Manky's new Reliant trike.

[Manky Monkey]

Well, I've got to change a few parts before mine ever hits the roads.
The build up was progressing well this evening -until we tried to fit the tank.
Disaster.
SaddleBags made me a new steeering stem & we fitted an adjuster/locking ring between the top bearing & the top yoke. Unfortunately, when the trike was being set up, we didn't have an adjuster. Now everything's nicely coated we've discovered the tank won't fit cos the top yoke's higher & further back than before.
Poo.
There's also too much steering lock so the bars come round until they either hit the tank or the rider's knee.
More poo.
Got no choice. The only fix is to take the bars & yokes off again, (it's taken hours to fit those damn yokes!), & shave a chunk off the back edge of the top yoke to give more clearance, bin the adjuster & re-machine the steering stem so the yoke sits where it used to. We'll also have to ally weld the steering stop holes in the bottom yoke & drill new ones.
It obviously won't get done before we leave for the Shepton show tomorrow, but maybe during the week, before next weekend's Basingstoke Transport Festival.
Bloody annoying but not the end of the World.

[Manky Monkey]

As the Basingstoke transport festival's only a couple of days away now, I've decided not to pull everything apart until afterwards. Both SaddleBags & the powder-coaters have said they'll try & sort the necessary bits in time, but no point creating extra hassle & stress for myself. I'll display the rolling chassis as it was at Shepton last weekend, then re-do it later.
That means I can treat myself to a couple of days away from the garage & hopefully catch up on some website jobs.

[spanners]

hi i need some yoke's and a stemm like youre's any ideas

[Manky Monkey]

Have a word with Mr SaddleBags. He made mine, although I didn't know him at the time -they were done via his boss, Doug of the Guzzlers car club.
No idea what they'd cost now -PM him & ask.
I painstakingly hacksawed & filed the curves in mine over several weeks, but SaddleBags says he could've profiled them that shape in a matter of minutes.
Poo.

[Terrortubby]

Hope you get the steering sorted Andy, nowt like a small hiccup to make a grown man groan

[Manky Monkey]

Tis only a hiccup. Easy enough to sort once I've got the yokes back off. Just hope I can do that without causing too much damage -they were such a tight fit after coating they had to be thumped onto the fork tubes with a rubber mallet
-yes I know I should've reamed them out to fit but the urge to get the thing on 3 wheels got the better of me!

[Manky Monkey]

First time out on the road for the trike today -not quite under it's own steam though.
Took it along to the Basingstoke Transport Festival. The unfinished projects always seem to attract a lot of attention from curious showgoers. Brock made up a trike towing arm a few years back, which has ended up in Flap's care. Seems to work well. Uses two big U bolts clamped around the fork legs, (which are protected by wrapping them in rubber).
Poured with rain all day at the show, so now my pride & joy's soaking wet & covered in mud. Splattered with road crud already & I haven't finished building it yet.
Nice to roll the thing out of the garage & stand back & check it's lines in the daylight. I'm happy with it so far.

[critch]

looking bloody good so far andy

[Manky Monkey]

Hiya Critchypoos.
Going bloody slowly so far. Should've been on the road last Summer, but kept getting sidelined for the greater good of the local triking community. Other machines always taking priority, but slowly getting back on track. Hope to get the engine back in over the weekend, but still waiting for SaddleBags to rework the steering stem & yokes for me so I can get them re-powdercoated & re-fitted.
His frame's very nicely TIG welded now apparently, (his brother's a welder by trade), but I haven't seen it yet.
How's things in CritchWorld? 

[critch]

Going bloody slowly so far. .

quicker than our ems mate

things arent too bad oop north mate currently awaiting the arrival of our latest addition to our brood.......
as you can see the 'puter is finally fixed.........
the house is nearely finished and ive been up to my ears learning how to weld and fab,
the pub ended up falling through due to my leg op and ems pregnancy, but maybee well try again in a few years after i see how the smoking ban affects trade.......

[Manky Monkey]

It's in! It's in!
Tazzie & I scrubbed the engine up this afternoon then Nige arrived to give me a hand to lift it -very, very carefully into the frame. Woo hoo! It fits! Sort of.
Checked the gasket set I bought a month ago & found it doesn't include the gasket that goes between the front mounting plate & the motor. That means I can't bolt the front of the motor into the frame, so for now it's balanced on blocks of wood with just the gearbox bolts in place. Next concern is whether there's enough room for the cylinder head to slide over the studs & drop into place. Then will we be able to fit the rocker cover?! It's all extremely tight. Maybe a little too tight. We shall see when the new gasket arrives.

Nige, in his best workshop slippers. 

[Manky Monkey]

.

[triker9999]

looking good Chief Primate(the trike, not you!!)
hope rest of lump all goes in sweet

regards

mark

[critch]

Nige, in his best workshop slippers. 

they like chris irelands welding slippers???

[Manky Monkey]

Nige is well known for his sartorial elegance.