Manky Monkey Motors

Does anyone know of a trike builder or engineer not too far from me (Dorset)?  Bruce at BB Customs says my diff's on its way out so my trike needs a new (Reliant) axle but he's too busy to do it.

Someone has recommended a firm called ZaNNetec at Shepton Mallet but I don't know whether they would do a trike - anyone know them?

My brother runs a welding/fabrication business in Marlborough, Wiltshire. He specialises in building drag race cars, but has recently hardtailed a customer's bike, raked the headstock on mine & is building a new trike frame for Hillbilly. He's not the cheapest but he's damn good at what he does.
Check the Field Craft Fabrication page on Face Book.

What do you want BG a new diff or complete axle? as your one has been cut down

Now there's a thought!

Well there's the question Terry - the answer is, I don't know!  Bruce said it needs a new axle, and I remember Fifer saying that setting up a Reliant diff is a black art (words to that effect), also I believe there a part (possibly a seal?) that's not available.    There's also the problem of obtaining an axle.  And I have no idea which would be easier/quicker/cheaper - dismantling and rebuilding the diff, or shortening an axle.I think I probably want to take it to a professional who can advise me, or tell me which they would prefer to do.

And, I know Bruce is the expert, and he says it's the diff, but I have a niggling doubt.  I've only ever once experienced diff problems, with my first car, an Anglia - well a Pop but it was a smart one called an Anglia, and it was a grinding noise whereas this sounds like a rubbing noise - but maybe it just hasn't got as far as the grinding stage!
But could it be failure of the weld on the shortened half-shaft?

The place I've been recommended at Shep says on the website that they do 'Chassis, V8 Engine, Transmission, Custom Wiring' so I've emailed them but the website seems to be a bit out of date - unless of course they're too busy doing actuall stuff to update it.

Bg, you don't need a trike builder, you need a reliant axle expert. fifer is right, these axles are simple, but almost impossible to set up correctly without the right tools, and even then these are no good if your axle has been shortened. You see the problem is you measure the settings with rods from the wheel ends, you cant get inside them to check/measure without splitting them, and once you've split it.... I reckon most modified axles, if they've had new diff bearings will be nowhere near correctly set up, but on a trike, they seem to take it.(Except the one on mine of course which was totally worn out).
When i did mine it was a case of build, strip, remove shims, build, mark, strip, etcetc, and then best guess its Ok.
Having said all this, its only an axle, and your not after shortening it again or anything, so you need a reliant diff expert

Thanks - where do I fine one of those?  Sounds even more unlikely than a trike builder!

The Shepton Mallet People rebuild and set up diffs - doubt they've ever done a Reliant though.

Download the instructions from the following link and show / send them to an axle rebuilder to see if they can do it .
The Reliant axle is very forgiving and has been stripped and put together by many folk who did not bother or know about any set up .
These axles have run for many miles but probably best to get it done professionally .
 
http://s7.photobucket.com/user/sparesman2000/library/parts%20manuals/Axle%20Refurb?sort=3&page=1
 

Hi BG you say a rubbing noise!  This went into BBs for the wheel bearing not to long back I'm wondering if the bearing and collar weren't put back on right. to far on it will hold the drum off the back plate not on far enough the hub and drum may rub the shoes or back plate.
some where on here was the measurements for the setting of the collar and bearing from the spine on the shaft I think it was for Triker Pete. I doubt that the weld on the your shaft is the problem

It was when it went in for the wheel bearing that Bruce said the axle was shot.  Bloke in Shepton says if I can get the axle out and take it to him he may be able to do it so I shall look into that - my son in law may be able to help when he gets over the flu thing he currently has.  It poses a few problems but would solve a lot more, if it was done that way, as I could take the axle over in my car.

I've told him (Zane at Shep) that I'm not 100% sure it's the diff, and I've downloaded the info the Fifer sent a link to.  Zane has recently built a trike with a Reliant axle, and rebuilt the diff.

I'm really grateful for all the input from folks on here!

(http://i44.tinypic.com/8wvzsz.gif)

Wish i was closer, would be simple to open it up for a look, at least that is simple and straight forward. It wouldnt take someone who knows these more than 1/2 hour to identify the problem (once its out of the trike of course).

Had an email from my brother last night Bobbi. He says Zane in Shepton Mallet's definitely the guy to go to -he takes his own drag racing axles there.

Cheers Andy - I did message him on FB but he hasn't seen it.  Sounds like my best option then is to get the axle out - I'll have a look at that in the next few days, at present we're trying to clear the house as we have decorators coming in!

Thank Steve for me please!

Steve doesn't do FaceBook, but Mrs Brock does.

Wide doorways in your house  or what?

Huh?

For some reason your"trying to clear the house.." Sounded  like you needed to get the trike out of the house. My reply was my feeble attempt at a witty reply.
Yeh OK, i'd best give up.

Haha!  I knew what I meant!

Packing stuff in boxes and moving furniture as we have decorators, new carpets and furniture coming - hopefully not all at the same time!  And a lot of stuff from the house is stowed in the garage so I can't get the back end off the trike as it needs to come out to get the stuff out of the garage and back to the house - all this has been going on for months as we're trying to catch up on years of neglect from when we had no jobs or no money or whatever - what's done now has to see us out as we'll never be able to afford it again!

If the trike was going away and coming back with wheels on it would be fine but if I get the axle off it will have to be on some sort of blocks I guess, haven't thought that through yet, so we won't be able to get the stuff out from behind it.  It might just have to stay there for a while (the house stuff I mean!)

is it about time i came down to youres for a holiday ??

Sadly we don't have anywhere to put you Mike!  But thanks for the offer.

My son in law's a genius!  I worked out I'll need to put the trike on blocks but I was worried about it falling off - he said put a couple of big bolts in the garage rafters and use my ratchet straps to steady it - not to take the weight, just keep it upright.  And i got a huge can of Plus-gas today, so tomorrow I shall apply it to all the bolts I need to undo!

AFTER we get all the rest of the furniture out of the garage of cours!

That's weird -I was in Big Darren's garage last week & he'd done exactly that to remove the rear wheel from a motorcycle.

I can't believe I never thought of it myself - it's one of those things that are kind of obvious once someone suggests them - I bet there are bikers all over the place doing it!