Help with Trike Info??

[Zym]

Hey all!

I came across a barn find last fall - a VW trike with fiberglass body looking mostly intact but has been collecting dust for several years. I bought it on sight only.

Surprisingly, I got it home, cleaned out the fuel system and carb and put fresh gas in it, charged the battery, and the thing started right up. And I've even putted around the back roads a little with it before winter set in. So, I'm thinking this might be a fun little project!

It has an automatic transmission that seems to work alright but I don't know how it's supposed to work. In driving it, it appears that it just has two forward speeds - but, the shifter has detents for what appears to be three forward speeds. The number stamped on the transaxle is: EB0161216 which, according to what I found in my research efforts, appears to be from a 1973 Type 4 model 1700cc (Calif. Only) 72HP. Is this just a two-speed automatic?

Also, can anyone confirm what engine I have? The number stamped on it is: 8236965.

The VIN on the neck indicates a front end from a 1970 Honda SL-175 motorcycle.

I'm looking forward to warmer weather and to getting started on rehabilitating this thing. Thanks in advance!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Pics ... we want pics

[vw driver]

It sounds like you have an automatic transmission from a 411 or 412. It should be a 3 speed.......first, second and drive.

[Zym]

Thanks - that helps! I'm going to go over the chassis to make sure it's roadworthy - brakes, bearings, etc. And, it looks like I need to find the missing gear on the tranny.

I'll post a pic as soon as I get enough posts in for me to let me do it. I'd also like to find out what kind/make of body.

Wish my garage was was heated!

[vw driver]

I hear you about a heated garage, I have work to also but it gets too cold at night, my fingers freeze. The 411 and 412 weren't big sellers for VW but you do have a full automatic trans which a lot of people with disabilities like because there is minimal shifting and no clutch.

[stinger608]

Wow Zym, awesome barn score man!!! Can't wait to see some pictures of the trike.

And most of all, welcome to Trike Talk my friend!!!

[Gorilla]

Those VW with auto in the trikes are so over powered that most start off in second or no shifting in third. It might have been rigged to just use D and 2. When it is one of the positions does it stay in just one gear? Then when you move it to the other it shifts? When it is in that other and you start out it will only shift once?

[Zym]

Gorilla, I'll be checking the shift detent positions - busy getting my mowers ready (who'da thought?) After driving it around just a short time, I still can't tell if it's using 2nd and 3rd or not - it didn't sound like it was over-revving at 55. If it's starting out in 2nd gear, it seems to do that just fine. If that's correct, and I happen to find 1st gear, heaven help me! Front end is already so light that it pops the front wheel when it's shifted at 30 or so. And, I'm not young enough anymore to enjoy that feeling - lol.

- - - Updated - - -

Here's a couple pics too:

[jaxbobg]

I don't know much about VW hybrids, but I think you have a home brew trike. Nice find by the way - I'm jealous.

Agree, sounds like a 411 engine, 1200cc. However, the 8xxxx engine serial number would be stamped on an early 1960's model. What seems strange is that the 411 engines were pretty much built between 1968 and 1972.

I'm confused about the actual components on your trike. I'm guessing that you do have a 3 speed auto trans (optional on the late 60s models ??) but don't understand why you only feel two shifts. Have you changed the trans fluid? After so many years it degrades and affects the trans operation.

Need more info about engine and trans to make an intelligent guess. So far this just doesn't compute.

[Loner]

It sounds to me to be a Type 3 or 4 VW full auto transaxle. Those all have 3 forward gears. If you are only getting two of those gears, a cable adjustment (between the shifter mechanism and the shift arm on the transaxle) should yield the 3rd gear.

Motor is a basic Type 1 (Beetle) 1200cc manufactured in Nov of 1963. That info was gathered by VW #/code lookups and confirmed by enhancing your second picture a bit to show the engine under the fiberglass body.

You have the base equipment for a great trike and the value is enhanced a bit by the automatic transaxle. If you are building it for your own long term use, you might consider exchanging a 1600cc dual port engine for a bit more pep. The 1200s were good dependable motors, but do not offer great low end torque - although they will get you an extremely high MPG.

Good luck with your project!

[vw driver]

Is it a 6 volt or 12v system? A '63 was 6v but a lot of them were upgraded to 12v. Look behind the fan shroud. If it is not a doghouse fan shroud it is '60s engine. I've read that the old style doghouse blocked air flow to the #3 cylinder causing it to run hotter. I've also read that VW supplied them with a distributor with a 3 degree retard offset on the #3 distributor shaft lobe to get it to run cooler but that may just be VW folklore. The cam rode directly in case bores, no inserts which is not a good thing. The 1600DP and later engines are much better but hey, run what ya got til you need a new one.

[slick rick]

,,,Good find great bones for a nice trike , and some very good info here from people with a abundance of knowledge willing to help . Hope you do it justice to many of these things have been forgotten , if not try to sale it here first .

[Zym]

Well, I finally was able to get a little time in to check out this trike.

On the tranny: it was almost a quart low. Heard this was pretty critical for proper operation. But, after adding fluid, it didn't give me another gear after a test ride. Shifter rod can be adjusted so I'll be trying that. I'm guessing I don't have first gear. So, it's a Powerglide right now, lol.

The engine appears to be an older one - it has a 12 volt system but has what looks to me to be a generator instead of an alternator. But the engine seems to start right up and run just fine.

This is indeed a home-built, hybrid trike with a fairly decent body on it. Very dated: old drum brakes front and rear, very light front-end, home-made controls, but the backbone looks good and secure. This could turn into a money pit if I let it. But, like I said, I'll be concentrating on road-worthiness, brakes, and cleaning it up to look half decent.

Thanks again for you guys' help - guess it's just a matter of getting into it. I sure wanna ride it!

[vw driver]

VW used generators into the '70s, my '72 bug has one as well as the trike. They're bulletproof but I have upgraded to solid state voltage regulators. Same with the drum brakes, they work fine, your trike is lighter than a VW car so the drums are fine. The little brake on the front was probably put on so the trike would be legal, a lot of states require a front brake, I wouldn't think it would give you much stopping power, some people build trikes with no front brake at all. A Powerglide, I remember those, not everyone's favorite transmission.

[stinger608]

Is it a 6 volt or 12v system? A '63 was 6v but a lot of them were upgraded to 12v. Look behind the fan shroud. If it is not a doghouse fan shroud it is '60s engine. I've read that the old style doghouse blocked air flow to the #3 cylinder causing it to run hotter. I've also read that VW supplied them with a distributor with a 3 degree retard offset on the #3 distributor shaft lobe to get it to run cooler but that may just be VW folklore. The cam rode directly in case bores, no inserts which is not a good thing. The 1600DP and later engines are much better but hey, run what ya got til you need a new one.

Keep in mind Vw driver, that all the stock factory single port engines didn't have the "dog house" style oil cooler. It was the older design. So it doesn't necessarily mean it was a 6 volt system.
If my memory serves me right, 68 was a big turning point for the bugs. They were all 12 volt, was the last year for the swing axle, had the 4 bolt narrow wheels and new larger tail lights and front turn signals. If I remember correctly it was 69 when VW introduced the dual port. I think it was an extra option in 69.