Three wheeler

[36inter]

Thanks for the comment Rich.

Not sure what the weight will be, it certainly will not be the lightest, I did some estimating many years ago and came up with about 450kg. It may be over that as I never use one bolt when twenty will do....I will see if I can steal the bathroom scales and find out how heavy it is now...

Pete

[nimbusprint]

Great project, I love the wing mirror story, Sod's law will always dictate that "every potential accident you think about and design to avoid, will be bypassed by the one you didn't ever imagine would happen, and consequently F___ your day". With a three wheeler, every thing you avoid with your front wheels will be magically caught by the back one Once upon a time the DVLA allowed 3 wheelers under 410kgs special dispensations on registration, tax etc. Not sure what current rule are but it would be a shame to have to pay car tax,full sva, etc.

worth checking.

Ian

[36inter]

Put the chassis on the scales yesterday, with the front engine bulkhead fitted using 6 separate small steel sheets it weighed 72kg.

Hello Ian, thanks for the kind comment, the rules for building these sort of things have changed a lot since I first started the project over 14 years ago, I think then the weight limit was 450kg but they dropped it as you say, just to make it harder. Not sure what the regs are now but I am sure there will be more hoops to jump through.


Pete

[nimbusprint]

That's good going Pete, that should get you sub 400 kgs

Ian.

[surfblue63]

Pete

Interesting build.

You might find this useful, it's the MSVA manual in pdf format

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... manual.pdf

Also here's a link to a page with the forms and hoops you need to fill in and jump through.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/mot ... e-approval

Good luck.

PS The weight limit is now 1000kg for motortrycles.

[36inter]

Thanks Surfblue63, that is useful information.

I have attached the 6 panels that made up the front engine bulkhead, I had to make it piece meal to fit round all the chassis members. It is pop riveted and Tiger sealed in position. First though I cut a 2 1/4" hole for the steering column to pass through, it had to be that big as there is a U/J on either end. To seal the hole I turned up a sleeve out of aluminium with a spigot on one end to fit in the hole and an outside diameter the same as a driveshaft CV so I could use a CV boot to seal it, I will split the boot, put it over the column and glue it back together. I have put a groove in the O/D of the sleeve for the boot to grip and I've stuck in place with Tiger seal.








I started making the top engine bulkhead plates and drilling the holes for the rivets, that should see the last of steel panels, all other bulkheads and the dash will be in ply. The bonnet, boot and side skins will be aluminium.





Pete

[davidnutland]

Gurston Down speed hillclimb early 1980's. This event was a very bad day for both the Greenwood and Curley three wheelers, strangely both cars had accidents on the Ashes corner or just after and both pillions lost or damaged their ears. The event was held up whilst the car were recovered and the pillions were rushed to hospital, at least one with his ear in a sandwich box..

greenwoodsml.jpg

curleysml.jpg

Ashes corner

2324013463_137b22cd99_z.jpg

[36inter]

Great pics David, thanks for posting, I have been warned that this could happen on tight corners if you give it too much boot, not sure if they were running LSD's, glad no one was badly hurt.

I see the Mini has the benefit of an outboard wheel to keep it upright, maybe I should make it a four wheeler..........

[36inter]

Not done too much as we had the Grandchildren over Easter but catching up a bit.

Cut out the spacers for the rack clamps, these are fitted with the 1100 type one to sit the rack in the correct position, thanks to Rich for the info on those, fits great. Thats my original effort along side, the grubby bit that I cut from a Mini floor and, well, modified..... in the bin now.







More machined rings to sit in the wooden engine bulkhead for the steering and gearchange shafts to pass through. they are grooved so I can attach rubber boots to them. I have some small rubber boots, no idea where I got them from or what they are off, I have taken a picture of one of them next to a CV boot, can anyone identify it for me please as I need a couple more.





Starting to box in the pedal assembly and tried the two master cylinders to see how they sat, bloody close but okay, the top comes off the clutch master cylinder luckily.





I have also had try and fix another cock up, the top seat belt mounting was not in accordance with MSVA rules and I have had to lift it about 4", not my finest design but enough weld and bracing to keep the man happy, possibly... Holes yet to be drilled.

[rich@minispares.com]

that new rack mounting looks miles better, pat on the back for, er, me!

[36inter]

Exactly....

[36inter]

Apologies for the slow reporting, lots of family health problems had me distracted, all seem to be on the mend now. I have managed to get some stuff done and will post an update very soon.

First though, I have a 1275 EN40B crank with 1.75" B/E journals, any idea what this is from.

Pete

[Brett]

Any news about your three wheeler ?

[mk1]

36inter was last active Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:48 am