Woah woah. I can see how mentioning the equipment and that teacher could seem like an unfair advantage. To be fair, it's pretty beaten up from generations of students learning how to use them, and most of the times, we mess up at some point. And yeah, the teacher I mentioned knows his thing, yet remember we are studying industrial design, which is pretty unrelated to engineering. Engineers make things that work, and we make them usable to the regular folks, often prettifying it too.
That's what called me to make this: we really don't dab in the mechanical/functional part of contraptions, yet I felt confident enough to give it a go. I kinda got all the help I could get (intellectually speaking only, the girls and I provided all of the sweating and elbow grease, there were 2 of em, both with little to no fab skills, and our other classmates were busy with their own stuff so yeah), yet we barely finished in time, and while it rolled, lots of issues that only appear once you actually test it, came up.
I'm not proud to say this, but this project is rusting under a tent on my neighbor's garage, I have a terrible lack of time (out of school, yet working on our small family business), because with as time consuming this thing was, the quantity of stuff to fix/clean at home piled up. Heck, just a couple of hours ago I finished restoring/fixing an air compressor I started with before this trike.
Rebuilding my social life is time consuming too lol. And whenever I get free time, I realize I can't do much really, for I have yet to order my TCs belt and bushing. A PITA because shops charge just to much for internationally shipping a tiny bronze bushing that can't weight over 100 grams. Paired with the fact that apparently just about any event in any part of the world makes the Mexican peso further devaluate, I rather spend my cash buying materials and supply for my home's many fixes, than on something I really have no use for at the moment, and at high prices.
Heck, its not finished yet according to this contest's rules! Who knows if it will be by the time this contest comes to an end.
I first came to this forum because of the useful information I saw, and the nice community that valued one's actions rather than words. Asked for advice, and I was stoked at the level of responses people had, many used to successfully design and implement this project, and for that I'm very grateful. Actually, my entry in this contest was per several members telling me I should. Why wouldn't I listen to these folks who had done nothing but help me out? So there's that. And I don't know if you skipped some posts, but pretty much everything but the engine, TC and raw materials, are second hand. One of my front tires is already dead, I knew it had little life left when I got em, but our budget was tight.
The point of this rant is: if the mods/users feel I had unfair advantage, then I should be disqualified. While sad, this is not what I joined this forum. Initially, I joined to get help and advice, and plenty was had, now I've decided to stick around to try and be somewhat helpful when possible. I've been absent though, for the reasons mentioned. BTW, I really appreciate PoBoy's interjection, though I hate to be the source of friction, there really is no need. Plus, the other entries are way cooler and better put together. I'll await my verdict, and whatever that might be, I'll be around until asked otherwise.
Edited the bejesus out of this post, as it was written on my phone. Sorry for any mistakes I looked over.
Maybe i add a some computer system/navigation/remote control maybe? hard to compete against everyone.
Thanks, I hoped you were joking.
