Reverse trike 2 seater?

[Speedling]

Hi guys!
New here but kinda snooped for the last couple years.
I have a 13hp honda, 390gx i think it is, and also I have a gx190. Both sitting in garage doing nothing. The 13 horse (i know it's not actual 13) needs a carb, which I have a cheapo generic replacement with adjustable mixture screw sitting in wrapper.
I fix our mixers and hydraulic scaffold etc. and every once in awhile boss gets fed up with stuff and just says toss it.
Anyways, I really want to up the game for my kids. They LOVE the power wheels. They are too young to be driving a 40 mph machine, for sure, but I would LOVE something that would fit me and a kid, and be able to scoot around pretty quick.
I used to have a motorcycle, but this past year I had a major stroke and I don't have the balance I used to. At least not confident enough for a motorcycle. I can ride a bicycle just fine.
So I figured a reverse trike should be pretty cool to build and drive around!
I think 13 hp should be plenty for me and the kids to drive around the subdivision in, and through the yard etc.
I dont' have a plan to follow on this one so it will be a bit tricky.
I think it's called a scorpion? would be a good place to start as far as a design but then make it a 2 seater.
I figure the front wheels will be pretty wide for safety and I was thinking of a gearbox (comet?) so I have reverse cuz this will be a decent sized rig.
I don't know how the clutches work for this setup, or where to start on getting the axle and wheels etc.
I can fab up a frame if I know what I am trying to build, but would rather do this once, not a dozen times.
I was thinking of buying the clutch (from?), gears(which ones and from where?) and wheels and axles and then I can design the suspension arm and frame. I would need a spring or shock as well!
Thanks guys, I know someone has tried the untried before. My wife just hates me doing projects and not finishing them so I need to have it all started and finished in a shorter (months not years) timeframe.

 

[Hellion]

Now this idea is about two wheels in the front and one in the rear style of trike, right?

I've seen a few around the interwebz but never a design that I really liked...unless you count the Morgan 3 wheelers....

I think you should just add one more wheel to your plan and look for a suitable go kart frame. There's serious riding to be done! ...and I'm concerned about your health.

In any event. ... BUMP

 

[bigrigbri]

Why not use the swing arm wheel n such from a shaft drive motorbike. It can use the suspension or be locked out with no movement.

 

[Speedling]

Finding cheap motorbike parts seems to be a bit of a struggle. Was thinking of fabbing up a rear arm if I can't find it. Perhaps still go with a fat gokart wheel, or just skip it all for now and go with 4 wheels like was suggested. Would LOVE it to be like the polaris slingshot basically. Two seater with regular steering up front and rear single wheel.
http://www.slingshotforums.com/attachments/img_5869-jpg.137097/

 

[bob58o]

Well you can buy the plans for the scorpion and adapt them to make it a two seater. I assume you can weld.

This is the Spidercarts Scorpion. Is this the "Scorpion" you mentioned?
That with a little granddaddy mixed in might give you what you want. Or a side car. We've got a guy here that loves side cars.

Not really sure how a two seat reverse trike would handle with only one driver. Would the weight imbalance make it tough? Maybe bench seat?

 

[anickode]

The problem is weight distribution. If you look at most 3 wheeled roadsters like the Morgan, the T-Rex, etc, their front wheels are spaced as wide apart as a car and the driver and passenger are smushed together shoulder to shoulder to keep the weight to the center. If you took say a typical 2 seat go kart, where the driver and passenger are smushed togetger, but with a relatively skinny wheelbase, and they pretty much hang out the sides of the kart sometimes wider than the front wheels, and put a single wheel on the back, you wind up with stability problems.

They also need to have a very low CG.

 

[Speedling]

Well you can buy the plans for the scorpion and adapt them to make it a two seater. I assume you can weld.

This is the Spidercarts Scorpion. Is this the "Scorpion" you mentioned?
That with a little granddaddy mixed in might give you what you want. Or a side car. We've got a guy here that loves side cars.

Not really sure how a two seat reverse trike would handle with only one driver. Would the weight imbalance make it tough? Maybe bench seat?

I wouldn't mind the bench seat idea. I would want a seatbelt as my kids are the crazy type, LOL!
I weld lots.
The scorpion you show is the one that made me think of it, yes.
Balance balance... hmmmm thinking...

Hopefully linked that correctly...
I am seeing they put the motor up front! Perhaps balance is the reason they did that? Wouldn't the driver and passenger actually weigh more?
I agree that getting the motor down low will be key. The most off road I would probably do with this thing will be the curb at the street.
I also found that our Cadets (Bible+boy scouts) has a gokart they assembled last year so there is potential to do some learning+teaching here too!
I am going to see what I can come up with for a seat, draw up a mock up of how I will be making the front end to seat two, and add the swing arm for a rear, but will be thinking about this motor placement. Never seen a motor placed up front. Probably due to issues with transfering power past the passengers?

 

[Denny]

Those Polaris slingshots are great, atleast until they catch fire and burn to the ground in a molten puddle.


Denny