mid engine trike

[captchee]

what I have is a old kit from I think Badass trikes plans with a 1600 VW . I picked it up along with a box of parts and build receipts .she is for the most part complete in mockup. however it has set for several years and not finished . I'm about finished with the handle bars and other little items that need done before I tear down and paint . there are some things however I don't care for . I would like to change the battery box to something along the lines of a Faux open top round oil tank , to house the battery. what would be the smallest type battery that would work for the VW engine.

I really don't want a large auto type battery shoe horned in there . I would like to keep it more old school and as such I'm also wondering about a speedo and tach. the box of parts that came with the bike has a mech. 2 + inch , handle bar mounted speedo from drag specialties that runs off the front wheel . I like the looks of having 2 small gages mounted on the bar . however I'm not sure this will work without modification to the sender that mounts on the front axle . I may have to change the gage out to an electronic type gage and sender . I have found a matching Tach but I'm not sure as to what type will work with the VW engine. I would like the tach and speedo to match . what tach should I look for ?



also I was told and I'm not sure the info is correct , but that it would be best to put a set of wheelly bars on the back ? is that really needed with the mid engine designs ? are the front ends anymore prone to rise then any other bike ? lastly front brakes . currently it has none and I would rather put a disc up front . to do so ill have to build and weld up a bracket to mount the caliper . that's not a big issue as I do a lot of welding and fab work . but I'm rather torn as to what type of setup to gather parts from . so I could use advise there

[peteg59]

Looks like a good start to your project.Hopefully it didn't spend too much time out in the elements.

I'm not thinking you'll need "wheelie" bars, as most of the weight is in the middle rather than hanging off the back like most VW powered trikes. Guess it ultimately depends on your riding style, and the power your engine puts out...

If you go to VW powered trikes forum, you'll pickup this thread where one builder goes into great detail on his rather "unusual" mid engine build...https://www.triketalk.com/forum/thre...10-Anyone-else

[vwbug72501]

Welcome to the forum Charles.

This would fit better in the VW trike forum. Check out Deathbysnusnu's "Anyone Else?" thread. He is the resident guru for front engine trikes for sure. All of your questions have been addressed in threads with in the last year on the VW trike forum. Remember....Pictures, pictures, pictures! We looooove pictures!

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado.

+1 on going to the VW trike forum. The guys there are top notch, and love to help.

[captchee]

well its been out long enough to surface rust but not long enough to pit , it cleans right up . carb needs rebuilt , but engine is free and smooth . thanks for the link . I read that build some time ago but I guess I need to re read .

ill post in VW forum as well . thank you

[DeathBySnuSnu]

It does look like a ba. But some extra touches maybe. Maybe was built from the instructions and not bought whole?

Speedo.... If you can identify what the front rim came off of and get the gear drive and cable for it you might could use the mech speedo you have.

If not there are add on electronic speedos available.

If I ever put one on mine it will be a GPS speedo. There are some that look like the classic analog units.

Tach....any old school tach for a 4 cylinder or has a selector for 4 cyl.

It dont take a lot to crank a vw that is in good shape. Even a lawnmower battery will do it. You dont get a lot of crank time. There are several extra small high tech battery makers out there....they are expensive but getting less so.

The neatest thing I have seen with a battery is a small Antigravity (brand name) lithium battery. Then the bottom of the extension case cut out and the battery stuffed up into it. It appeared to have NO battery....lol

Wheelie bars....no need especially with a 1600. I have 4x that power and dont have to have them. Can drive quite aggressive without....but can tote the front sometimes.

Front brake.....again of you can identify the wheel. I can not see a mount flange or speedo drive in the pic. Use a caliper off the front of any heavy bike like a harley....you can get a chrome one. Or get a multi piston front caliper off a large crotch rocket. Pretty much your choice as you have to hand make the mounting. But you are sorta stuck with what disc fits the wheel you have.

Some states require a front brake.....others dont.

If you expect it to be usable do not use a chopper or Springer "spot" brake. Very little power....more for making it legal and minimum bulk. Good for an emergency back up and for holding on a hill.

[Gorilla]

welcome abroad Charles

[captchee]

thank you for the replies

so would a 1:4 ratio tach work like this on the VW engine ?

https://www.dimecitycycles.com/2-5-c...1-4-ratio.html

from wheel is I believe an aftermarket 21 inch with 5 hole for the brake disc .

[DeathBySnuSnu]

so would a 1:4 ratio tach work like this on the Vw

No.

That one you linked is a mechanical cable driven tach.

Nowhere on a vw to hook it to.

You need an electric tach that hooks to the coil.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

front wheel is I believe an aftermarket 21 inch with 5 hole for the brake disc .

Far all appearances and the fact it is a small 5 bolt flange......it is quite possibly a harley wheel.

Which is good news.....as there is a large amount of aftermarket parts for that. There are not a lot of aftermarket wheels for everything else.....they exist....but rare....especially here in the land of the harley.

So get in the jp cycles catalog and pick you a harley disc....a harley caliper.....a harley speedo drive....a harley cable......a harley speedo.....ect.

You will have to fab the caliper mount.....and the spacers between the wheel and girder leg for the axle. But if it actually is a harley wheel you have the most easiest thing to find the parts for.

[captchee]

sweet thank you . ill also double check everything to make sure .

as to the tach . sorry I didn't catch that it was a cable I have seen ones that listed for like Honda gold wings but were electric . would an electronic tach for something like that work ? are they not called cross over or something like that . still a 4 cyl engine ?

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Without seeing the electrical schematics of the goldwing ignition module I would not be able to tell. The difference is that it drives 4 separate coils, or 2 separate coils in waste spark, or a single coil with a distribution device.

Assuming you are using the vw ignition.....single coil and a distributor you will need a tach for a 4 cyl car. I am sure there is some configuration of motorcycle based tach that would work. I just dont know which one that would be without very specific info.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Something this style.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F152807344841

[captchee]

thank you .

I have used a few of those through the years . I have even taken one of the small sun pro,s apart and used the inside to replace the internals of the dash panel tach on a jeep YJ so as to read correct for a small block . easy swap and past enlarging the mounting holes , she mounted right up and worked perfectly .

I was just wanting to try and match the speedo that I have if I could . something like having two drastically different gage styles would drive me crazy .

[DeathBySnuSnu]

As an example...

My ignition module has a tach output wire.

It is not one pulse for each ignition event (like the universal car unit). But instead one pulse per revolution of stator wheel.

So effectively I could possibly use a two cylinder motorcycle tach. Or a tach off any other motorcycle that the ignition module puts out a single pulse per rev. A goldwing might or might not.

It would take some pretty deep research.

[grandpanystrom61]

And sometimes calling a job does not do much good, than again sometimes you get all the answers you need.

Some brands have more detailed information about their product, if they have a well designed website, others seem to keep you in the dark as to how or what they did.

I am sure you will look for it, hope you find it sooner than later.