i'm so happy that your sending it to motortrike to be put back in a jig and fixed properly. with everything in alignment. not doubting your mechanical skills in no way shape or form. but being put in a jig at least you know everything, is going to be straight.
i know if i tried fixing that and put everything back togather and still had a vibration i would be questioning, did i get everything aligned right.
cudos for motortrike stepping up and cutting you a break. no pun intended.
You hit the nail on the head. I dont care WHO you are, trying to do that job accurately without a jig would be 50% luck 50% skill. I knew this. Thats a 'problem' with knowing how to do things right.... you know when you are not doing it that way.
HUGE show of responsibility by Motor Trike. They are going above and beyond 'who paid who' and simply making their work right and me whole. Not a common trait for many businesses today.
So... instead of strapping it to a pallet, I treated this axle like it was something my life depended on. I have a bit better sense of that now..
Started by making the inner supports. The axle end cradles were easy - use a hole saw in a 2x4, then cut the hole in half to get two perfect cradles. Notch as needed for clearance. Did the pinion support with a jigsaw. Ryobi really has its sh*t together on the new tools. Yellow pine is tough, but the cordless jigsaw didnt even slow down.
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Added the rear supports, base and starting on front bracing.
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Adding the rest of the front bracing. The lag bolts, 2x4's and OSB sheet wood are all recycled from hurricane shutter take-downs at work. Hate throwing stuff away, as my garage will witness!!
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The final inner brace. All it needs is sides and top!
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Now the box is left with all the other 'toys' under the light of a full moon to gather good vibes. :clapping: If Fr. Louis had not been busy, holy water and a blessing would be there also.
Goes in the next day for paint and labels.
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Painted and ready. I was gonna put 'UP' on the end, it turned into a shout-out to the delivery folks. :good:
Label is laminated, glued and stapled to the box. It provides a good spot for the UPS shipping sticker also, as OSB does not hold sticky stuff well.
For return, the lid is simply flipped over and bolted on. There is a return label printed and prepaid on the other side.
$195 shipping each way, insured to $3500. Cost me $80 to insure it, not a bad deal in my book. If *ANYTHING* happens, and the axle is destroyed, I will have a new one.
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And off to the UPS warehouse. :yahoo:We have a major distribution hub nearby, very handy.
I got the ladder bars painted, looking sharp. I am going to paint the axle and driveshaft the same color.
Again.
HUGE thanks to Motortrike.