I want a hybrid side by side!

[CFECO]

Well, I have found my second donor bike, a 98 WR 400 Yamaha, Yea! I should be able to pick it up this week, and start stripping everything I don't need from it. Then I can start building my Electric Side by side ATV. My next problem is deciding what differential to use between the electric motor and the drive chains. I can go with the stock golf cart axle that matches my motor, easiest,...or, use a differential out of a ATV, like a Yamaha Rhino and design a adapter for my motor. This would be lighter, as I don't need the heavy axle tube that was used to support the golf cart, and when I switch to my big motor, I'll have to build a custom adapter anyway. I'm leaning toward the Rhino diff..."weight is performance"...Progress Yea! To be continued...

[CFECO]

OK, today I picked up my second donor MX Bike, for my Electric Side by side UTV. With the photos perhaps everyone can get a better idea of what I have in mind. The upper portions of the frames will be removed, the two frames connected with tubing, the forks attached together with a tie rod and a steering box, the seats will go above the swing arm pivots, the bottom tubes lengthened some and triangulated, the rear shocks relocated to the top of the swing-arms, and attached at the top to a bar across the back of the seats.
What I need is a small differential, which will be between the swing-arms, with the motor to the rear and the chains driving off the axles of the diff. Anyone have any Ideas on a good, strong, light, diff? Ive been looking at a Yamaha Rhino diff, the problem is the rear is a spool so would tend to go straight, and the front Rhino diff is a bevel gear not hypoid, so I worry about the strength with the high torque of the electric motor. Anyway, the chassis progress will continue while the "Minor Details" are worked out.

[CFECO]

OK, the Children have come home to their little shop! They will be Named, Righty and Lefty...for obvious reasons! Looks like they are already starting to get to know each other. Next week, detail measuring, designing a stand, and let the cutting begin! Today I Thought a good Thought...I am taking Two IC Engined Motorcycles and making one Electric two seat utility vehicle out of them. Maybe I can get a government grant or something....

[freebeard]

Let the hacking and chopping begin. Good luck.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

How are you considering to do the steering linkage?

[CFECO]

I will take some 1.5" aluminum plate and make another Triple tree for each fork set, having a steering arm as part of it. The steering arm, extending off the inside end of the new brackets will protrude to the rear, and toward the centerline of the buggy, providing Ackerman in the steering. The steering arms will be connected with a tie rod, attached to the bottom of the arms with Heim joints, allowing the Toe to be adjusted, A rack and pinion steering box will be mounted above the tie rod and attached to the top of the steering arms, with a steering shaft going back to the steering wheel. I am in contact with a "Famous Golf Cart Racer" for help on making my motor more powerful. You may have seen the video of his "Drag Cart" flipping over backwards at a Drag Strip. The Team is Shock Therapy Racing, and hold the record for "Golf Carts" at 6.5 sec at 99 mph for the 1/8 mile, their cart makes about 260 HP out of the "Stock" motor.

[CFECO]

Well, now that the Holidays are about over and the kids have gone home, I can continue on the MX bike based Electric buggy project, could be a Hybrid if I add a small gas generator to it, but that's later. I got the golf cart Im going to use the drivetrain out of, and the machines are All getting to know each other now. Let the destruction..."Parts Removal" begin.

[CFECO]

Battery...Drool! I need a 12 volt deep cycle for our camper, one of these for $300 is VERY tempting. Reconfigured to 12 volts it would be about 180 Amp Hours....Then I could use it in the buggy at 48 volts when we're not using the camper.

[CFECO]

It seems I have Hijacked Number 21's thread with my build story...Sorry! I am going to continue my progress and updates at my original spot, Off Road Hybrid Buggy...

[redpoint5]

Greenworks finally has a Lithium Ion battery powered side by side. It might be the only one at this point in time. I'd be interested if it was half of the $27,000 price.

https://www.greenworkscommercial.com...icle-800-black