Trying to use dirt bike wheels on a live axle

[danjpiscina]

If the original design was all wood with minor (metal) reinforcement, I say go for it in keeping with the old world style.

How did they keep Conestoga, buckboard and covered wagons together in the Old West era? The “roads” then were rocky rutted trails and some rather smoothed out ruts and packed dirt on the prairies. I guess constant maintenance was a thing and perhaps an awful thing at that…

Yeah, and if you take a look at that YouTube video I posted at the top, he shows you start to finish how it can be built. The only problem is I don’t have that much machining knowledge or tools and so I’m trying to make this work with mostly stock parts. And cheap parts to boot!

But apparently these were very common at the time and actually held up pretty well, so they were obviously doing something right. Of course, the major difference between the one I’m trying to build and the original one is that the original one was literally just four bicycle wheels on a wood carriage and actually had a fifth wheel, or “motor-wheel” that drove the thing.

 

[Denny]

And if you look around you can find an original motor wheel. In 50 years I have found 2.

 

[danjpiscina]

Hey guys just thought I’d post an update on this build. Finally “finished” it yesterday and took it for a spin (I say “finished” because there’s always more to do!). Actually drove it for quite a bit. No major issues but definitely feel what you were talking about regarding the live axle always wanting to go straight. The turning radius on this thing is pretty terrible but it does work and I might be able to tweak it. The brake is an old school friction brake and currently not braking very well but I think I might be able to dial that in a little. Anyway just wanted to show you all a few pictures. Including pictures of what I came up with for the axle mount and engine support as well as extra support for the crazy long steering wheel shaft.

*note the pedal placement closer to the seat since my eight year old definitely expects to drive it

 

[Hellion]

Outstanding!

How fast does it go?
How long is the wheelbase (axle to axle)?
More pics please.