Slow progress but progress (DIY two seater tadpole trike, 9hp Honda diesel)

[freebeard]

Interesting challenge, innit?

The wheel well arch is really rigidly defined, no rolling the trailing edge like a gen1 Insight. Maybe some vortex generators to carry the air over the wheelwell gap. Apparently that's what these are supposed to do


If you tie a skirt to the steering linkage you can use the eye for the steering dampner in the tie rod and if the lever arms are longer than the steering the skirts can move 1/2 as far as the wheel as they turn.

The Volkhart-Sagitta has a frontal area of 2.1sq meters compared to the Beetle's 1.8sq meters, with half the Cd. Bubble skirts might not be so bad.

That axle beam is available narrowed 2-4" as a service or replacement part, or you could adjust the wheel width and/or tire section, e.g. 145-15 on 3" rims.

Or a conveyor belt lip that is sized so when the wheel turns it contacts the tread instead of the sidewall?

[ps2fixer]

Woah amazing project! Subbed!

[AndrzejM]

Great project. Subscribed!

[sendler]

How will you mount the license plate?

[mikeyjd]

Have you thought of a name for it yet?

[owly]

I just logged on and saw your project......... GREAT!! I've built many things over the years including aircraft, and have been contemplating something very like this. My own concept involves front wheel drive, and rear steering........... I know it sounds crazy, but years ago I resolved the problem of stable rear steering when building loaders on reversed truck chassis. By using natural body roll in a corner to provide counter force, you can create positive dynamic stability. The reason for rear steering is that the rear wheel can be completely enclosed beneath the body work, which means that the front wheels which are now not steering, can be completely shrouded over, creating a perfect unbroken teardrop. The entire drive train, seats, and such would be built onto a floor pan of welded aircraft tubing and fiberglass, and crash protection and roll over protection would be incorporated into it. Ingress and egress would be by lifting the actual teardrop body work like a clam shell, so there would be no door openings. Engine.......... a vertical shaft V twin Honda powered by propane. with a large disk on the crankshaft. The disk would run against a rubber roller, as on a snapper lawnmower, and by moving the engine left to right, the gear ratio would change........ Take it over center, and you have reverse. This drive system has been used on some pretty massive equipment........ I've even seen antique farm tractors that used it (quite large and heavy). The rubber roller would be installed on one of those cheap chain drive differentials in place of the chain sprocket.

[user removed]

Va. motorcycle tags are 7X4 inches. I plan to incorporate the stop, park and turn signal lamps in a pod that surrounds the license plate, in the very rear of the vehicle.

The plan is to name it R.I.D.E. The initials stand for the company name which is Regenerative Infinite Drive Engineering. Would like to get a tag with the initials, not sure if they allow 8 Digits for the periods.

I need to check with the state for minimum width specifications for the signal lights. If more than 12 inches then I might move them forward in separate pods, aero of course.

The rear view mirror will be a single unit, convex wide angle, placed between the two gullwing door hinges on the roof. A single mirror is required so I will go that route (no camera) to avoid inspection issues.

regards
Mech

[user removed]

freebeard, the Insight flares behind the front wheels worked in conjunction with the large openings where the tie rods exit the engine compartment. This allowed higher pressure air to escape into the wheel wells where it flowed out and down the body side.

With fully enclosed fron wheel wells I don't see any potential benefit from trying to incorporate the Insight design.

regards
Mech

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Height would be 8 inches ground clearance plus 50 inches for the actual vehicle body. Width is right at 64 inches, so the front wheels can be covered with skirts. Best guess on frontal area is 60-65% of the Fiesta.

I remember reading a long time ago that a Honda CRX required 7 HP to go 55 MPH. That was the original 84 CRX 1.3 which one of the car rags drove at 55 MPH and got 72 MPG when the car first came out in the summer of 83. My Crx 1.5 was built in July 93 and it was serial number 1018. Bought it brand new when I was working at the Benz dealership just north of Houston.

The bottom will be flat except for the front and rear wheel openings.

regards
Mech

Thanks for the numbers.I'll redo my back-of-the-napkin calculations.
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CAR and DRIVER gave me their original test results from Tochigi,Japan on the CRX.I'll remember to snag those at the house.

[freebeard]

I was using Insight as an example. The point was that your frame is right in the wheelwell lip, so no monkeying around. I also mentioned the vortex generators knowing you want to skirt the wheels, just to get it off the table. My bet is on unarticulated bubble skirts. Or an open wheel well with a close fitting cycle fender that has its own demountable skirt.

The rear view mirror will be a single unit, convex wide angle, placed between the two gullwing door hinges on the roof.

I *knew* it was a Dymaxion.



Taillights on stalks like the Nils. You can use motorcycle parts.