how to properly rig a velorex 560?

Originally written by tranceamerica on 8/8/2008 11:47 AM
Can someone tell me where to start with making it straight/flat?

Rotating the lower front "J" mount to start.

See: http://velorexusa.com/Instruction_pdf/install_instructions.pdf

thanks - I checked out the instructions. my 560 doesn't mount exactly the same way the newer ones do. And, to make it even more difficult, it seems that whoever rigged it originally - fabricated a custom front strut, in place of the J rod. This strut should be about 1" higher than it is, but the mounting point is pretty locked in place because the bike doesn't really allow a different mounting point. I'll post a picture at some point, but my wife has run off with the camera to grandma and grandpa's....and won't be back for 2 weeks. (more time for me and hack, he he he...)

Anyway, after futzing with it for about 3 hours today, I got the lean out correct and got the sidecar "sorta" level. What this means is that if the SC is loaded, it only tilts about 1/4" towards the bike...and only about 1" nose down. Oh, and got toe in correct as well.

This is the best I can do - either I tilt more towards the bike, or the nose goes down. Can't make both directions level, had to split the difference.

The only thing I can think of is to remove the front mounting strut, cut it, and weld in a 1" spacer to get it to be "more proper". This isn't an impossible task, as I've got a welding machine & know how to use it.

But first, I wanted to check and see if there's something I could do before the cutting & hacking.

Start by disconnecting the sidecar and setting it level front to back and side to side with blocks or jacks.
Place the bike with the frame about 12" from the sidecar frame and fairly vertical. Sit on the bike and have someone strap the rear tire and suspension in the depressed position that it is in with your weight on it. That is the heigth you want to install the sidecar so the rig will be level after you are done.
Mount the car as far back as possible leaving at the very least 1 1/2" of the threaded bolt ends in all struts.
The lower rear mount should be placed at 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the bike and sidecar frames.
The 560's had at least 3 different mounting systems for Jawa, MZ, or other applications. Some had ball and collet lower mounts and some bar stock was used. Most but not all of the 562 and later mounts will retrofit the 560's. The frames are different though.

Your sagging and lean-in is from being "foul rigged" not due to time.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

thanks lonnie - didn't see your post before I replied. Yes, I think it's rigged wrong - and was to begin with. Part of the problem is that the '80 CB900C doesn't have many mounting points - most of the frame is obscured by exhaust & other goodies.

I think the front lower mount is the culprit. it just wants to be 1" or more higher in the air than it is. I can't move the mounting bracket up (no where to put it) & the strut is some home-fabricated thing. Maybe the J-strut would help, not sure. Depends on how much offset it has between it's two ends.

Other than the tilt to the side & nose down, I'm in good shape - the toe in is correct (1/2") and the bike is tilted about 3/4" away from the SC (when just the bike is loaded) & when the SC is loaded the bike is vertical. I did all the adjustments with the bike suspension compressed as well.

You should be good to go. The little forward rake does no harm. Some like it to decrease lift at speed.
The 1/4" tilt will probably put you about vertical on a normally crowned road.
The URAL book has their sidecar mounted with the bike side 1/2" lower than the outboard side (maybe they have lots more camber in the Russian roads).

Lonnie

Well, I went out and measured again. the 2 lower mounting points are approximately 18" apart. Over this distance, the SC is tilted 1 1/2" forward. From front to back of the SC, the difference is 4 1/2". It's a noticible amount of tip forward. Really does not look right to me. The only thing I can think to do is either replace or modify the front lower strut to raise the nose of the SC. ???

IF the rig is setup and handling okay you mak be able to leave the frame as is and move the front of the bidy higher with blockes or something. Fender could be an issue. Just wrting before thinking here ...food for thought.

I think I'll cut and re-weld the front strut. Just have to find a piece of steel the right size.

The home fabricated strut seems to be a piece of pipe (which goes into the stock clamp on the SC frame) that has a large bolt welded into it. Off the bottom of this contraption is welded another pipe that has the adjustable linkage bolted through it. Then, it's attached to what looks like a custom bracket off the bottom of the bike frame. This custom bracket is actually well built. The whole thing is sturdy looking, but simply places the nose of the SC too low.

Post a shot or two of the bracket and mount. Maybe one of us will have a fix suggestion.

Lonnie

Lonnie, I will, ASAP. When I look at the pic of yours that's on this site, it looks like your 560 is sitting very flat as compared to mine. The aluminum band on yours is level, where mine is pitched very far forward.

The 560 you see of mine is mounted with a design part of mine. It is sub-frame mounted.

Lonnie