[Kartbuilding] steering geometry on reverse trike???

[Stephen Burke]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 13:09:57 -0400
From: Jeff Ames
Subject: Re: steering geometry on reverse trike???

Thank you very much Stephen the sites you recomended were very helpful I'll try to send some picks as our project comes together.

Jeffry Ames

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Stephen Burke
   To: Jeff Ames
   Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 4:27 PM
   Subject: Re: steering geometry on reverse trike???


   Hi Jeff,

   I don't know much on reverse trike's to be honest. A quick google led me to http://www.reversetrike.com/ and from a few images on that website it appears that the steering can get quite complicated.

   My thoughts would be: plan to build a few prototypes. You would be lucky to have your first reverse trike work perfectly. In its most simple form, I don't think you would need to change things too much from a normal steering setup and I'd use this as a start.
   As you mentioned and as I seen on some of the images of reversetrike a large castor angle does seem to be used to assist weight transfer. Perhaps you could design a chassis (in particular the king pin) which would allow you to vary and adjust the castor angle. See: http://www.kartbuilding.net/PlAnS/Types_of_Yokes_Adjustable_Camber_Castor_Angle.pdf

   I hope this helps. Best of luck.

   -steve





   On 02/06/2010 20:07, Jeff Ames wrote:
     I'm building an electric "reverse trike" with my 7year old son...
     length about 1 1/2 x the width I can move gravity center with battery placement
     the stub axles are about 3/4" foward of the kingpin for Ackermann angle and camber compensation
     I'm considering an exagerated castor angle to asist weight transfer in cornering

     I would appriciate your thoughts
     thanks; Jeff Ames