Manky Monkey Motors

The original description said 'small amount of building required' - well that's ok, if I can put a bike together I reckon I can manage this.  But there's no paperwork with it.

(http://i49.tinypic.com/25p1vnq.jpg)  (http://i47.tinypic.com/4meth.jpg)

Phoned them and spoke to a bloke who didn't seem to know much but thought they didn't send any instructions normally, he'll get the bloke who deals with the dollies to phone me when he gets back.

But am I unreasonable expecting some sort of parts list and simple instructions?

Well usually when you get any type of flat pack item it will have a parts list and at least an exploded diagram Bobbi so I dont think you are being unreasonable. Its nice to know you have all the bits and you have assembled them in the right order before putting a trike on it whether or not you chose/need to read it.

well its just so simple,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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, the ,,GIGGLING PIN FITS ON THE ,,,LAVVY,, SHAFT,,,,, :D :D :D :D :D

Cheers folks - parts list and instructions just popped into my inbox so I guess that's pretty good service from Autowbars - off to tackle the job now!

 :)

All the nuts are nylocs - does that mean I don't need to use threadlock or should I use it anyway?  If so, is the red one right cos that's what I've got!

Bobbie,You dont need Threadlock, but if you feel you want to use it, piece of mind,then do so,
But you dont need it.

seems an awful lot of nuts and bolts there I'd make doubley sure everyones as tight as possible bobbie

Well I decided against the threadlock.

There are a lot of nuts and bolts - actually 4 bolts and 4 nuts too many!  But I'm not complaining about that.

I did have to clean up one of the bolt holes before the bolt would go in which took as a while as I only have little detailing files!

The parts list and instruction are a bit rudimentary - I reckon he typed it out quick for me.  Some bolts have washers, some dont, and it doesn't always tell me where to use the washers.  Tells me which way round to put the mudguard hangers ('long end at the back') but not which way up.  Stuff like that would make me hesitate to recommend to anyone with no experience with spannering unless they had someone to do it for them, but other than that it looks a good solid bit of kit - not finished building it yet cos being a laydee I have to do other stuff like cooking meals for the man...............

would like to see some pictures of it when you can

Here it is.....

The parts
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012004Small.jpg) (http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012005Small.jpg)

Came with no parts list or instructions but when I phoned they emailed them to me - a bit lacking but good enough.
The finished article from various angles
(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012008Small.jpg)(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012009Small.jpg)

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012010Small.jpg)  (http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012011Small.jpg)
The rear 'rocker' section of the wheel holder has 2 alternative holes for smaller wheels.

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012012Small.jpg)  (http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012013Small.jpg)
I did think I might have been able to load without a ramp then hitch to the car - but obviously not!

(http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z250/BikerGran_photos/Trike%20towing%20dolly/TrikeDollyJune2012014Small.jpg)

doesnt look a bad bit o kit n looks fairly easy to put together if mechanically minded and when built should do the job

Well I'm reasonably mechanically minded (I've rebuilt a bike and worked on cars) but deciding which way round the rocker section should go - and the indespension units - good job I had my other trailer to look at.

I've got 4 bolts and nuts left over but no empty holes so I guess they were extra! 

Trouble is I realise I forgot to order a trailer board so if I get the glad word from the bikeshop tomorrowe I spose I'll have to bite the bullet and pay Halfords price!  And I need a ramp which I thought I could do without - might have to construct a wooden one from a bit of builder's board that's currently masquerading as a shelf in the garage.

i may be wrong or possibly getting mixed up with auto's or somthing ive dremt up ????but when you towing rwd a fair distance is it not wise to put extra oil in the diff?

Trike diff or car?

Can't honestly see why.

if the vehical being towed is rwd and the rear wheels are free running as with a dolly, i cant see why either as the wheels and diff are working as if it would be when being driven, but its because i thought it strange that i remember reading it somewhere. thought it worth a mention after you recent engine probs....... what was the outcome of that by the way bg??

Don't forget to get some bungee straps to hold the trailer board onto the trike. and some heavy duty ratchet straps as well

Surely the "rocker" is designed for easy loading? Tuck it under the front wheel & push/pull/ride the trike onto it. I guess that requires the trailer to be wedged in position somehow though -no instructions on loading?

No instructions but they sell a ramp which I didn't order as I thought I couild get away without it.  If you look at the pics there's one with the loading end on the floor - the angle is much too steep!

Update about the breakdown - phoned the bike shop today, they have parts on order and if they come tomorrow and it goes together without any problems, it may be done tomorrow evening as they've made it a priority.  I'm going to phone about lunchtime to see if the parts arrived cos if they didn't I'm going to start cancelling things while I can still get some money back.  This one's going right down to the wire!

Still not sure what the problem is cos the office lady didn't know and I wasn't going to make a nuisance of myself with the very busy mechanic, but she looked at the parts list and amongst various gaskets etc there was a 'sleeve' which she said was apparently the important bit - sounds to me like something to do with the driveshaft, which is what I thought in the first place.

Very important part 'sleeves'  ..........  they stop your shirt being a vest  ..........   ;D

  ..  Hagar  ..   ;D

 ;D ;D ;D
made me laugh

This sleeve is even more important cos it arrived and been fitted and tht means I'M GOING TO SHETLAND !!!!!


(http://i45.tinypic.com/2567f2w.gif)

Good for you ,glad it's all starting to work out

Some bits are and some bits aren't - but it will be ok in the end!

That's great Bobbi -so what was the sleeve for?

It was part of the shaft drive, which was what I originally suspected.  That;'s rather pleasing from more than one aspect - firstly that I was right although several others thought it was a gearchange problem, and secondly that while it wasn't cheap, it didn't cost as much as an engine-out job!

Bobbie what dimentions does this ramp need to be,I have a piece of aly checker plate.
It's not very big but it may do the job.

bobbi,,, you have alll,, of us lot spread  from the top to the bottom of the ,,UK,,, for back up ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so pm a few off us before setting off ,, for phone numbers and the like ,,, i shouldnt have to tell you that were here when ,,needed , ;)

Spanners - that's lovely and I know that what you say is true, but I'm going up the left side of the country and I think most are on the right - ish!

And Hunter, many thanks but I'm leaving THIS Thursday!  Might talk to you when I come back though.

Will be seeing Fifer next week!

My stops are near Kidderminster, Southport, Edinburgh, at Fifer's, then Aberdeen.  Using motorways for once as I hope it will be easier!

i,m still both side,s of the country   ::) and theres  them new ere fangled motorways inbe-tween ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,any how i,m available within 150,ish mile,s
DONT FORGET IT,,,,,,

Love you Spanners!

I have Manky's mobile so if I need help anytime will get him to see who's closest! - I'm sure he won't mind!

I am maybe an hour off the M6 Bobbi depending what time of day. Mind I am at work until aroung 6 Monday to Friday but I can send you number if its any good you never know :)

Cheers nabs, haven't really got the time to send a load of messages with my number but if I need anyone I'd be best to call Manky cos he would know who's nearest!

Teabreak time atm, I've had the trike on AND off the dolly - getting it off required a bit of cunning as I couldn't pull it off, so had to just lever the wheel over the pivot on the dolly, while using one of the tie-downs as a kind of pulley to be sure it didn't run away!  Pleased with myself!

Had to ask next door neighbour for advice about the tie-downs as I could ratchet them up but couldn't get them to undo in spite of pulling back the right catch - I feel less silly since it took him a few minutes to work out as well (retired car and boat engineer).

Done some of the packing, my overnight stop near Edinburgh finally got in touch so that's ok, and I'll be leaving the car with Fifer as the Aberdeen stop isn't on, and the one just a few miles away seems to have gone AWOL so I can't get in touch - thanks Fifer, saved me life!

Just got to organise one more stop on the homeward route, between Southport and home, had thought of going to my sister's but I don't fancy her bumpy little lane followed by a long track, and nowhere level to park (that's where I broke my leg in 2003).  Parking is the problem because of having the car and trike.  I'm not going to worry about that cos in the last resort I can sleep quite comfortably in the car and it'll be my last night!

That one's sorted now!  Staying with bikeing friends in Stow!

No problem Bobbi. Say Hello to Mr Fifer from us when you see him.  ;)

Will Do!

I still can't believe it's really going to happen.........................

I knew it was all going too well - need photo ID for the ferry so I went to get my passport out - not there! I know when I last saw it but can't find it or the opther paperwork that was with it. Ah well, good thing I've got my Blue Badge!

Blue Peter badge?

You not got a photo licence Bobbie.

Nae bother , Bobbi. Glad to be able to assist  :)
I will escort you up through Dundee and onto the Main road .
I wish my wife and I could go .
I first went to the Shetlands in 1959 and continued right up to the early 1970,s .
I sailed on the maiden voyage of the then new St Clair
http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/NorthCo.html#anchor322331


My best pals mum came from Lerwick and she took my brother and I up during the summer holidays  . We stayed at her mums house in Lerwick .
The family had a summer house on the island of Bressay { an old converted Nissan hut } and we used to row from Lerwick across Bressay Sound .
We also went up for UP HELLY AA
http://www.uphellyaa.org/
Later on when I was working I camped at Clickimin Broch .
http://shetlopedia.com/Clickimin_Broch

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That would be wonderful!  It does look a bit complicated through Dundee!

I might stay at a hotel not far from you instead of near edinburgh, won't know till tomorrow evening.

Better go to bed or I'll never get on the road tomorrow for the first leg of my journey!

all the best Bobbi have a great time

its a bird
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its a plane
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NOPE,,,
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ITS BIKER-GRAN HEADING NORTH AGAIN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :D :D :D :D ;D

 ;D ;D ;D

Enjoy stay safe B/G

So far so good, first part was a bit dodgy as the tie downs kept coming loose but I've got that sorted now.  But the hubs on the dolly worried me by getting rather warm, not really hot but warmer than I thought they should, however I,ve been told that,s normal cos they are small wheels and I shouldn't,t do more than 50mph so I haven,t but theyre still warm.  But they don't get any hotter so I'm reckoning they alright.

Now in Southport enjoying the view from my daughters seafront flat!

Hi Bobbie hope your enjoying yourself,
Don't worry about the bearings that's normal,You would be supprised how hot the wheel bearings on your car get,It's just that you can't see the wheel bearings on your car,Out of site out of mined,

Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.

Cheers Hunter!

Having a great time so far, offloaded the trike to park it up as I'm at my daughters for a long weekend and got on of the tie downs stuck so I've bought another today as I'm going to cut that one off, lesson learned as to where not put it but it's a minor detail!
It's really not bad on the motorway at 50 once you get used to being overtaken by lorries instead of overtaking them, quite restful in fact as long as I have the radio on to stop me falling asleep.

 :D

you can tow at 60 mph legaly   makes working out journey time easy aswel  1mile a minuet  1hour =60 miles

Yeah but my friends mate said I should stick to 50 cos of the small wheel size!

sorry just read page 3 make sure the hub bearings are well packed with grease   this helps keep them not too hot  enjoy your trip

I think there's pLenty of grease as you could see some on the nipples.

oooo,,,,,eeerrrr,,, missus,,,NIPPLE,S     :D :D

i meant in the wheel hubs

he knows what you meant - and so do I !

Enjoy the rest of your trip Bobbie,See you when you get back.

This is Lucy, BikerGran's daughter with a quick update.

BG left here (Southport) after a lovely weekend (and mostly obliging weather). She's done a fairly straightforward 180 miles or so today and is currently in a hotel somewhere a bit south of Glasgow.

She said to say she's looking forward to seeing someone....but I've forgotten the name, so hope you know who you are!

fifer me thinks.

Correct! Thanks

So she's looking forward to seeing Fifer tomorrow. I am keeping track of her really...

Lucy

Don't know with B/G she meets all sorts of fellers  :-* :-*
give her our regards when you speak to her Lucy

Hi Lucy , I am , as Trev guessed , possibly the reprobate in question  ;D
Got the phone call from her this afternoon  :)
Hopefully the weather will be kind to Bobbi on the final stage of her journey on her trike  :)
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I had the great honour of meeting Bobbi today .
She should be well off the Scottish coast on the overnight ferry to Lerwick by now .
She has some energy and would put a lot of folk a third of her age to shame   :)
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Hope you gave her our best wishes. She's definitely, erm, one of a kind, isn't she!  ;D

I don,t think I will ever forget Bobbi  ;D
Still to meet her again when she comes back down to pick up her car and reload her trike  :).
If you keep your eyes peeled you might see her with her yellow helmet down where a few of the bikers congregate in Lerwick harbour at the following live webcam link

http://visit.shetland.org/lerwick-town-centre-webcam
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And I'll never forget Fifer!  He and Rae were so welcoming - in true Manky style!

Oh and can I claim to have met the most northerly Manky?  Tho Fifer did introduce me to his mate who's just joined - cant remember the name.

I'm back at Lucy's for a night, and just about beginning to realise what a mad adventure this has been, I'm so glad I got there but I'll never NEVER plan anything this enormous again!  More about the whole trip when I get home!

Never say never Bobbi :)

Glad to hear you made it safely back to civilisation Bobbi.  :D

Mission accomplished! Simmer Dim and back - 1098 miles on the car, 216 miles on the trike! Had a wonderful time and just beginning to realise the enormity of what I've done!

Many thanks to all those who helped me achieve it - Woolbridge Motorcycles for fixing the trike in time, Bob for the loan of the ramp, all the people I stayed with - Martin and Gill, Lucy and Simon, Kerrie and Pete, and specially our very own Fifer for storing the car for me at Glenrothes and leading me up through the Dundee traffic!

And the Simmer Dim committee and all the helpers who worked so hard to make sure we all had fun and plenty of food and beer!

There's a rally report on STV (Scottish TV) - go to 25.46 to miss all the boring stuff, and see if you can spot BikerGran!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtjAwdkbDf8&feature=share (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtjAwdkbDf8&feature=share)

AND I was in the paper too!
Shetland News (http://www.shetnews.co.uk/news/4331-biggest-ever-bikers-rally-revs-up-.html)

nice one GRAN,,,,

Others, like Bobbi White from Dorset, are attending for the first time. She said that despite her arthritis she was determined to make it to the far north. “I decided I will get there one day, and here I am,” she said.

So if our Northern neighbours ever consider another punch up with us Englanders, we can send you back up there to sort 'em out Bobbi.

best start planning for next year  :o :o :o you going again  ,bobbie,,
could be manky monkeys on tour ,,me-thinks,, ::) ::)

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now where,s me jam jar to save me pennie,s in

Bobbi, is that you @ 26.24????????????????

i was going to ask that too........the chick with red hair

i take it that you havnt actually met her then  ;D ;D

no.....you say that like shes some crazy old lady mike ;D..................oh

i,v known her about 5 or 6 yrs  but only meet her once or twice a year ,,,,once met never forgotten  ::) ::)

Nah,That can't be her Tony She looks to young ;)

hunter  ya, creep,, :D :D

 ;) ;D

Of course that young person at 26.24 is me!

Spanners 'once met never forgotten' - I could say that about you - I'll never forget your argument with a flagpole!

lol,, it  reminds me every day permenent lump on my rib cage ,,,,,

theres only  one biker gran   :-* :-*

Outwitted by a stick Mike?  :P

guy rope,, actually caused it  :o

Who's he?

He's a bloke who hangs around campsites to trip unwary (or tired and emotional) campers!

I had a slight encounter with him at the Dim but fortunately I twisted as I fell or I think my ribs would have encountered the trike rack - and the rack doesn't bend........

So c'mon Bobbi -tell us how the journey went. How did the trike go? Any problems? What was the scenery like? Good riding roads?
We need more info!

And pictures :)

The trip was fairly uneventful apart from getting worried about the hubs on the dolly getting warm - after a while I was reassured that they only got warm not hot, tho one does look as if it may have pissed out some grease so I'll check they're not overtightened.  Had some heavey rain the first and second days but could have been worse.  Stayed with Martin and Gill, biking friends in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire the first night, too uptight to take any photos there unfortunately!

Then it was on to Southport to stay with my daughter Lucy and her partner Simon - had a long weekend there that was supposed to be a relaxing break in my trip but they didn't let me relax, we did all sorts of stuff, they're good fun to be with.  While there I met up with Womble, a biking friend from yet another forum, she rode over to Southport from somewhere near Wigan and I guess she and Pete got soaked on the way back!

More later, dinner's ready!

Off up the M6 and M74, it's ok on the motorway at 50 once you get used to the lorries overtaking you instead of you overtaking them, quite restful really as you don't have to worry about route,  don't have to keep checking both mirrors except when there's traffic joining from the left.  And the motorway is pretty quiet once you get up towards the lake district so there's not a lot of that and when there is, it's easy to just slow a little and let them join in front - they're going to go past me anyway!  Weather was good too.

Stopped at a hotel near Larkhall (a bit south of Glasgow) as my Edinburgh overnight stop fell through, booked it from Lucy's through Laterooms.com and got a very spiffy room for £45.  Went croos-country from there to the M8, M9 and across the Forth road bridge then up the A92 to Glenrothes where I met Fifer and Rae, lovely folks who made me very welcome.  Unloaded the trike from the dolly, loaded all my stuff on and left there in sunshine just wearing my denims and it was fine all the way to Aberdeen!

Waiting to load onto the ferry was a bit of a so-and-so, they kept all the trikes waiting for hours while they loaded the bikes and other vehicles, no idea why as there was plenty of space.  The friends I was due to meet had loaded earlier and were in the pub but by the time I was loaded they were back on the boat.  I was starving by then so I missed the leaving from Aberdeen cos i was in the cafe stuffing my face.  We shared a cabin so I got quite a lot of sleep before we arrived in Lerwick at 0700, we had intended to go back on the boat for breakfast after unloading the bikes/trike but were invited to the home of some Shetlanders for breakfast before riding to the rally site at Vidlin 20 miles north of Lerwick.

Not going into many details about the rally here for reasons which may become clear later but just to say I had a great time although I never got away to do any sight-seeing, partly because I was so tired, partly cos the weather wasn't very good - damp and cloudy or raining - but mostly because every time I decided to go somewhere I got talking to people and after all that's what a rally's all about!
I'd really love to go back to Shetland for a holiday though, flying up, hiring a car, staying in B&B, you could see a lot in a week.

Nearly all the food, and all the beer (or wine in my case) was included in the ticket, bands were great, people were great, it never got dark, and then after a few days it was time to do it all in reverse!  Packed my wet tent but left the site in reasonably dry weather till I went over the big hill and was hit with rain and wind, but it started to dry up while waiting on the dockside and turned out a lovely day - just as well!  Overnight ferry again, unloaded at Aberdeen in quite good weather and set off for Glenrothes but wearing my warm stuff and waterproofs this time as it was windy and cold but bright.

Back to Fifer, chucked everything in the car, loaded the trike (getting good at it by this time) and back to the same hotel, then back to Southport for a night, then to Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire to stay with more biking friends, then home on Thursday.  Almost no rain at any point on my homeward trip, wasn't I lucky?

When I got home I had to unload the trike immediately as there's nowhere to park car plus trike, but left everything else in the car as I was really, really tired.  I'm just about getting some energy back now, but I've done about 7 loads of washing!

I had a great time but it was only when I was on the way home in the car that I really realised what a heck of a trip it was - SO pleased I did it but I don't intend to plan anything like that ever again!

The Simmer Dim is the most Northerly rally in the UK, so next year (maybe even this year) I want to do Cornwall MAG's 'End of the Road' rally which is the the most Southerly rally in UK - but that'll be easy in comparison!

Still editing pictures, I took about 400!

I'd like to say a very big thanks to Pete (Fifer) for helping me with loading and unloading and storing the car, and even leading me up through Dundee because of roadworks and awkward junctions!

And thanks also to all the others on here who offered advice about towing and the dolly, and to Spanners and Nabsim who would have been prepared to travel to help me if I needed them while on the way up the M6!

I'm not saying anything about pictures  ;D

Sounds like a proper adventure Bobbi! Really glad it all went well for you.
I used to regularly travel to the Scottish Highlands for my holidays. A beautiful country & completely different from England. Always said I'd love to go back on a trike.
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As Andy says, it sounds a right good do. Main thing is you have enjoyed it and everything went well. You can't do anything about the weather but apart from first bit of the trip back that doesn't seem to have really affected you (if it was hot and sunny would you have been attacked by midges up there?)

Well done Bobbi, you have done a lot more than I will be doing this year ;)

wot `e sed too  ;D ;D ;D ;D

The guy I bought the outfit off was going to go to this rally on it Bobbi, don't suppose you bumped into someone called Loki from near Scarboriugh?

I did meet a bunch of folks from Scarborough, and got on very well with them, but didn't know all their names!  So I may well have met him, but I haven't a clue!

Confused now - you bought the outfit off him but he was going to the rally on it?  You mean you bought it after he went or what?

No, he was going on the outfit if he hadn't sold it but was booked for the rally. I think the guy that owns the Widard Coupe was going with him as well, there are a few of them knock around together so could have been more. Not sure if he still had another outfit ready but he had bits to make another plus he had solo machines

Ah, got it now - one of the Scarborough lot tells me Loki didn't go.

thats  cozz , nabs ,,robbed, him of his combo ,,  :D :D :D :D

Well I would feel guilty except I am enjoying it too much ;)