Author Topic: Don't Do This ! (Read 3619 times)

gerhed · « **on:** January 28, 2007, 01:26:06 PM »

Attached pic of unsuccessful electric 3-wheeler.
Left front wheel was driven and the single rear wheel did the steering.
Not an intuitive arrangement.
Steering over correction can produce disastrous results.

medic09 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2007, 01:52:40 PM »

At least it LOOKS COOL...

Klark Kent · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2007, 02:05:27 PM »

its a good thing you posted this because i was just about to go out and construct one.

thanks for saving me some trouble
-KK

no, really, i would be interested in knowing more about what went wrong, as it is it is just sad that it didnt work for you. more details might make it a useful post on why and how this didnt work out. good on ya for trying.

bill440cars · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2007, 02:43:06 PM »

Hey Phil,

That is quite an interesting looking build you have there. And it IS a real shame that it didn't work
out. Looks like you've put a lot of time and effort into it. Have you been trying to figure out a way to
make it work out? Don't have any suggestions myself, I'm just marveling at the details of it and all.

Later on, Bill

Hockers Choppers · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2007, 03:37:55 PM »

Can you get a motor with outputs on both sides and drive both front wheels?

heffay · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2007, 03:39:13 PM »

throw on some steering stops... it may be a #$%* to park but, at least you won't be doing 360's down the freeway

oh... and power the other front wheel.

Hockers Choppers · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2007, 03:47:58 PM »

It would take alot of extra work, but drive the rear wheel and steer the front? I know a combine doesn't go down the road worth a crap! But they have pretty sloppy steering also. But they will turn on a dime!

heffay · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2007, 03:50:23 PM »

Quote from: Hockers Choppers on January 28, 2007, 03:47:58 PM

It would take alot of extra work, but drive the rear wheel and steer the front? I know a combine doesn't go down the road worth a crap! But they have pretty sloppy steering also. But they will turn on a dime!

well yeah... that would be ideal but, i bet he was in the mood to try something different.

gerhed · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2007, 05:24:03 PM »

After my crash--swerved across traffic over a curb and through a fence, I did convert it to rear drive and front wheel steering, but I'd already done that on other machines !--

heffay · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2007, 06:40:12 PM »

and that was after the crash!

gerhed · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2007, 07:25:56 AM »

I think the rear steering was the main problem.
It was too direct-steered too fast.--needed to be geared down.
The left front drive had a few problems but they could have been overcome.
But I had a fair investment in the project. i.e.
7" traction motor--new--this is a large electric motor-of a size used in cars.
Curtis speed controller--new--Curtis controllers were on the Lunar Rovers!
So I felt I better come up with something that worked.
Attached pic shows it and it worked well.

cb(r) · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2007, 08:27:34 AM »

this might sound stupid but what about all wheel steering? that would be something different. especially with three wheels

heffay · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2007, 08:33:47 AM »

what's the saw handle? i'm hoping not a part of the motorcycle but, a real saw with a sleeve so that it can be ripped out at a moments notice for other problematic drivers

DammitDan · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:30:33 PM »

That contraption looks badass! I'm digging the custom groove you've got

gerhed · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:31:22 PM »

Saw handle is attached to a jockey stick that controls the amount of tilt
that you put into the body when rounding corners. Thus reducing side G's.

Steering is controlled by a tiller on the right side-as shown in attached pic.

DammitDan · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2007, 01:42:16 PM »

What's the laptop for?

gerhed · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2007, 02:04:06 PM »

Nice of you to ask!

I had the laptop connected to a GPS unit as well as to a voltmeter (showing voltage used at any particular time)
Attached pic shows graph made from downloaded GPS info.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2007, 02:40:21 PM »

Ah, someone else who is into gadgets.

Pretty slick machine.

DammitDan · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2007, 03:06:37 PM »

Were you driving up cliffs or something? How does your altitude change so much in so short a time on that graph?

That 3 wheeler must be more versatile than I thought

gerhed · « **Reply #19 on:** January 30, 2007, 07:54:44 AM »

Dan,

Rode the thing up and down a hill near my house--roughly 60 foot drop over 15 seconds.
Is that out of line?

Attached voltage drop info.

DammitDan · « **Reply #20 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:47:33 AM »

Hah, that's a big hill I guess. We don't really have those in middle TN

yesplease · « **Reply #21 on:** January 30, 2007, 05:33:58 PM »

Quote from: gerhed on January 28, 2007, 01:26:06 PM

Attached pic of unsuccessful electric 3-wheeler.
Left front wheel was driven and the single rear wheel did the steering.
Not an intuitive arrangement.

Depends if you ever worked on a forklift for extended periods...

To keep it stable at higher speeds, have you thought of the same arrangement except with sensitivity to speed? Kinda like how the power steering pump on some cars turns off as they go faster, or are sometimes replaced by an electric motor.

gerhed · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2007, 07:51:10 AM »

yesplease,

I think you're on target with that suggestion.
The machine however has been converted.
I could revisit, though.

News:

Author Topic: Don't Do This ! (Read 3619 times)

yesplease