Reliant Trike

[dave 67]

Ok just a few questions again just to sort my head out as its my first reliant trike I've only done bike ones
1/ I've read about duel / linked brakes question is how and what is needed
2/ when you all did your reliant trikes what clutch did you go with lever or pedal what are the pros and cons on fabrication

Any more tips welcome
Thanks all

[digger06]

duel/linked, waste of time imo, but others will differ,
pedal clutch seems to be the norm,
fabrication will be a lot more involved with a car one as you have only modified in the past, not constructed?
alignment and triple check everything are my tips

[Manky Monkey]

Hiya Dave,
I've always used a foot pedal for the clutch -easy, swap the clutch arm from right to left in the gearbox, (a half hour job), then hook it up to the pedal with a rod.
I've got linked brakes on my, (almost finished), trike but I didn't start building it with the MSVA in mind -it's been almost finished for a long, long time. So I'm not sure what the requirements are. Done for purely aesthetic reasons -it meant no levers or cables on the bars for a cleaner look.
Mine simply has 2 brake lines on a double banjo fitting from the master cylinder. One line running to a single disc on the front & the other going to the rear right, then another double banjo & a line across the axle to the rear left, as standard Reliants are plumbed. No balance valves. I used the same set-up on my last trike & it worked fine, though I deliberately chose a single 1970s disc on the front to be less efficient than the rears, (so the rear wheels lock up before the front). I leant my MSVA manual to someone & now I can't remember who! Anyone know if linked brakes are O.K & just what the regs say about them?  

[tbone]

Taken from the 2010 manual, unsure if this has been updated though

3. Check that every motorcycle tricycle or motorcycle quadricycle is equipped with either;
a) two independent service braking devices fitted, one acting on the front axle/one acting on the rear axle which together operate the brakes on all the wheels
or
b) a single line service braking device that operates the brakes on all wheels
and
c) a secondary (emergency) braking device ( that may be the parking brake)
or
d) a dual/tandem service braking device which operates the brakes on all wheels
and in addition to any of the above
e) a parking brake device that operates on the wheels of at least one axle

Acceptable combinations are: a) & e) or b),c) & e) or d) & e)

4. Check that every other tricycle or quadricycle is equipped with;
a) a foot controlled service brake device, that operates on all wheels
b) a secondary (emergency) brake device (that may be the parking
brake), and
c) a parking brake device, that operates on the wheels of at least one axle

5. Check that the service brake system or systems are capable of being operated from the riding or driving position whilst keeping both hands on the steering control.

6. Check (where applicable) that the secondary braking system;
a) operates progressively
b) is able to be applied from the driving position while keeping one hand on the steering control

7. Check (where applicable) that the parking brake system;
a) is able to be applied from the driving position
b) uses a control that is operated independently from any service brake and can be positively locked on
c) is able to be held in the “on” position by purely mechanical means

[tbone]

The same version is current on the VOSA website so it looks good 

[one arm bandit]

ive got left clutch as mm said just swap the clutch arm over, and linked brakes on a heel brake, using two disc up front and disc conversion at the rear, powered by a 3/4 landrover master, maybe a little hard for some a 3/4 but i like mine and locks the front if needed, i dissagree with digger only my opinion and what works for me (as only got use of 1 arm) but my linked brakes have good feel and work brilliantly with rear disc's you can really feel it pull up

[Manky Monkey]

One of the joys of triking is there's so many different ways of doing things & no real set styles -so you can build all sorts of weird & wonderful stuff!
So linked brakes are fine & can be either single or dual circuit?

[spanners]

my trike brake,s are linked,single disc front and refurbed reliant drums rear  5/8 master cyl absolutly belting brakes on the test run up the garden / private road 

[dave 67]

Ok thanks all I new I could rely on you all
Yep got the clutch thing in my head now I'd heard about the gearbox swap thing
Must admit the duel brake thing sounds good as for the heal operated brake pedal I'm not so sure
So do you have a throttle on your bars or is it foot operated
Can I have some pics please

Also what sort off modifications can be done to the engine to improve the power and reliability
Thanks all again

[terry t]

Ok thanks all I new I could rely on you all
Yep got the clutch thing in my head now I'd heard about the gearbox swap thing
Must admit the duel brake thing sounds good as for the heal operated brake pedal I'm not so sure
So do you have a throttle on your bars or is it foot operated
Can I have some pics please

Also what sort off modifications can be done to the engine to improve the power and reliability
Thanks all again

not much can be done apart from fitting a 2lt ford pinto with twin 40 dcoe webers.. that will be fast

[dave 67]

Ok then take that as a no 

[fifer]

Very easy to get extra power from the Reliant motor . 
{ 1 } Fit a 4 branch exhaust manifold { 4 into 1 }
{ 2 } Alternatively retain the standard exhaust manifold and open it out because it is very restrictive .
{ 3 } Modify the inlet manifold
{ 4 } Match all the gaskets , manifolds , carb heated water jacket to the head .
More info at

https://sites.google.com/site/fifersrelianthintsandtips/exhaust-manifold-comparison
and
https://sites.google.com/site/fifersrelianthintsandtips/exhaust
and
https://sites.google.com/site/fifersrelianthintsandtips/manifold/manifolds-inlet-exhaust


.
.

[one arm bandit]

Ok thanks all I new I could rely on you all
Yep got the clutch thing in my head now I'd heard about the gearbox swap thing
Must admit the duel brake thing sounds good as for the heal operated brake pedal I'm not so sure
So do you have a throttle on your bars or is it foot operated
Can I have some pics please

Also what sort off modifications can be done to the engine to improve the power and reliability
Thanks all again

yes got a foot throttle, i tryed to explain to a bloke when out the other day, he said it looks akward to use but really its not and seems natural after 5miniutes , but then when built for your personal needs/prefrances its not strange to use and its effort less

Reliant Trike

[morrag]

The 850cc motor has, and is still, raced in a number of formula,the 750 Club for example, very quickly, and very successfully, so there is definitely more to be had from the standard motor!The Leige trials type class is another useful example of how versatile this motor is, and the 750 Club cars develop between 65/70 Bhp retracted to only one carburettor! so...................plenty of possibilities   Morrag

[nabsim]

As a slightly different issue OAB how did you go on with your handbrake with linked brakes, is it foot operated? Looking at the words posted you have to be able to operate it with one hand on the bars if you have linked brakes or am I reading it wrong?

Of course I do know you dont have to comply with all that if you are making it for a disability but just wondered if you managed to comply or if they just operated it themselves and didnt realise.