Over the past month or so I've assembled some of the pieces for my first hack. I bought a 81 Honda CB900 for the tug, and a Champion Escort for the sidecar. I've been scratching my head thinking of ways to mount the car. Is there a reason that I should build a sub frame rather than just making brackets that bolt the car to the bike frame? I took some pics of a work in progress where the builder didn't use a sub frame, i don't know how it will work for him. Should the lower mounts both be the same height off the ground or can they be at different heights? About the only place to mount the lower rear is the rider foot peg mount, would this be too high? Is there any books or on line info regarding mounting design?
The car can be mounted with brackets, a sub-frame mount or a combination of both. If using a sub-frame, having the lower mounts level in height will make fine tuning the alignment a lot easier as the toe-in will not have to be rechecked after any lean-out adjustments needed to achieve neutral steering.
Some manufacturers have tech info and pix on their sites regarding setup.
Lonnie
Thanks. I've been doing some searching but haven't found much on mounting a Champion hack. Or much in regard to the mount design. I think mounting without a sub frame looks easier on this bike but I want to make sure I'm not overlooking something important. I know to make the connection close to the frame crossmembers and to avoid connection that would flex or slip.
You won't find much on Champion or California sidecars as they have gone to trikes and don't support their sidecar owners .
We do not make a kit for this bike however some people have made due with our CB 750 mount set. You will want a sub frame for at least the lower rear mount. The reason being that the frame on this bike sits such that if you attach the mount for the lower rear to the frame of the bike it will end up higher off of the ground then the front lower mount. The problem with this is that when you go to adjust your lean out it ends up changing your toe setting the wrong way. For this bike I would start by removing your center stand. The center stand is held on a tube remove the tube to remove the center stand then build your new mount so that the tube slide into it and drops down under the exhaust pipe. It is best to also move this mount aft as the bike has a very short frame. The lower front mount can be made to bolt onto the frame where the two bolts hold the frame together for splitting the frame for engine removal. Your upper mounts can use standard frame clamps such as the ones we make. I have attached basic mounting instructions as well as photo's of mounts we built for a CB 750 about 15 years ago.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Thanks a ton for the pic Jay. I tried to get the center stand out but it's baffling me right now. The front will be the easy part but the rear is a bit more problematic. Did you attach the top of the rear bracket to the shock mounts? I think that is what I'm seeing in the pics but I'm not quite sure. I bought steel today to start this project if i get time this weekend. Pretty nice of you to dig out 15 yr old pic just for me. Thanks a again.
It was about 15 years ago that we did this so I do not remember details. The center stand comes out by loosening a pinch bolt on a clamp an then sliding the tube out.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793
I think mine is more like , loosen the pinch bolts and pound the tube out. Now that I know I'm on the right track I'll resume pounding! Tomorrow though, wife is dragginge to a wedding now.
A little heat helps a lot sometimes.
Lonnie
Last migh I was thinking a lot of heat might be in order, like a cutting torch. Thought about lifting the far bottom girl up with my loader tractor and having at her with my cutting torch. But with all the oil and grease around the center stand I would have been looking for a new tug. If I do need a little heat I'll need to do se degreasing first. I've calmed down now so I'll try the hammer again.
High Octane - 6/28/2013 3:30 PM
Last migh I was thinking a lot of heat might be in order, like a cutting torch. Thought about lifting the far bottom girl up with my loader tractor and having at her with my cutting torch. But with all the oil and grease around the center stand I would have been looking for a new tug. If I do need a little heat I'll need to do se degreasing first. I've calmed down now so I'll try the hammer again.
On the pinch tube where the tightening bolts are, try tapping a chisel brtween the ears, should loosen it up enough for tube to come out easiier, assuming I am picturing it right in my mind. Good luck!
I hoisted the front end up so I could see. Found a cotter key holding the pin from moving. Once I removed the cotter pin the center stand pin came right out.
Them chain hoist are handy. With my I-beam and two hoist on trolleys, I lift the whole rig up head high to drop the pan on my old Guzzi when I need to change the filter.
I got a bit side tracked but here she is at last!
nice looking rig! you did good.
