Quad build.

maddox and emiel thanks for your answer
you write that you added triangulation on the rear suspension for stiffness and adjustment.
what are you adjusting? the wheels should be parallel otherwise your chain will be twisted. correct me if i am wrong or miss something (i really want to understand this - looks similar to a swingarm from a motocycle)
 
Each rear wheel has it's own chain, , and each side is independent of each other. Thanks to the differential.
The jackshafts are also the pivots, even chain tension doesn't change when the suspension is working.
 
lumo said:
maddox and emiel thanks for your answer
you write that you added triangulation on the rear suspension for stiffness and adjustment.
what are you adjusting? the wheels should be parallel otherwise your chain will be twisted. correct me if i am wrong or miss something (i really want to understand this - looks similar to a swingarm from a motocycle)
Click to expand...

I moved one of the bearing blocks to the center of the frame of each arm. They where first next to each other. This would make that the blocks needed to be aligned perfectly to have the wheels straight and the mounting plates has the be perfectly paralel.
By moving one more to the center and adding adjustments, I now can align the wheels so they are now paralel to each other and straight up.
The chain is then also straight.

The axle is the center for the diff, but also the rotation point for the arm. This way it can turn around the axles and keeps the chain ad the same tention.
 
yes, i understand this - actually i have a design with the same suspension. but the chain will be driven by a sprocket mounted on the jackshaft and if you adjust the wheel you start bending the chain (or do you adjust the wheel because its not accurately placed?) not sure about those bearings - they are self-adjusting - so they might not be parallel?

EDIT: seems you (Emiel) and me were typing at the same time :)
 
lumo said:
yes, i understand this - actually i have a design with the same suspension. but the chain will be driven by a sprocket mounted on the jackshaft and if you adjust the wheel you start bending the chain (or do you adjust the wheel because its not accurately placed?) not sure about those bearings - they are self-adjusting - so they might not be parallel?

EDIT: seems you (Emiel) and me were typing at the same time :)
Click to expand...

As you align the wheel, you also align the sprocket. It then is paralel to the sprocket that is on the axle of the diff.
 
Because I am a bit sick and I do not want to make badass cycles sick, I have not worked on the quad in the last few weeks.

Badass-Cycleshas in the meantime, has provided his quad with E-assist and what I heard sounded very promising.
We have to do a few small things that needs to be improved. It are small things like something that prevents the chain from coming off.
But we are also going to chance the gearratio in the back. This goes from 1,75 to 2,27. This lowers the top speed to about 25kmh and increases the thorq.
Tge quad is already very strong, but the top speed was over 37kmh and it came a bit to short to go up a hill with a 25 degree climb on only the motor. With a little bit of pedaljng, it came to the top with no problem.
acceleration seems to be very good and only gets better.
I hope to experience this very soon.
I can't wait to try my quad and start working on the camper part.
 
Emiel

I hope you have a speedy recovery and get back to your build.
Nothing more frustrating than having the enthusiasm and not being able to get on with it.

Last week I had 3 days where I could not get on my front lawn or into my garage whilst some men clad the garage eaves with UPC.
Then a day earning brownie points working on the ' honey do ' list.
Then Friday it rained all day grrrrrr

Paul
 
In the meantime a few weeks later, I have now got my quad to the point where I could test it with electrical assistance. Align wheels, set the steering wheel properly, chains at the right tension. And then go for a ride.
When I left, I immediately noticed that despite the weight of the quad, it still accelerated quite quickly to 37km/h. Still faster than we thought because we want to get around 25km/h. Okay, I can set controller differently then.
I drove to different locations to test different road surfaces. The cobblestone roads are no problem with this smooth suspension. The slope test is a bit disappointing, climbing a steep slope from a standstill is possible but after 3/4 climbing the quad stopped, the engine did not pull it.
Try again but then kick along and then it goes. Then time to go to the woods for the off road work. Just make sure I choose the wider paths, nice through the mud and that is no problem at all. Just make sure I choose the wider paths, nice through the mud and that is no problem at all. Coarse dirt roads, no problems. A sand plain some playing and then I notice that even during the doughnut turning, the wheels behind spin and throw the sand up. So great fun.
Just driving into a meadow no problems. A plowed piece of land, heavy but it goes. Okay, not at speed, but the quad pulls through. But, it wasn't all fun. Because during the first ride you will encounter some problems. The chain line from the drive shaft to the rear wheels, where the chain regularly ran off the front small tooth blade.
But everything had a logical explanation and that's how I found out that the design still needs some adjustments. They are just simple small adjustments so that the chain line behind will get a better guide. Unfortunately, I didn't have a mobile phone with me, so I didn't take any photos or videos. Hopefully the next ride together with Emiel so that I can take pictures or film pieces. But, all in all, it didn't disappoint me at all. WE are also going to adjust the reduction to the rear wheels, it is now 16T to 16T and becomes 16T to 25T. This will lower the speed but then we have even more torque on the rear wheels, maybe also think about a diff-lock. With this quad we will definitely have a lot of fun. My wish is to be able to go on the beach with this quad so that I can go on the beach completely independently. This is not possible with the wheelchair.
full
 
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Diff lock? Do you not already have a limited slip diff with the current set-up? You want to be able to lock it solid?
 
Wow what an update , that is really some fantastic explanation of it's abilities.
Glad it is living up to expectations.
Is Emiel's far behind ?
You both must be really pleased.

Paul
 
stormbird said:
Wow what an update , that is really some fantastic explanation of it's abilities.
Glad it is living up to expectations.
Is Emiel's far behind ?
You both must be really pleased.

Paul
Click to expand...

Mine is not that far behind.
I need to finish my rear brakes and connect the motor and than am i also that far.
We both need to ad some other things, but mainly for the chain and not big thins.

I finely drove the quad and it rides very good. The handle bars are mounted different from how I like them, but that will be changed on that quad also.
We made the rear softer and that also improved the quad a bit. the wheels stay better on the ground.

We drove on some grass hills. Here is the video.

It went very well and the 2,52 gearing gives a lot of power. Wheels spin as you accelerate and even as you go slow, with a bit of pedaling, you come to the top.
We didn't know if we woud make it on the big hill, but the motor did it with no problem.

We are very happy with how it rides Paul.
You need to try it yourself, it is a lot of fun and comfort. Well comfort as you don't do the crazy stuff with it.
I went up the smaller hill in an angle and the quad is stable, but i had to work to stay in my seat. Also doing the smaller hill with high speed, makes that you come from the ground and out your seat. You land soft in the seat luckily.
 
Worked on the quads today. We are changing some things. The chain comes off by the rear wheels, so we are making some changes there.
Friday we do that, chains the front chain and weld some extra bars in the rear for my quad.

As that is done, then i only need to ad the pass censor, make a bumper in the front and ad fenders.
The wooden plate will be mounted and then are the quads ready. We will ad some things and keep testing it.

I made the rear softer and i will do the same with the front. It rides smoother. It is stable enough that it doesn't role over. It makes that it gets even smoother. Steering is heavier than my trike, but riding on the road, it isn't a problem ad all. Only steering in tight corners, but that isn't a problem.
It is very stable and bumbs in the road are not a problem ad all. It is comfort.

The quad is insured as a mobility scooter. That costs less than 60 euros per year and then he is also insured against theft and accidents. We are also legal with engine, throttle and speed.
 
Emiel said:
The quad is insured as a mobility scooter. That costs less than 60 euros per year and then he is also insured against theft and accidents. We are also legal with engine, throttle and speed.
Click to expand...

An interesting local law. It would be nice to have such a law here. Our mobilty scooters are limited to 8mph.
 
Popshot said:
An interesting local law. It would be nice to have such a law here. Our mobilty scooters are limited to 8mph.
Click to expand...

Here 6kmh on sidewalk.
30kmh on bicycles lanes in the city.
40kmh outside the city.
On the road it is in and outside the city a maximum of 45kmh.
You may go in shops with it as there is room and the shop allows it.

22 euro a year.
 
We had some problems with the chains that went to the rear wheels. They came off every time. We adjusted that and now the quad is a lot quieter and the problem seems to be solved.
Next week my quad will be so far that he will go home. I then go to see how I mount the plate on the back and see which items I need for the camper part that comes on the back.
In the meantime we will test a lot. Everything must be good before he gets a color and the bin comes on the back.

At the end of the year there will be a 2nd battery, but it looks like we can go a long way on the throttle with 1 battery. When we pedal along, it seems that we get as far as with the trikes that are a lot lighter.
We replace another sprocket to adjust the ratio slightly. This is to get a little more speed. We can play with the sprocket behind. We're going to sit in the middle now.

Next week do some test rides and maybe some filming.
 
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