Yow on the tire--hit some metal or glass? Don't worry about any comments, any that get made are only for safety, longevity or to point out improvements that can be made. That said, be careful welding the plated metal, the fumes will make you sick fast--same goes for galvanized. You've got the structural concept pretty well, given that you're using thin wall box tubing, I'd go to town on adding corner gussets to almost all of it that is supporting the engine/driveline components.
Looks like a pretty good design at the engine area-good use of scrap too!!!! do you have pic's of the front-end? That tire slash is wicked and sad. I'd say the axle sprocket is there to stay!! Do you actually have axle bearings or is that just an axle thru a pipe sleeve?
Nice job using whatever you have to make it work
That's a nasty tear in the tire. But hey! Your first test drive and that's the only canarage? I'd write that as a major success in my book!
Good job!
Quote:
Originally Posted by spudmuffin
the axle is thru pipe with a brass bushing, grease nipple on the bottom and a collar on the outside. the axle is 1 1/4 hardened steel that I got from a blasting company (old drill rod) If it gets any wear, then I can just replace the bushing I figure. Its hillbilly I know, but it works! I will be playing around with the front end tommorrow, so I'll take some pics of the steering setup. It turns, but it pushes into the corners until you get on the gas enough to swing the ass end out. might just be the tires that are on it  |
Could be tires or the steering geometry. I'd call that axle Hi-tech hillbilly. It's probably stronger and likely will hold up better than any of the solid axles they make for buggies.
Great way to recycle! Way more fun than saving aluminum cans for sure. lol I'd say for a first build you did fine and I'm sure you will learn more as you go. Have fun and be safe!
The front end could be a little pushy too due to the wide tires up front and a fairly low traction tread, with the rear tires having an aggressive/higher traction tread design. Solid rear axle will contribute to the push a bit too.
If you look from above with the wheel cut all the way to one side, the outside tire should be turning more than the inside tire. Although Ackerman's original principle (early automotive design days) called for the opposite geometry to have the tires turning on radii equal to the different inside and outside circles they make, it was quickly realized that slip and scrub factors required a different approach. The outside tire tends to be the one that wants to dig in and bring the front end around. If you don't have enough turning angle on the outside tire, the inside tire won't really grab well and the outside tire with its lesser turn angle will just drive the cornering angle/radius, resulting in understeer--and the vehicle not wanting to corner the way the user wants.
Get some pic's of the front-end posted and we can provide some opinions for improvement.
IMO--The simplest way I've found to get your steering set-up from the start- make an imaginary line from the front spindle to the center of the rear axle- that gives you a place to start with the location of the steering/tie-rod tab on the spindle. This will establish basic Ackerman angles and should give you about the right turning radius for the tires when the tire is standing straight up & down. Angle of the kingpin/A-arm is important- too much you get bumpsteer, too little and you have a push. As toe-in & toe-out factor into how it bites in a turn & how well it goes straight down the trail and helps the wheels returns back to center.
thats a nice build of a buggy for your first time got any pics of the front
I'd say one of the biggest issues is the front tires. very wide and flat--ok for parking lot/street, (still very wide for that) off-road you want something narrower with a rounded profile.