Hey LeChat, What Are You Working On?

Bin Noddin · Post by **Bin Noddin** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:54 pm

The second one works. Keep the cat in the fridge to prevent it spoiling like that.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:08 pm

Yeah, I'm looking at it now. Unjon, you got me laughing out loud, man. That thing looks great.

And with such a competent looking job boss, I can see why you've got such a wonky creation.

And hell... you've got a working genny. I'm still having trouble locating something to hack up and use.

Is it a separate driveline to run the genny, so that you can just crank it when you want it? Hmmm... that might be an idea to borrow. I've got to come up with a simple way to charge a small battery to run the LEDs at night and I worry about too much extra drag. I only need about 25 watts (2 amps max).

Finnegan · Post by **Finnegan** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:09 pm

Hey LCN, Incredible contraption! I love the flywheel guard!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:12 pm

Finnegan wrote:Hey LCN, Incredible contraption! I love the flywheel guard!

Thanks!!

Hey, did you click on the video link for the UnHorn?

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:20 pm

The genny is powered by a friction wheel (not showen) against the front wheel.. I'm spinging a 122v drill.. The leads run to the charge port into the battery.. Leads from the batery to stereo.. Extra juice buil up to night lights.. Didn't even take the drill apart.. JUst tape the trigger back.. Work in both directions.

Your flywheel would spin the hell out of that..

Finnegan · Post by **Finnegan** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:25 pm

Hey, did you click on the video link for the UnHorn?

Now I did. Too cool.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:27 pm

I've got two old drills, but the planetary gears in them are shot. I thought of trying to find an old bicycle dynamo generator, too. I also tried to rig up a lawn mower starter to work. It'll spin like a mother if you hit the juice to it, but when I crank it with a drill it only puts out +/- 2.2 volts. can't figure for the life of me why that is. I'm turning it about the same RPMs as it spins when powered.

I also thought about running to the chopper shop down the road and seeing about an old motorcycle genny.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:39 pm

LeChatNoir wrote:I've got two old drills, but the planetary gears in them are shot. I thought of trying to find an old bicycle dynamo generator, too. I also tried to rig up a lawn mower starter to work. It'll spin like a mother if you hit the juice to it, but when I crank it with a drill it only puts out +/- 2.2 volts. can't figure for the life of me why that is. I'm turning it about the same RPMs as it spins when powered.

I also thought about running to the chopper shop down the road and seeing about an old motorcycle genny.

\/

You must spin a brushed motor much faster than they run.... You might have better luck with a 18v drill..

I took a hard rubber wheel.. Drilled a hole through it into a shaft.. Used a cheap drill and poped it off makeing a set pin.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:45 pm

Aha!!

I didn't know that, actually. To get that sucker spinning that fast would require some large steps in gearing. I think I'll call the chopper place tomorrow, and if that doesn't work I'll look into the drill thing.

I'm just trying to make all the parts and pieces look like they were built to go together, so I'd have to disguise it somehow.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:54 pm

Tiahaar man is the one to ask about this stuff.. He is the one that got me started... He has a motor out of some big computer on a wind mill to power his (damn hippie) bus..I PMed him and he laid it all out..

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:06 pm

I thought about solar initially, too. Add another panel to our camp setup and regharge it during the day and place it in the machine at night. But what if you're across the play having fun and it gets dark before you can get back to camp to pick up the fresh charged one?

Two batteries maybe and switch them out?

The farm supply palce down the road has very reasonable garden tractor batteries for around $30 each. I can't find the amphour rating on them, but I think they might give up 1.7/hour amps for the nightime hours and recharge during the day.

gotta check into that too..

And get a shower. I stink like metal dust and old plywood.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:56 pm

unjonharley wrote:He has a motor out of some big computer on a wind mill to power his (damn hippie) bus....

Ouch Haha my ears are burning : ) Hey Unjon that's a great contraption you've got going too, you and LeChatNoir are in cahoots with these horns and gennys I see (and I'll have you know my so-called hippie bus has a shiny new aluminum heatshield headliner inside...far-out)

I accidentally killed my first little ametek wind generator (sniff!) 'cause the blade hub wouldn't come off and I drove it off with a hammer for lack of a puller on the playa. Don't do this! The core moved on the shaft and broke the windings loose. Now I run a permanent magnet alternator. The 38vdc ametek motors (like THIS ONE on auction) do make great 12v battery chargers.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:32 am

Tiahaar wrote: I'll have you know my so-called hippie bus has a shiny new aluminum heatshield headliner inside...far-out)

\/
Yah yah.. Not unlike foil hats the other nuts wear!!

Can I spin a 14vc drill motor for a 12v genny.. Runing it through a 12v drill battery charge port??

I was thinking of a (bed) blanket with a foil sewen on for the top of the van w/ a "screen tarp" over a carrier rack.. I'm sleeping in the van this year..

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 9:55 am

What did you use for a shield?
I'm thinking of using reflectix in my trailers.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:17 am

LeChatNoir wrote:The farm supply palce down the road has very reasonable garden tractor batteries for around $30 each. I can't find the amphour rating on them, but I think they might give up 1.7/hour amps for the nightime hours and recharge during the day.

.

Make sure that they're deep-cycle batts...And doublecheck that Ah rating. The little trolling-motor batteries that I use (about 1/4 the size of a standard car batt) are a whopping 7 Ah, and one of those would probably run your LED/Cold cath array for most or all of the week. (About 20 clams at Gander Mountain, and comes with its own charger!)

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:08 pm

Pics lets see more pics ferrari type shot.

man I love this thing. bump started reading the thread she loves you guys....

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:15 pm

And we love Bump!!

Hot Sports car shots, eh? I hope to do an outdoor test perhaps in Late July and then the chance to do that will be available. I've been working more on paying jobs this week, but contraption progress has been made. I'll work more over the weekend too and take some pics.

Yesterday, I got something in the mail from some crazy man out in Oregon. It's a magnetic Bullet hole... I think I know the perfect spot for it.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:21 pm

LeChatNoir wrote:And we love Bump!!

Hot Sports car shots, eh? I hope to do an outdoor test perhaps in Late July and then the chance to do that will be available. I've been working more on paying jobs this week, but contraption progress has been made. I'll work more over the weekend too and take some pics.

Yesterday, I got something in the mail from some crazy man out in Oregon. It's a magnetic Bullet hole... I think I know the perfect spot for it.

I love it....**********************.....I didn't just say that did I...Edit Edit Edit Edit.......where is the fucking edit button
Edit: becouse I AM DRUNK

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:23 pm

There is no edit button, damn it.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:34 pm

LeChatNoir wrote:There is no edit button, damn it.

Shhhh I found it.... don't make me kill the cat now...I will come find you..hehehehe

karine · Post by **karine** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:19 am

I got a car shot for ya. Yeah -

If you like fast little tiny cars with WIRES HANGING OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE!

[/img]

But now I've got it back together RIGHT... it's just the security shut-off that keeps killing the engine I think.
Man. I am glad "the contraption" doesn't look like this!

Have a good Contraptioneering Day out in the shop today, LCN !
(also to Not It, Kevin, Chaba & Grittle ! ! !)

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:06 am

oh shit!
Hahahah.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:15 pm

You now, that pic of Karine's car is minor compared to the ones I saw. It's almost back together in that one.

So today's progress was DPWkevin and 123NotIt getting the Cold Cathode tubes mounted in a "hidden by day" spot. I've almost gotten the wood work done for the rumble seat. a few more details to go and that part will be done. Maybe next weekend. Worked on the smokestack too, but not enough to photo yet.

Here's a couple of pics to show some progress.

One helpful shop cat taking a well deserved rest. In the foreground is the lower linkage of the flame effect drive.

And then the nighttime comes and it's time to "Pimp My Contraption":

Tired... going to bed.

karine · Post by **karine** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 7:32 am

Oh - little black cat deserves a rest!

Great work in Le Shoppe Le Chat Noir!

Nickel · Post by **Nickel** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:22 pm

I can't wait to see this out on the playa. Your work continues to impress.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:53 pm

Thanks, Nickelâ€¦

This week has been busy, but got a little accomplished Wednesday evening with the help of a campmate who came over to pitch in. Iâ€™m going to work some more this weekend, so I should get lots done. Iâ€™m giving it all day Saturday and Sunday. Should make some progress worth pics on Sunday night.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:24 am

Ric-shaw drive contraption has been assembled, painted and disassembled for final ajustments.. Just some holes to drill for reinforcements..
Dragons are ready to apply along with other decor..

Yesterday I rough hew one of the shaft.. This is going to take a bit of hand sanding.. The large wheels need another coat of reflective paint..

Should have some pictures by Monday
The ric-shaw man is the last part and the one with the most parts.. He spine and anamation drive are finished..

Steering is still up in the air.. Damn cat keeps naping on the drawing board on this one..

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:59 am

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress! I'm very curious about what you're making there.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:19 am

LeChatNoir wrote:I'm looking forward to seeing the progress! I'm very curious about what you're making there.

\/
Just a simple ric-shaw.. Going the have arms like Poppie... Just sanded for an hour.. Using a cut ten sanding belt.. Gives a bit of control..

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:51 pm

Wellâ€¦

It was a busy weekend. Not near long enough, but they never are. So first things firstâ€¦

Last week the tires for the rear wheels showed up along with the tubes. And get a load of the box that the tubes were packed in:

They have no idea how fitting that was for a playa project.

Then Saturday I worked on the smokestack and the upper linkage for the flame blaster thing-um-bob. It was a bit hard to get going and I spent a lot of time just sitting there looking at it and thinking. But eventually I got started and things began moving at a pace. The flame head will be mounted about 8â€™ above the deck and I wanted to get the Hi/Low valve as close to that as possible. This meant that the drive rod would be pretty long and would need support. So I eventually decided on using bronze bushings set into standoff bracketsâ€¦ two at each end to insure alignment and one in the middle to keep it from bowing. Below is a pic of the smokestack on the worktable with the linkage assembled. This was not long after I lapped the bushings in with a drill and some polishing compound.

Detail of the Hi/Low pressure valve assembly:

Hereâ€™s a shot of the whole thing with the smokestack mounted in place.

You will note that there are now tires on the front wheels. I was worried about the concave profile of the front wheels digging into the playa and causing both added rolling resistance and added dust to get kicked up. I was puzzling on this one day driving to a jobsite and I had an epiphalet. There were ample supplies of rubber just laying beside the highway in all the retreads that semi trucks throw off. So over a couple of days, I found some full length pieces and hauled them to the shop. Driving by them at 70 mph, those things look smaller than they are, but lemme tell youâ€¦ A full one is just shy of 10inches wide and 10 feet longâ€¦ weighs probably 50 lbs, too And it reacts like a big dead python when youâ€˜re handling it.

Anyways, Chaba and I ran them thorough the metal cutting bandsaw (Oh boyâ€¦ that sounds sooo easy), and after some of the hardest, dirtiest, smelliest work Iâ€™ve ever done, The Contraption had two properly size tires mounted. And they were even long enough to cover the steel wheels in one piece!

Man, drilling and mounting that stuff was a booger that I really donâ€™t ever want to do have to do again. But at least now we can travel on paved roads, should it ever make it into a parade.

By the way, the bolts have yet to cut off and touched up.