RODS build........

[ROD]

Just remembered . The pipe I mentioned,ran from top hose ,to the heater ,then thro' heater matrix back to the heater tap on the back of the head.So turning off the heater at the tap,effectively stops the flow of water to the back of the head? Hmmmm...Im sure Im right.

[Manky Monkey]

You are. I'd forgotten that too. Part of Ska Man's argument for blanking it off.

[ROD]

Because running that pipe wont be too unsightly in Stainless ,I think I'll do it,just for safety.

[ROD]

Another day in the garage over . Achieved = nothing!! 3 freaking days on the radiator mounts. Each time I do it ,I chop them off and start again! Im realy pee'd off now ,so intend to leave it for a few days,but it will do my head in sitting thinking about it ,so will prob end up out there sooner than I think! ARGHHHHH!

[tbone]

your doing the right thing mate, shut the door n walk away, there is life outside the shed 

[Manky Monkey]

Been there myself recently -not in your shed Rod, at the Argh! stage of the build.
Everybody goes through it, some only once, some every other week. It is supposed to be an enjoyable passtime though, so don't give up. As TB says, just take a break for a while. I often find that's when inspiration finally hits. You can get too involved in a project & focused on just one answer to a problem. With a bit of thinking room you might come up with a completely different solution. 

[ROD]

Wahoooo! I,ve sorted it at last! Built the brackets,just gotta tack it up to the frame tamara ,then build a mesh front on the rad.Pics tamara..............

[Manky Monkey]

There ya go. 

[tbone]

Good on ya mate..

[ROD]

Heres what Ive achieved today........Couldnt get a good clear shot in one ,so views from both sides...But you get the idea..... The frame on the front will have expanded metal (cant find any punched hole stuff worth the money)in it ,held in with small bolts thro' the 4  small tabs Ive welded in ,plus a fillet of Gripfill neatly laid on the front and back around the edge of the grille against the frame. Gripfill can be overpainted ,and I'll paint the whole lot black or whatever. The grille frame is held in with the four allen head bolts. The rad bolts ,as all the bolts on the trike will be upgraded to better quality at a later date.Only prob ive got is I had to chop off the right angle bend in the bottom hose connection .If left on ,i wouldve had to leave a gap between rad and frame to allow the hose to come out of the gap. I had this originally,and it didnt look right.Have left a stub of pipe on the bottom tank ,so that I can solder on a piece of brass tube over the stub. This will give a straight take off .Bracket welds to the frame look crap,but are very strong . I will fill over them at frame painting stage.Those brackets took a very long time to make and drill out so that they were  symmetrical!Ive fitted the fan immediately behind the rad ,in the triangular gap which is formed by the down tubes and cross tube . It fits exactly (as pre planned ,of course !........NOT! )You can just see the residue of one of the other attempts ,still waiting to be ground off on the down tube!

 

[Manky Monkey]

That looks very tidy Rod. Very well thought out &, having to make all my own brackets by hand, I know just how long they can take. Nice. I like the frame around the mesh grille. My trike's got perforated stainless sheet but it could really do with an edging around it like that. Lookin' good. 

[ROD]

Still not happy with my welds of brackets to frame tho'! I can bench weld and downward weld fine with my arc welder,but cant get to grips with angular welds!Once I strip it all down for final welding,I can position the frame individually for each joint,to suit my welding technique ,and lay some nice looking beads on!

[panthershaun]

Yeah, I'm thinking of doing Taz's trike hoses in copper with rubber at each end, plus copper brake lines, just to give it a more vintage look.

Just like your good self then sir   

[Manky Monkey]

Ageing gracefully I like to think. 

[ROD]

Acquired some 20mm steel conduit ,and bent up as a trial,some rear mudguard brackets. They look far too flimsy to me. The new type tube didnt seem as thick walled as some old building rip out stuff Ive got,which is about 40 yrs old.But havent got enuf of it.So...went for a wander this morning over to the builders compound on site. Practiced my usual disease of Rubbish Constipation (cant pass a skip ) There was some 20mm offcuts there ,which were much thicker walled ,and heavier galved as well.So I guess there are different types.      Had anuver butchers at the brackets and decided they must be constructed in heavier tube ,which IMHO looks too clumsy.Just got enuf offcuts of 3/4" bore ERW to do the basic bottom end of the mounts,then will use 20mm conduit slid inside it for the top part.The "step" between the 2 will be covered later with summat interesting............Next step is to chop all the odd bits of tube up and machine all the ends square . Will post pics later of my attempts.