th, 2008, 8:36am
 
Opus, thanks for the future help...maybe.  I'd like to try and keep the original bike and add the tadpole wheels to the front somehow...or maybe you have a better idea.  I can keep the USS with the cables that it currently has.  You have the expierence with building this stuff already, so I could learn from your lessons learned.  I would like to add disk brakes also.  
 
Maybe I have grand ideas.  I'd kinda like to do this: add the tadpole wheels to the front, add a modified Reg Rodaro Stormy Weather (www.lightfootcycles.com/stormyweather.htm) type fairing to streamline it all.  I can handle the wider stance to help with the stability and speed is nice, but not top priority.  I'd mainly like to have the stability at a stop with out having to put my feet down, so I can make a fully enclosed fairing to ride in all weather conditions.  I know we have tons of heat here in north Texas, and so I would have open sides for most of the year, but I'd like to ditch my car, and I have a goal of riding to work for a soild year, once I get this thing done.  
 
I have tons of ideas, and I need to start sketching them out, so I can have an idae of what I want.  I also plan on building a model when I decide what I want it to look like and see if it's feasable.  I'll have to scan the drawings and send them to you to see what you think.
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JimFPU
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #6 - Jun 27th, 2008, 10:55am
 
Another problem developed...
 
My seat frame is cracked!  It looks as though it was repaired previously and the repair weld is now cracked.  I'm attempting to build a foam core fiberglass seat, but this really curtails my riding.  (I don't have 23 'other 'bents like some people I read about...)
 
Any idea who could make me a new seat frame?  I need it more reclined, but with the attach points in the same location for my Infinity.
 
Opus, I hear you like to do this stuff, could you help?  Let me know what it might cost...it could even be cheaper if we just modify the seat frame I already have...
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'13 Bluevelo carbon Quest QB 74 - The Flaming Eyeball
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Opus the Poet
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #7 - Jun 28th, 2008, 11:25am
 
It depends on the material of your seat frame. Right now all I can work with are mild steel and chrome moly, my Al alloy welding gear was "borrowed" by person or persons unknown. Right now I'm in Tennessee, drop me a PM through the site with your contact information and we'll talk...
 
Opus
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JimFPU
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Re: Infinity LWB to tadpole conversion?
Reply #8 - Jun 28th, 2008, 5:14pm
 
PM sent.
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'13 Bluevelo carbon Quest QB 74 - The Flaming Eyeball
'12 ICE Sprint X 26

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