The Contraption 2009

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:18 pm

From the looks of it I'd say you just point it where you want to go at the start, and don't NEED to do any steering!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:25 pm

How exactly do you think this thing works?

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:37 pm

I'm serious about The Sidecar Effect. But perhaps the sidecar has a steerable ski?

Remember that motorcycles used to be Serious Transportation in Europe -- simply because of cost. Motorcycles were pressed into service for the darnest things out of necessity.

The Swedish Army once had motorcycles with Two Wheel Drive. A chain ran up the front of the frame, there was a cross shaft with a U-joint in line with the steering head, and a chain ran down the front fork.

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:49 am

I am not so sure that Europe has given up on two wheelers for serious transport.

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/10/2 ... otorc.html

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:56 am

That actually strikes me as a great idea. He can get to a disabled vehicle that is blocking automobile traffic by riding on a shoulder that is not wide enough for a car. I bet that's the purpose of the thing.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:15 pm

wow...Im sorry to say I hadnt stopped by in a bit...those pix everyone are great!
Fun to see what humans can do!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:43 pm

Just picked up my snail mail.

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And they pay me to write this stuff!

(On my way out the door -- back Monday.)

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:03 pm

Elliot wrote:
That actually strikes me as a great idea. He can get to a disabled vehicle that is blocking automobile traffic by riding on a shoulder that is not wide enough for a car. I bet that's the purpose of the thing.

Struck me as a good idea too. There are some more pics after the jump, the little 'trailer' that the front wheels of the car ride on fold into that case on the back of the bike. Really clever. It could probably handle most of the runs a normal tow-truck makes in a day.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 5:03 pm

fciron wrote:I am not so sure that Europe has given up on two wheelers for serious transport.

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/10/2 ... otorc.html

I hope it has trailer brakes. Sudden stops would be very bad if not.

Dusza Beben · Post by **Dusza Beben** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 7:49 pm

Proof positive, guys with bikes do get all the chicks.

DB

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:00 pm

Zooks!!!

Iâ€™ve not checked in in a while and you turkeys have been at it. In an effort to keep the thread reasonably updated, I figured Iâ€™d post something new and here you fine folks have beat me to it with style!! And Iâ€™m excited about the magazine spread, Elliot!! Manâ€¦ that really makes me smile. Canâ€™t read it, but still fun as can be! Karine's folks should have fun translating it. How much fun is that?!?

Not much contraptioneering currently, though. The shop is sort of all consuming at the moment and Iâ€™m alright with that. Been thinking on the semaphore idea and how to actuate it Iâ€˜m getting the linkages pictured in my head and hope to peck around with it some over the winter.

Karine and I are cleaning out the barn on the weekends lately, in an effort to get it looking better and more serviceable. Winter will bring some repairs to the siding and, in Spring, a good coat of black paint barn paint will be the task at hand.

So until I get the belt back on my wonk generator and make some stuff, I snapped this pic tonight of old Rust Bucket at rest amongst some wood that is temporarily stacked behind her. Looks quite at home, I think.

karine · Post by **karine** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:09 pm

Wow! That article is really well done!
Great job!

I guess my Norwegian isn't too bad (must be in my blood) because I can actually read parts of it. With a little trip to the dictionary now and then, I think I could translate it to Le Chat.

It's fantastic!!!

Dusza Beben · Post by **Dusza Beben** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:41 am

Gadzooks! How did I miss the article!
Great looking article. Hey LCN, when you're done with your barn
mine could use some work too. Matches would help.

DB

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:54 am

This V-twin is from a 27 litre Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.
5 litres supercharged with nitrous.
5.4 inch bore x 6 inch stroke.

If anyone has any bright ideas, the engine is up for sale now.
It should be able to power most contraptions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/ ... -for-sale/

http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2007/04/ ... y-new.html

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:12 pm

Radial?
How about a rotary radial?

Megola bike
http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Dir ... 922-25.htm

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:20 pm

Elliot wrote:

Just picked up my snail mail.

.
.
.
.

And they pay me to write this stuff!

(On my way out the door -- back Monday.)

Mr. LeChatNoir, Expanding your contraptioneering dealerships into other countries?

Yea I knew him whenâ€¦â€¦..He he heh

Impressive very impressive

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:30 pm

I know.
Isn't that a great picture!?
I'm so chuffed!

karine · Post by **karine** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:57 pm

The funny thing is, we rolled the contraption out onto the playa last minute (before packing it back in the trailer) to take this shot -

I had to BEG LCN to just "go along" and do it!

They really did turn out to be some good pictures.
But at the end of the week, when you are sooo tired .. it's hard to think about getting last minute vacation pictures.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:59 pm

Such a lazy cat!

I still haven't personally seen it move an inch....
Is it all photoshop?
Illusion?
Rumour?

The biggest practical joke on the playa ever?
Another cat tale?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:30 pm

I've ridden the Contraption across the playa twice, gyre, and considering the amount of your stuff I'm holding hostage, you might want to believe me.

Dusza Beben · Post by **Dusza Beben** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:52 am

karine wrote:The funny thing is, we rolled the contraption out onto the playa last minute (before packing it back in the trailer) to take this shot -

I had to BEG LCN to just "go along" and do it!

They really did turn out to be some good pictures.
But at the end of the week, when you are sooo tired .. it's hard to think about getting last minute vacation pictures.

I figured it had to be late. I think I see some of the lumber we donated in the background! That photo was the background on my work laptop for quite a while. We use smart boards and projectors so you can imagine I've had some interesting conversations with my students!

DB

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:56 am

theCryptofishist wrote:I've ridden the Contraption across the playa twice, gyre, and considering the amount of your stuff I'm holding hostage, you might want to believe me.

Well then, I'm just jealous.
Even worse!

Dusza Beben · Post by **Dusza Beben** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:57 am

I can't remember if I posted this so here it is (again?).
The link will take you to the album with all of the cyclecar
photos.

http://rides.webshots.com/album/556627612QlGIQC

Enjoy!

DB

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:14 am

gyre wrote:
theCryptofishist wrote:I've ridden the Contraption across the playa twice, gyre, and considering the amount of your stuff I'm holding hostage, you might want to believe me.
Well then, I'm just jealous.
Even worse!

Wasn't I pushing on that second trip across the playa?

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:39 am

AHAA HAAAHAA!!!

You were, you were!!

"Well... it sort of moves on it's own sometimes."

Thatâ€™ when the playa dust won out over the carburetorâ€¦ on the other side of the city. But now I know how to fix it in the field. I learned alot about that engine out there because of those situations.

Heh Heeeeeh Even the lowest parts of that whole week were higher than anything default life. I wouldn't trade a moment of it.

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:54 pm

It could have been worse, at least I brought a tiny, Russian elf to put up there to do the steering. We needed all the big folks for pushing. Hell, I count that as a highlight of the week!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:58 pm

(I have returned from the bright lights.)

Went to a hot rod show Saturday.

The circle and the tapered arch are the actual frame of the car. The "sine wave" is the suspension radius rod (split wishbone style). No comment on the exhaust pipes.

.................
I'll see if I can get around to typing up an English version of the Contraption article.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:50 pm

Rat Rods...

with an abstract twist!

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:59 pm

Awesome! Who else besides me can identify the engine in that '28 - '29 Model A?

karine · Post by **karine** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:02 pm

Man, they could have had a LOT more fun with that exhaust...

and THERE WAS A Russian Elf driving that night! There WAS!
((Thanks, fc!))