Hey LeChat, What Are You Working On?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:00 am

Use one or two luxeons if you convert, in red.
They are wide angle and they make a special wider lantern version.

Kerosene sounds fine though.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:12 am

Kerosene works well, ask those who still use horses and buggies for transportation. }grins{ Just remember it takes a bit of maintenance (trimming wicks nightly) and make sure to bring extra wicks, too.

It's not hard to do the LED conversion for the lights, tho, and for the tail lighting I might recommend it as it will be less worry-some than a lantern which can blow out. Don't ask how I know about Kerosene taillights blowing out, but they can, leaving the back part of your rig in the dark.

bb

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:00 pm

Man... I do so love the light of a real flame. Damn it Sue... now I'm leaning back towards the lamp oil.

Ohhh... Jeez. I gotta think on this one. Ok... I'll test run it with the lamp oil and see what it looks like. Then I'll decide.

So you may recall me mentioning that I put a smaller cog on the "input" side of the flywheel. Naturally, this increased my output RPMs a bit to around 220. I knew this and devised a means to step it back down on the "output" side.

A single step small-to-large pulley wasn't possible due to the size of the front pulley needed being too small for the shaft. Below is a pic of the setup I put togther.The large sprocket, the additional pulley, the shaft, and the bearings I had laying around in the potential parts pile. The only purchase for this modification was the $9 sprocket to go on the output side. This takes the 220 RPMs and steps it down to 45 (the speed needed for The Contraption to go 5 MPH). That means there will be about a 10% gear advantage in the drivetrain.

I think this will work even better since it gives a larger diameter pulley for the belt to grab onto. More surface area = more friction to send power to the wheels. And the coolest thing to me is the fact that I can make use of this pulley. This pulley (or â€œsheaveâ€

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:17 pm

Here's a link to a video of the flywheel in action. As it progresses, you will notice that I have my main inspector watching everything up close to make sure it is working properly.

So far, so good was the report...

And the soundtrack is pretty good too.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:46 am

Poetry.

PlayaBitch · Post by **PlayaBitch** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:25 am

aaaaahhhh... my family! we are almost there.

karine · Post by **karine** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:22 am

Damn - that thing is STILL spinning!

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:25 pm

Okay, that video gave me a jolt. For a second there I thought you'd gotten your tail stuck in the flywheel!

That woulda hurt. Be careful Black Kitty.

Karine, keep an eye on 'im for us.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:58 pm

Hey Le Chat,
if Karine holds metal while you weld it ,
can you call her your favorite vise?

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:35 pm

gyre wrote:Hey Le Chat,
if Karine holds metal while you weld it ,
can you call her your favorite vise?

Human clamps can also be called TOOLS!

BADABING!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:56 pm

She is indeed my favorite vice...

And as tools go, she is top knotch.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:12 am

I could make a joke about flux now,
but I won't.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:24 pm

Ok, perhaps time to get back to the topic of contraptioneering. Work was done yesterday and today and good progress was made. Yesterday afternoon and today I got the decking inserts finished. Theyâ€™ve still got to be rusted up good, but theyâ€™re all done except for the guard that will cover the portion of the flywheel that is above the deck surface. Iâ€™m thinking Iâ€™ll do this in some sort of ornamental style, but havenâ€™t settled on a design yet.

Last night brother came over and we puzzled on the brake linkage. I think weâ€™ve got it close to figured out now and all thatâ€™s left is to assemble one side and test it out. So far everything is looking good there too and I should have the brakes finished up by next weekend. Oh yeah, and we got the front bumper mounted (its a assembly of more stuff from the tobacco setter). I think it'll make a fine spot to mount a couple of goggle-eyed headlamps.

Hereâ€™s some pics of the latest progress:

The bumper:

And decking:

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:26 pm

Tiahaar and Unjon...

I want to hear about the progress on your projects, too. Come on... give up the goods, man. What I've been hearing about each is sounding good.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:32 pm

I think I'm about to acquire the artsy part of a future art car.
It won't make this year, but hopefully next.

Have any of you guys ever used any of these tools before?
How about the airboard?
It would be great on the playa except for the dust.

http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/airboard/

http://www.arbortech.com.au/index.html

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:30 pm

I've used a similar tool, but it had a ring of chainsaw chain around it. Very handy and very very dangerous. And by the way, if you ever use stuff like this on a grinder, permanently disable that little button that lets you lock the switch on. And I use Milwaukee grinders since they have a dead-man type switch.

The tools you've posted seem to have a safer design that limits the amount the tooth can "grab" at once.

Power chisel and brick saw look very cool too...

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:50 pm

What do you think of the airboard?
They have built them to go up to 70 kmh.
They decided that was a bit too lively.
Some interesting stuff coming out of australia.
They can be used as a pavement dryer or vacuum too.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:44 pm

Those Auzzie's are crazy fun loving folks. They also have a cool bike light called a Reelight that runs by magnets in the spokes. Someone stateside needs to import some so I don't have to ebay one from down under!

Great looking deck there LeChat! Especially those little detail cut-outs around the bolt heads, very nice. It reminds me of something...can't quite put my finger on it...hmmm, but I see brass railing, somewhere, image is faint...have to go to the archives...

Anyways no trike progress on my end as I was busy building a cardboard and foil multi-element antenna for the Starkrawler, forgot my camera so next weekend when I go back I'll post a photo.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:47 am

gyre wrote:What do you think of the airboard?
They have built them to go up to 70 kmh.
They decided that was a bit too lively.
Some interesting stuff coming out of australia.
They can be used as a pavement dryer or vacuum too.

I watched a program about them and some other flying/floating machines last week...Some very clever nuances, notably the skid-steering and rear drive wheel for forward thrust boost. Seeing the prototypes, made with plywood decks mounted on tractor innertubes, gave me some ideas- A number of innertube "floater units" supporting a big party platform? Hmmm...But very noisy and dusty, too much so for the playa.
My favorite is the prototype Moller Skycar, not the ugly modern version but the 70's flying saucer with the beautiful vacuformed bubble cockpit. Classic.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:13 am

I was at a alt. power fest. in Wa. about a month ago.. One bike had a genny in the front hub and motor in the rear hub.. The rider would peddle a ways then coast on the built up electic.. Didn't seem like anything I would want at the time.. In retro, screw the coasting power.. The genny would be good for LED/ELwire lighting.. I think Grampa picked up one of the guys cards.. I'll se if I can pick up on it again.. Or phil will look it up for us?? We are all meeting at Camp phil the year¿¿

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:47 am

Did anyone see the maker's fair on sunday morning?
They featured the electric giraffe and other burner stuff.
The giraffe has been out the last two years.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:59 am

Le Chat... are you going to put any of that webbing, maybe box style, over the top of the flywheel, the "mommy in me" see's toes or fingers getting chopped off...as our innebriated friends climb aboard and get too close to it.

?? sorry not trying to take away from your master piece??
But I see that nice lil' gap that is just askin for a dumb drunk to (what couldnt possibly happen without trying) Happen.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:07 am

pinemom wrote:Le Chat... are you going to put any of that webbing, maybe box style, over the top of the flywheel, the "mommy in me" see's toes or fingers getting chopped off...as our innebriated friends climb aboard and get too close to it.

?? sorry not trying to take away from your master piece??
But I see that nice lil' gap that is just askin for a dumb drunk to (what couldnt possibly happen without trying) Happen.

\/
mon, He has already mentioned some fancy flywheel cover..

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:17 am

pinemom wrote:Le Chat... are you going to put any of that webbing, maybe box style, over the top of the flywheel, the "mommy in me" see's toes or fingers getting chopped off...as our innebriated friends climb aboard and get too close to it.

?? sorry not trying to take away from your master piece??
But I see that nice lil' gap that is just askin for a dumb drunk to (what couldnt possibly happen without trying) Happen.

Yes, fear not!!

Its easy to overlook a small detail in all my rambling on and on. There will indeed be a flywheel cover. I'm usually pretty good at anticipating potential hazards and heading them off before they ever happen. That flywheel, even though its running far below its max safe RPMs, still is carrying enough energy to tear your foot off and not think twice about it.

My goal is to make everything still viewable and dangerous looking, but not able to grab loose clothing or parts of one's body. I think of the opera singer (whose name escapes me at the moment) who met her untimely demise because of her love for extraordinarily long scarves.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:21 am

robotland wrote: I watched a program about them and some other flying/floating machines last week...Some very clever nuances, notably the skid-steering and rear drive wheel for forward thrust boost. Seeing the prototypes, made with plywood decks mounted on tractor innertubes, gave me some ideas- A number of innertube "floater units" supporting a big party platform? Hmmm...But very noisy and dusty, too much so for the playa.
My favorite is the prototype Moller Skycar, not the ugly modern version but the 70's flying saucer with the beautiful vacuformed bubble cockpit. Classic.

Was it "Donk"?

Say... those mountains look familiar, don't they?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:02 pm

The rain is to much.. I have to buld a shelter for the trike before I can appy the collages.. The generator contraption needs a flat belt to complete it..

Next, setting up shop to build a ric-shaw w/drive contraption.. All the part are here some assembled already.. Just some minor ar details to work out..

CONTRAPTIONEERS eat your heart out
Was just in town and run a cross the historian for Antique PowerLand.. They are having there 37th annual Great Oregon Steam-up.. The last week of July & first week of Aug.. Along with seven museums.. 1930s gas station an other greats..

This coming weekend is old tmes swap meet.. The hisorian has a Ford/Fergason front wheel..

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:44 pm

the contraption looks wonderful, cannot wait to see it...

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 12:19 pm

robotland wrote:
gyre wrote:What do you think of the airboard?
They have built them to go up to 70 kmh.
They decided that was a bit too lively.
Some interesting stuff coming out of australia.
They can be used as a pavement dryer or vacuum too.
I watched a program about them and some other flying/floating machines last week...Some very clever nuances, notably the skid-steering and rear drive wheel for forward thrust boost. Seeing the prototypes, made with plywood decks mounted on tractor innertubes, gave me some ideas- A number of innertube "floater units" supporting a big party platform? Hmmm...But very noisy and dusty, too much so for the playa.
My favorite is the prototype Moller Skycar, not the ugly modern version but the 70's flying saucer with the beautiful vacuformed bubble cockpit. Classic.

I saw that too. I've actually built those "hover pucks" before and briefly thought about building one for BM, but the dust kicked up would be just crazy. Oh well.

Badger

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:46 pm

Saw this posted elswhere so I thought I would repost it here.

mdmf007 wrote: LeChat - look at old boat trailers. they hold more weight, have normal sized tires, tow better and are cheap. I can get one for about 5oo bones, and deck it for another 100.

lasts years -

later all

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:52 pm

Hey LeChat! Is there going to be a cover on that flywheel? You just know someone is going to jump up there and stick his naked toe where it does not belong.

Hey LeChat, What Are You Working On?

)*( ~~~> coming home