Off Road Hybrid Buggy

[CFECO]

On the MX Bike frames, the top tube will be done away with, and diagonal tubes added on each side, seats about where the rear coilover is mounted now. As far as the bungee cord idea, I like the weight saving idea, but the linkages involved would add complexity. I'm really looking at an airbag mounted to the bike swing arm, but I'll figure that out when I get the two frames connected. Here is a more recent drawing of the buggy, with the forks, batteries, swing arms, and golf cart drive rear axle to scale.

[freebeard]

BASF Polyurethanes North America :: Cellasto^®

The snubbers I need for my Westfalia trailer come in 400kg and 800kg ratings.

[CFECO]

I kinda like the snubber idea but I am going for long travel suspension and a soft ride, which I think will be easier with the existing suspension design. I got rid of the golf cart parts I didn't need and have the bike chassis's back about where they will be when connected.

[CFECO]

This Sat, I started getting the two bike chassis connected, these are temporary obviously, but it will allow me to get all the dimensions set and the frames plumb and square. I can also start on the steering bracket fab. It is quite amazing how stiff these simple attachments made the buggy. Once the frames are exactly where they will be located, I will be able to cut down the golf cart differential, and get the axles shortened. The diff is in the basic location that it will be in when finished, except raised up to the centerline of the swing arm pivots. Baby steps, but progress none the less. The storage building is very hot as it's about 103 here, so long days working is not feasible yet.

[CFECO]

Well...After a long break due to a kidney transplant, I am slowly back to work on my Electric off Road Buggy. I have acquired some steel framing studs and track to use for the frame construction. I chose this material due to its light weight, corrosion resistance and mainly for the fact that I can build it with battery tools at this point, as I have no electricity in the storage unit I am working in. I am using self tapping screws initially and later I'll probably replace the screws with aircraft rivets. It's amazing how with just a few screws connecting the two pieces of track together, the structure gets quite strong, compared to how flimsy it was without connectors.
I got the bike frames on a jig and cut them apart. The photos show the general layout of the front forks and the swing-arms. The golf cart axle will be located in front of the swing-arms and become a frame member. The drive sprockets will be mounted on the axle studs. Here are a few photos of progress. Hopefully I can make updates a Regular thing...!

[freebeard]

Here's hoping...

[gone-ot]

Glad to hear that kidney transplant went well...and you're well.

[CFECO]

Thank you sir! It's been a tough haul this last 9 months....! I'm just now starting to have the energy to do semi hard work, with lots of breaks.

[CFECO]

I started figuring the seat layout, the supports of which will be the rear spring-shock mounts. I have some AirLift air bags I am going to use for the rear springs, and then use some light weight tube shocks mounted to the swing arms. The factory coil-overs are very high tech, but fairly heavy, and way more than I need. I am not going to be racing this...much. Weight is my number one concern. I am still trying to find another long side golf cart drive axle and housing...Ebay has not been very friendly, nor has Google or Craigslist.

[CFECO]

Got an hour and some in today, braced the seat mockup and shortened the wheelbase based on the seat position. Looking for some main frame tubing, guess it's an odd size, 1.5" x 3.5" x .120 wall, as soon as I get it I can take the head tubes off to get the excess material cut off and the new main frame pieces welded on... after building a jig to hold the forks in place. Still trying to find another Long side axle and tube for the golf cart drive axle....