RODS build........

[digger06]

seen em run years with the top hat on , no probs, do it for peace of mind, but i shouldnt worry

[ROD]

I reckon youre right,and I s'pose it is all down to the actual area the sleeve is fitted to. As much as I dont want to p*ss around anymore with this ,I just gotta have peace of mind! Treading water today,and its doing me head in!

[Manky Monkey]

Building stuff's fun isn't it! 

[ROD]

Yep,sure is!  
 Son home from work,so engine now out again! G/box off,cut away rim of sleeve.If Im honest ,in hindsight,I couldve made a better job of cutting the sleeve width down,but I reckon it will be ok.Now got to wait until Monday night to get a new oil seal,as I'm not chancing the one Ive taken off,even tho' it was new,cos it will have probably snagged on the rough edge and damaged the sealing rim.When fitting it,I wrapped the edge of the sleeve in tape to prevent this,but I couldnt wrap it in tape to get it off. Hey Ho! Hope its ferkin worth it in the end! Its been a long week in the workshop poncing around with this and waiting for bits etc! Hoping to get it all running for the w/end ..Bum in the Mud Rally.
 Wait for the next thrilling instalment(or removal of )..................the engine!!!!!!

[one arm bandit]

if it wasnt for the hassle youve had with the engine you have no excuse to get in the workshop with the trike, if it was 100% reliable you would create problems just to be with her..

[ROD]

Yeah probably! BTW how do you know its a she? ................ah! I know how.............cos its been a right biatch!

[one arm bandit]

its cost you a fortune
its caused you a load of mither
theres been times when you wanted rid
and times when you could slap it
   now whats that exhaust for again???

[RODeo]

Cant do much today,so thought I would do a detail of my shifter,which may be of help to someone.so here it is courtesy of Jodys comp wizardry........

RODS build........

 A TO B = 3 7/8"
 B TO C = 3"
 C TO D= 10"
 
 I tapered the top of some 8mm nuts to allow the rod end to travel as far as I dare.(joint B)
 Pivot at A has bronze bushes. to accept 8mm bar that runs through a piece of tube that fits losely over the bar.
 the 'pin' pivot at C is a piece of 6mm stainless rod threaded both ends.
 I found the orig. g/lever was slightly bent as it came out of the ball and cup,so I straightened as best I could,then brazed a sleeve over,(about 1" long) it to up the diam.and straighten it .
 Then I machined a lump of bar to accept a bronze bush that fits the g/lever stub.
 I drilled the end of the g/lever to accept a 5mm(I think) bolt,which sits in the base of the fork at C. This allows the 'fork' to rotate ,but not come off the g/lever stub.
 the g/lever is mounted on a lump of 1/2" block,that is a tight fit into the fork.
 I had to juggle the g/lever length and the way it is fixed to this block so that it clears my frame.
 I did find that there was a lot of strain on the spring clip holding the ball/cup in ,hence I built the stronger mounting for it.
 Most of the components are as I first did them for the prototype. It worked so well firsttime,that I just beefed everything up with weld etc,so some of it doesnt look too fancy!In the rides Ive had so far it has been very positive gearchanging. I've got another orig g/lever that Im going to modify into a basic dogleg,as a quick replacement just in case this one breaks1

[RODeo]

RODS build........

 
 Ive been builing these panniers out of aly etc. The padded lid is just sitting on top for effect.

[Manky Monkey]

So does the gearchange take the sloppiness out? I've got a similar shaped gearstick on my trike build, but because it's on it's side it gives an odd change pattern & there's lots of travel across the box from 2nd to 3rd.
Panniers look much nicer than a plain square box.

[ROD]

Theres definitely no slopiness . The change pattern is the same as usual,but TBH I havent give the distance between gears a thought! It was very easy to get used to ,and second nature now.
 
 The panniers took many hours to make,as there are so many processes involved.As with all botchers shed builders,I can see the faults,and ideally would like to make another set!

[steven brock]

Have you seen the Jinlun paniers? you may like those I've got a set fitted on mine, check put this number on eBay 30 quid a pair With frame, keyed lock n lights 320881288793

[ROD]

Looked at those..couldnt see the sort of price you quoted though!
 

[ROD]

And so with new seal fitted,the re fitting of the engine and box and re assembling the ancillaries onto the engine begins!

[Manky Monkey]

Good luck!