Some rigid mounted sidecars without suspension allow for some flex within the sidecar chassis to relieve stresses but the mounts themselves are not flexing unless one would consider the movement allowable within a solidly mounted heim joint flexing.
Lonnie
Originally written by Hack'n on 4/14/2009 11:56 AM
Some rigid mounted sidecars without suspension allow for some flex within the sidecar chassis to relieve stresses but the mounts themselves are not flexing unless one would consider the movement allowable within a solidly mounted heim joint flexing.
Lonnie
Harley Lonnie?
Harley sidecar is a good example.
Lonnie
Let me say this about that. After the adjustments and noticeable improvement in handling (above), I took the rig out for a fairly long ride and the center strut (the short, lower, horizontal one) started to "elbow", and by the end of the trip the car had canted so far to the left that windshield was touching my right leg and I bottomed out the strut on a speed bump that I had always cleared before.
I loosened all the braces, rotated the lower middle mounting bracket 90 degrees, so it would not flex on the vertical direction, and hoisted the outfit with a floor jack until that strut was straight and parallel to the floor. I tightened everything back up, lowered it to the floor, the rig stayed level, the lean is correct; and I still have to verify the toe-in, but it handles extremely well right now.
I would opt for rigid over flexible in this regard, so as not to experience that "sagging" feeling when the tub tips towards the bike.
Well, he came and picked up the rig yesterday. WOW was that a nice package. the hack is just PERFECT weight for the E glide. No ballast needed. Chair flies when I wanted it to, and stayed down when I waned it to. ike pulled it with no hesitation what so ever. Bikes owner liked the extra brace arm that I added. The custom mount hardware to put the '68 hack on the late 80's E glide worked GREAT and he'll be able to remove and reinstall the hack without disturbing the settings in about 15 minutes.
Originally written by Hyster on 4/14/2009 8:04 PM
Let me say this about that. After the adjustments and noticeable improvement in handling (above), I took the rig out for a fairly long ride and the center strut (the short, lower, horizontal one) started to "elbow", and by the end of the trip the car had canted so far to the left that windshield was touching my right leg and I bottomed out the strut on a speed bump that I had always cleared before.
I loosened all the braces, rotated the lower middle mounting bracket 90 degrees, so it would not flex on the vertical direction, and hoisted the outfit with a floor jack until that strut was straight and parallel to the floor. I tightened everything back up, lowered it to the floor, the rig stayed level, the lean is correct; and I still have to verify the toe-in, but it handles extremely well right now.
I would opt for rigid over flexible in this regard, so as not to experience that "sagging" feeling when the tub tips towards the bike.
Is this a Velorex? If so the lkower rear frame mounts are known for trying to rotate on the sidecar frame. You can possibly position it so this cannot happen but many put a small wled on them after th erig is set up to prevent it. Some through bolt them at the frame. We just redo them.
Well, in the latest incarnation - thanks in LARGE measure to Motohack, who came by yesterday - we undid all the mounts, leveled the car, moved and rotated the center bracket and aligned everything on the square. Also found the front universal mounting bracket loose on the bike's frame.
Got everything re-aligned and tightened it back down. It's pretty solid now and I feel a lot more confident abot getting out on the road. Looks like I'll be in Paso Robles this weekend after all.
Thanks, everyone, for all the tips and advice.
