Beef up supports for CSC Cobra Ground Effects

[SEABILL]

Has anyone beefed up the supports for the CSC Cobra Ground Effects (running boards)
to make weight bearing?

For a couple of reasons, I would like to make the Ground Effects weight bearing.

1. Passengers seem to want to step on the Ground Effects when mounting the trike.

2. I'm looking at getting the Comfort Controls and would like to use the
Ground Effects for my feet rather then install floor boards.

[SEABILL]

OK, so here is what I am thinking:

The front mount is a bracket hung from the front crash bars. The bracket itself appears
strong enough, but where it attaches to the fiberglass could be beefed up. Easy to do.

The other two mount points are the ones that will require some engineering.

Currently the middle mount is a hanger that is attached to the foot peg mounts.

What I am thinking is designing a bracket that attaches to the mount point for the center stand.
The center stand was removed when the bike was triked.


Now the rear mounts.... not sure what I'm going to do. Currently they are mounted to the trike body.
I know there are a couple of mount points for the rear crash bars, but not sure how accessible they are.

Currently my trike is stored in my brothers shop, so it may be a couple of days before I get over there
to check and see if what I am thinking is possible.

If you have any ideas, insight or just see where my thinking is flawed, I welcome your input.

[nucseal]

Need to run round bar along the outside edge, attaching in the front, and in the back. Then T in to outside bar roundbar run across the middle underneath the floor, probably at peg level. So no matter where they step on the edge, the fiber glass will be supported.

I would 3/4" round bar and bend as you need.

Just my $0.02

Nuc

[FRR]

My CSC kit was installed in October 2012 and I also purchased the ground effects. I can not only stand on mine, but gently jump up and down and the brackets hold just fine. I have a center bracket across the bottom that holds a lot of weight. Do you also have that?

[SEABILL]

Need to run round bar along the outside edge, attaching in the front, and in the back. Then T in to outside bar roundbar run across the middle underneath the floor, probably at peg level. So no matter where they step on the edge, the fiber glass will be supported.

I would 3/4" round bar and bend as you need.

Just my $0.02

Nuc

Good idea. My brother mentioned something similar. Thank you!

- - - Updated - - -

My CSC kit was installed in October 2012 and I also purchased the ground effects. I can not only stand on mine, but gently jump up and down and the brackets hold just fine. I have a center bracket across the bottom that holds a lot of weight. Do you also have that?

FRR

Is your trike a Viper? I believe CSC made the ground effects on the Viper weight bearing. Would be interesting to see how they did it.

Thanks!

[Snake]

I was checking on a CSC kit yesterday at my local Honda. The cobra xl is fits my 03 GW. It has the supports ( stiffeners ) to stand on them.

Anyway that's the conversion I'm going with this spring.

[SEABILL]

I was checking on a CSC kit yesterday at my local Honda. The cobra xl is fits my 03 GW. It has the supports ( stiffeners ) to stand on them.

Anyway that's the conversion I'm going with this spring.

Thanks Snake! It's good to know that CSC has beefed up the Ground Effects to
support some weight. The Ground Effects for the Cobra and Cobra XL appear to
be the same. I will give CSC a call on Monday to see what they have to offer.

In the meantime I found a piece of 3/8 aluminum flat stock that was left over
from a couple of boat building projects that my brother and I did. Took it to
a sheetmetal shop to have a couple of bends put in it so it will tuck up underneath
the Ground Effects nicely. When I get it back, I will weld a couple of ears on
it where it will bolt onto the center stand mount. The hard part will be finding a 10mm
bolt with left hand threads.

Thank you again for your input! I'm sure you will enjoy your Cobra XL. I enjoy the
Cobra, but wish it had more trunk space.

[Snake]

I dont know what yours has but the Xl has 8 cu ft.

[SEABILL]

I dont know what yours has but the Xl has 8 cu ft.

The Cobra has 4 cu ft of trunk space.

[SEABILL]

California Sidecar does make a bracket that will allow the Ground Effects on an older CSC Cobra to be weight bearing! pepper

On a tip from FRR and Snake, I gave them a call and the sales person passed me onto a tech. The tech explained to me what was involved in fitting it to the trike.

I guess I will go out to my brother's shop and clean up the mess I was making. I am out of practice when it comes to welding. Took me several tries to get the ears welded on the bracket I was making. First welds were too cold.

Thanks everyone for your help!!!

I will post a picture when I receive the bracket from CSC.

[FRR]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>SEABILL</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=205726#post205726" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
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<div class="message">Good idea. My brother mentioned something similar. Thank you!<br />
<br />
<font color="silver"><font size="1">- - - Updated - - -</font></font><br />
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FRR<br />
<br />
Is your trike a Viper? I believe CSC made the ground effects on the Viper weight bearing. Would be interesting to see how they did it.<br />
<br />
Thanks!</div>

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</div>
</div>No mine is a Cobra XL on a 2004 Wing.

[SEABILL]

I received and installed the new middle bracket for the running boards (Ground Effects). here are some pictures.<br />
<br />
The new Middle Bracket:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1000303a_zpsb8ab3bec.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1000303a_zpsb8ab3bec.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
With Foot Pegs:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1000268a_zpse551cd24.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1000268a_zpse551cd24.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
Without Foot Pegs:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1000309a_zps757bc457.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1000309a_zps757bc457.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
I think this is going to work!<br />
<br />
Now to look into getting the Comfort Controls to move the shift lever and brake pedal down 1" and forward 3".

[EarlJr]

When I was trying to decide which trike kit to purchase in 2010 I asked a CSC rep. about the weight barring on the ground effects, I was told they will hold the weight of people standing on them. They don't recommend you to stand on them, because it screws up the paint. By the way I did purchase a 2013 Cobra XL, had it installed on my 2002 pearl orange GL1800. I love it.
EarlJr

[SEABILL]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>EarlJr</strong>
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<div class="message">When I was trying to decide which trike kit to purchase in 2010 I asked a CSC rep. about the weight barring on the ground effects, I was told they will hold the weight of people standing on them. They don't recommend you to stand on them, because it screws up the paint. By the way I did purchase a 2013 Cobra XL, had it installed on my 2002 pearl orange GL1800. I love it.<br />
EarlJr</div>

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</div>Thanks Earl;<br />
<br />
The CSC rep. told me the same thing when I ordered the new middle mounts, but as you can see from the pictures, my boards have been coated with a bed liner. I am now waiting for the Comfort Controls to arrive.<br />
<br />
Glad you are enjoying the Cobra XL. Looks like you are in a nice area for riding a trike.

[crumbob]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>SEABILL</strong>
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<div class="message">I received and installed the new middle bracket for the running boards (Ground Effects). here are some pictures.<br />
<br />
The new Middle Bracket:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1000303a_zpsb8ab3bec.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1000303a_zpsb8ab3bec.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
With Foot Pegs:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1000268a_zpse551cd24.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1000268a_zpse551cd24.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
Without Foot Pegs:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1000309a_zps757bc457.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1000309a_zps757bc457.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
I think this is going to work!<br />
<br />
Now to look into getting the Comfort Controls to move the shift lever and brake pedal down 1" and forward 3".</div>

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</div>
</div>I have a cobra on my 2010. Where does this bracket mount and what was the cost. Since I have installed footboards, I no longer have the middle support.

[SEABILL]

Received the Comfort Controls and got them installed. They do put the brake and shift levers in good locations for using the running boards as foot rests.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1010517_zpsdffd3792.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1010517_zpsdffd3792.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1010516_zpsf69e1be8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1010516_zpsf69e1be8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
One problem is that the rear brake lever does contact the running board when fully depressed. Going to see if I can locate a brake lever that is a little straighter. I'm not going to put the foot pegs back on so the lever does not need to have as much of a bend in it.

[SEABILL]

My new brake pedal. Sorry the picture is not the best.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1010519_zps858f1bec.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1010519_zps858f1bec.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>

[SEABILL]

Here's a look under the ground effects. You can see the aluminum plate used to firm up the front mount.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/ak49er1/media/P1000337_zps5ea06032.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a630/ak49er1/P1000337_zps5ea06032.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Just bought some aluminum diamond plate and will cut them to fit in the foot wells. With bolts that run through the diamond plate, the ground effects and the middle brackets they should be plenty strong enough to be considered weight bearing.

[07BlueCSC]

I just had my CSC ground effects done by LineX.

[coolpoolken]

I like your brake pedal!! Would you share with the rest of us where you got it or how you modified it?? Thanks....Ken