Arachnid build finally started!!!

[Charlesh1028]

Lol sorry I can see that it would be a pain in the neck I will be sure to rotate them.

 

[Charlesh1028]

Well.... I'm waiting on my metal to arrive. I ordered all that I need to complete the cart next I'm going to order the steering rack so that I can complete the front end and make sure It's all working out right. Uhggggggh the pain of waiting...

 

[Swabbster]

what kind of tires are you going to use

 

[Charlesh1028]

I haven't really thought about tires yet I will most likely use the tires the plans recommend. If you have any other suggestions please feel free I am all ears...

 

[Swabbster]

I haven't really thought about tires yet I will most likely use the tires the plans recommend. If you have any other suggestions please feel free I am all ears...

well the tires the plans call for look fine, but the plans are not set up very good, no ackerman steering angles, and wide *** front tires, the front tires will slide more, for fronts you would want a balloon type tires, max of about 8 inches wide, on my buggy i am using 25-10-12 for the rear and 25-8-12 on the front, my tires came from a rhino utv, you will spend i think 80 per tire and rim plus shipping, so about 320 bucks, plus shipping, have you really thought out your build, how much money it will cost, how long it will take, i have estimated my cost to be 1200 for everything i need, so im currently saving up the money, so if you think it will cost 1000 dollars save up 1200 or so, before i start building i will have all the part on hand and ready to go, so when i do start to build it i will take like a week off work and go hard, get it build and tested, then properly paint it, just think if you do not have the money to finish it or the parts on hand, then it may sit and never get done, or put outside and get all rusty,

 

[Charlesh1028]

I agree with you 100% about using balloon tires on the front... As far as my budget I have about 1600 to put into the build if I need to put a bit more then that in it I am not to concerned. I'm the type of person that always finishes something I start because if I don't I lose major sleep over lol like when I messed up the front end it worried me to death until I got it off and corrected the problem. I mainly started this build to give me something to do over the winter and did not realize I would enjoy it as much as I am. I'm spacing out part purchasing because as I build I don't want to have already purchased parts then decide to Change something then I am stuck with. Part that I don't need.

 

[Swabbster]

I agree with you 100% about using balloon tires on the front... As far as my budget I have about 1600 to put into the build if I need to put a bit more then that in it I am not to concerned. I'm the type of person that always finishes something I start because if I don't I lose major sleep over lol like when I messed up the front end it worried me to death until I got it off and corrected the problem. I mainly started this build to give me something to do over the winter and did not realize I would enjoy it as much as I am. I'm spacing out part purchasing because as I build I don't want to have already purchased parts then decide to Change something then I am stuck with. Part that I don't need.

with 1600 you have a good budget, but i still think you should scrap the idea of building an arachnid and build a buggy, not a go kart, i really wanted to build one, i had my mind set on it i loved the way it looked, just the stance looks kinda bad ***, but its nothing compared to the buggy i am building, the arachnid is alot easier to build because all it is is square tubing cut and welded, as for the sabretooth buggy it is bent with a tubing bender, and has a full roll cage to protect the driver, you should post an add looking for atv tires, mine are from a rhino utv, 25-10-12 for the rear, and 15-8-12 for the front, same as a polariz rzr, great for mud and dirt,

 

[mysteryboy28]

yeah, buggies are cooler, especially if you have the budget and patience and creativity - you can make a really cool looking one!

here's the last one i built...

 

[Charlesh1028]

So yet another set back I was welding the other day and all of the sudden I herd a loud pop.... Of course it was my welder so now the project is on hold and I am on the market for a new metal melter lol oh well I guess.. Wonder what else can happen.

 

[mysteryboy28]

if you're using flux core, the harbor freight model WITH THE FAN is a great one for under $100. i had bought 2 of them, and the first one didn't have a fan (same exact model). it was only good for welding for a couple of minutes continuous before shutting down for a several minute break. the second one i bought has a built-in fan, and runs forever! it's only gone into thermal shutdown on me ONCE. i used the box and receipt for the second welder and took the first welder back for a refund. same model, same price, just someone apparently had a lightbulb go off a few months after i bought the first crappy welder. lol. fans in welders is a GREAT idea!

 

[Swabbster]

you should buy a real mig welder, i know here in canada from princess auto a 105amp mig welder is 299$ the flux core is not very good, i currently own a flux core welder but i am waiting for the welder to go on sale and i will pick one up,

 

[Charlesh1028]

Sorry I haven been on for a while. Hope you guys Re still going to follow my build I just ordered my new welder it's a mig welder that uses argon gas and I can also use flux core if I want. So hopefully with in the next two to three weeks I can get back to the build.

 

[landuse]

Sorry I haven been on for a while. Hope you guys Re still going to follow my build I just ordered my new welder it's a mig welder that uses argon gas and I can also use flux core if I want. So hopefully with in the next two to three weeks I can get back to the build.

We will be here holding our breath (or maybe not actually holding our breath, but.....)

 

[walker187]

yeah, buggies are cooler, especially if you have the budget and patience and creativity - you can make a really cool looking one!

here's the last one i built...

You should seriously make some plans for these things.

 

[FatCat]

well the tires the plans call for look fine, but the plans are not set up very good, no ackerman steering angles, and wide *** front tires, the front tires will slide more, for fronts you would want a balloon type tires, max of about 8 inches wide, on my buggy i am using 25-10-12 for the rear and 25-8-12 on the front, my tires came from a rhino utv, you will spend i think 80 per tire and rim plus shipping, so about 320 bucks, plus shipping, have you really thought out your build, how much money it will cost, how long it will take, i have estimated my cost to be 1200 for everything i need, so im currently saving up the money, so if you think it will cost 1000 dollars save up 1200 or so, before i start building i will have all the part on hand and ready to go, so when i do start to build it i will take like a week off work and go hard, get it build and tested, then properly paint it, just think if you do not have the money to finish it or the parts on hand, then it may sit and never get done, or put outside and get all rusty,

You still think your going to build a long travel buggy for $1200? I'll ask that you please don't share that info with others. I feel thats a very unrealistic goal. One word. SHOCKS! Your $1200 budget just went out the window. Please consider the added cost of good quality shocks in your build. If you don't your wasting your time. Just what bicycle shocks do you think will perform worth a crap? I've heard your order. A long travel buggy that will make a 350 Odyssey it's *****. You've got a long way to go! So I'm hearing an anemic 30hp engine(trust me you'll want more in a 500+ pound buggy) pushing around a "long travel"(if that's what YOU call it) buggy pogo sticking around on some low rent shocks. Shocks are a key component in how a suspension works. I think if you don't up the cash it may function but it will not work very well or as you think it will. Right now I'm running low cost (quality) shocks that were built specifically for my application and I will tell you they still suck. There is no way around spending the money on the good ones. You will also be displeased to find out those shocks will effect the the way it flys. If they're too stiff they'll pitch the *** end up every time it comes off the ground. This is not good. Unless you like doing endo's. If they're too soft they will work as if you had none.(this is bad but much better than an endo.) if I was you I'd go back to the drawing board. Add another $1000-$1500 in shocks if you want this to work well. Wait until your build is complete and scale each corner with you in it. The shock builder will need this info. Also eye to eye length. If I was building a buggy I would start at the wheels and work my way in. I'd design it with the suspension being most important. Without that, the rest of the build is kind of pointless. A rigid frame go kart would do the same job, it'd just be easier to build. You are on with the rollcage thing and your moving in the right direction with a sled engine swap. Shifted and all that sounds fun but when your wanting to move fast offroad you dont have time for that crap. Your too busy hanging on. I look forward to watching your Ody eater come together, then hopefully on day we'll get to line them up.

 

[Charlesh1028]

So I haven't been on in a while...... Been dealing with the hurricane sandy ordeal but none the less I got my welder so now I can get back to working on my build I will be posting more pics as I progress

 

[Axton]

yeah, buggies are cooler, especially if you have the budget and patience and creativity - you can make a really cool looking one!

here's the last one i built...

Dude, That's the dream one for me. Hopefully I can try to make one like yours, but not the same.

 

[Swabbster]

You still think your going to build a long travel buggy for $1200? I'll ask that you please don't share that info with others. I feel thats a very unrealistic goal. One word. SHOCKS! Your $1200 budget just went out the window. Please consider the added cost of good quality shocks in your build. If you don't your wasting your time. Just what bicycle shocks do you think will perform worth a crap? I've heard your order. A long travel buggy that will make a 350 Odyssey it's *****. You've got a long way to go! So I'm hearing an anemic 30hp engine(trust me you'll want more in a 500+ pound buggy) pushing around a "long travel"(if that's what YOU call it) buggy pogo sticking around on some low rent shocks. Shocks are a key component in how a suspension works. I think if you don't up the cash it may function but it will not work very well or as you think it will. Right now I'm running low cost (quality) shocks that were built specifically for my application and I will tell you they still suck. There is no way around spending the money on the good ones. You will also be displeased to find out those shocks will effect the the way it flys. If they're too stiff they'll pitch the *** end up every time it comes off the ground. This is not good. Unless you like doing endo's. If they're too soft they will work as if you had none.(this is bad but much better than an endo.) if I was you I'd go back to the drawing board. Add another $1000-$1500 in shocks if you want this to work well. Wait until your build is complete and scale each corner with you in it. The shock builder will need this info. Also eye to eye length. If I was building a buggy I would start at the wheels and work my way in. I'd design it with the suspension being most important. Without that, the rest of the build is kind of pointless. A rigid frame go kart would do the same job, it'd just be easier to build. You are on with the rollcage thing and your moving in the right direction with a sled engine swap. Shifted and all that sounds fun but when your wanting to move fast offroad you dont have time for that crap. Your too busy hanging on. I look forward to watching your Ody eater come together, then hopefully on day we'll get to line them up.

i have a set of 4 shocks from a Polaris ranger rzr, there made to hold up 1200 lbs, but depending on how i mount them it will be stifer with less travel or softer with more travel, if that makes sense, it is to do with mechanical advantage, but i have decided not to use the snowmobile engine and go with a 600cc+ bike engine, id like some decent torque and speed, but that means my gearbox idea will have to be really beefy, i will modify vehicle transmission gears and #80 or so chain, i just bought a pipe bender as well, still just trying to save up money, check by check!