Why not use leaf springs on a sidecar?
All Harley sidecars have leaf springs.
Isn't a Harley sidecar frame unsprung and the car has leaf springs
Yes. I don't know anyone that uses springs on the frame other than between the frame and car. It would effect the steering too much. I have seen some with electric lean controls, but that doesn't use springs, either. The multiple leaf springs seem to dampen the bounciness more than the later, single leaf springs from what I hear. Mine has the older multiple leaf springs and I never get complaints about the ride.
timrobbins - 7/1/2012 11:39 AM
Yes. I don't know anyone that uses springs on the frame other than between the frame and car. It would effect the steering too much. I have seen some with electric lean controls, but that doesn't use springs, either. The multiple leaf springs seem to dampen the bounciness more than the later, single leaf springs from what I hear. Mine has the older multiple leaf springs and I never get complaints about the ride.
The Liberty sidecar has a sprung swingarm on the frame and also has a sprung tub. I can't say what I really think about that because Lonnie woudl get mad. LOL.
One could use a leaf spring connected to a swingam and do okay but I don't see any up side to it over the use of a coil over shock or maybe a torsion bar for a sidecar.
Gaylord,
Try one, you'll love the ride and so will your monkey.
BTW: My Liberty has multiple leaf springs for the tub and adjustable coil over shock to smooth the potholes.
Heh, Heh,
Lonnie
Hack'n - 7/1/2012 5:00 PM
Gaylord,
Try one, you'll love the ride and so will your monkey.
BTW: My Liberty has multiple leaf springs for the tub and adjustable coil over shock to smooth the potholes.Heh, Heh,
Lonnie
Oh there you are. I thought that would get a rise out of you. 🙂
Cool! Learn something new everyday!
Hello Lonnie,
in my engineering classes many years ago I was told chromed springs are a "no do" because of hydrogen penetration into the steel (Sorry cannot translate Wasserstoffversproedung)
Or did my eyes become too bad so that even with glasses I cannot see well.
Anyhow this kind of flat springs are allways a kind off overkill and last a multiple of their actual load, so my comment is only peanut picking.
Enjoy your summer. we have a small gap in between the rains.
Sven
Sven,
When I was racing automobiles the plating was considered a critical difference. For supporting a fiberglass body and passenger maybe not so much so (and only one is chromed).
Enjoying the hot season here.
Stay dry,
Lonnie
...it is grumbling up in the mountain and badly dark 4km uphill.
Yesterday I switched tires and still haven't put back the sidecar...because I cut a reinforcement for the luguage rack too sthort and have no further material left.
I just count the month before I will be able to make e larger trip again... Hopefully my son makes his A-level in December....
Then nothing will keep us back for a while!
As said, the leaf spring on a fibreglass body is overkill you should be fare on the safe side.
But I will never forget a dump truck hanging in a fence over the cliff. "But how could it happen? Just last week I had the steering repaired" - " What did they do?" - "Ahh, they welded the ball joint."
No further questions at all from my side.
But I never accepted "Inventions" like that in my shop and may be happy that never anybody got hurt with my jobs.
Have a good time.
Sven
