'wittle 'wesistor (Mini Jeep)

[Denny]

When you said grill to the cat it probably just misunderstood an thought you were talking about grilling it?

 

[Functional Artist]

Just be careful that one of the things she won’t let in the house ain’t you. Even Saints have limits.

I slip into my own house
...~4 in the morning

I've done too much projectin'
...out playin' with, my toys

I creep into my bed room
...& slip into bed

I know if I wake her
...I'll wake up...


I wonder if she'll find out
...'bout the other
...other mini, mini-Jeep..."Splash"

* Kinda of a "twist" on the lyrics to an old Megadeth song, "Wake up Dead"

**Google it (if ya aren't familiar with it) it's a bad azz song

 

[Functional Artist]

More pics of my Art Eruption

It's supposed ta be a (mini) Jeep

...that's come a splashing

...up out of a puddle

That's why we call 'er Splash
...& yup, the hood opens too

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

That is really epic. Very nice.

 

[madprofessor]

The words of a poet, who didn't know when to whoa it. Wouldn't be sneaking if the wife was peeking.

 

[Functional Artist]

Um...why the heck did you build a mini-Jeep "Art Piece" out of cardboard?

I'm glad you asked

I think I've mentioned it (a few times) that I'm using cardboard, as a cheap & easy to work with (medium) during this "trial & error" phase, of making the body for my mini-Jeep
...& then, I plan to use the resulting "templates", to make the body panels out of metal

I've "messed up" (Um...I mean adjusted the plan) many times
...& as such, I have ended up with an abundance of cardboard mini-Jeep body parts

So, I got an inspiration to "throw some of them "spare parts" together into a piece of art
(it's just fitment & assembly practice, really)

* Dunno know what I'm gonna do with it
...anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Denny]

Fire?

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Fiberglass the whole thing and paint it. Sell, profit, buy more stuff.

 

[Functional Artist]

I started working on a mounting bracket for the brake band

I inserted the bolt guide/spacer (all of the way thru) for extra strength (nice-n-tight fit & even had ta press 'er in with the vice)

Something like this (will probably pop a weld (hidden inside) to "lock 'er in place")

...but, when I went to "dry fit" the piece, my "inspector" was all over the situation

...checking tolerances & everything

He feels that the brakes are a critical sub-system & that he needs to give 'er extra scrutiny

...& even a "taste test"?
...what?
...really? (that's totally unnecessary)

So, to distract him, I mentioned that Denny suggested that we burn "Splash"

It worked
...but, he didn't seem very happy

 

[Denny]

Tell him I’m a dog guy too! I’m allergic to cats!

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Everyone is allergic to cats. It just takes time.

 

[Denny]

I’m so allergic to them I can’t even get a cat scan!

 

[Functional Artist]

I’m so allergic to them I can’t even get a cat scan!

Well, that's cat-astrophic

You just don't know what you're missing
...cats are super kool!

I made up a dual, motor mounting plate

Here "it is" aligned & welded on the faux leaf spring, curved, trailing arm
...with the left motor chain & sprocket

...& the right motor, chain & sprocket

After several "dry fits", of all of the various components & systems, I cleaned 'er up good & sealed 'er up with some Satin Black paint

* Notice, that I added a couple of adjustment bolts, that along with the motor mounting/chain adjustment slots, will help "fine tune" the tension of/on the chain(s)

...& a couple of relief "slots", for chain travel clearance

The brake mounting bracket is welded to the side of the axle mounting bracket (on the inside for a nice-n-clean look)
...& down onto the trailing arm (for additional strength)
...& I also, was able to bring the axle mounting brackets forward ~1 1/4" closer to the shock mounts (also, for additional strength)

 

[Functional Artist]

I've been workin' on designin' & buildin' a pedal assembly
V1

...& "dry fit", on the frame

...but, "it" ended up being kinda short (~4" tall)

...& the return (spring) system was kinda "wimpy"

So, I came up with V2 (~6" tall)


...with a much more robust return (spring) system

 

[Denny]

That setup looks better suited to a swinging pedal system. Just my humble opinion. Please don’t beat me master!

 

[BaconBitRacing]

You just don't know what you're missing
...cats are super kool!

I got three of ‘em! They’re kool ’till they try get in your room at 2:00am

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Where did you find those funky cast pedals?

 

[Functional Artist]

That setup looks better suited to a swinging pedal system. Just my humble opinion. Please don’t beat me master!

Hey Denny,

Yup, the original idea was for "hanging" pedals
...but, after trying several mounting concepts, I found that would have required more "infrastructure" (probably something like a "core support" or "nose bar") for mounting "hanging pedals"

* After assembling "Splash" I found (or figured) that I didn't need (or could get by without) an actual "nose bar"

So, in an effort to keep 'er light (as possible) I'm building a mini-Jeep not a Sherman Tank
...& simple (don't overcomplicate things) I re-evaluated the "plan"

I used a "prop shoe" to check (for pedal height, foot articulation & overall clearance purposes)


Then, started working on the "linkages"

I used a "piece" from a bicycle brake

...& made a cable mounting bracket

...& mounted onto the side of the pedal assembly

Like this


Then, my wife comes around the corner & says "is that my shoe"?

 

[Functional Artist]

Where did you find those funky cast pedals?

Hey ez,
I found them at BMI Karts
https://www.bmikarts.com/Throttle-Brake-Pedal-from-Kartco-Go-Karts_p_1147.html

They have a different & kinda interesting look to 'em
...& at ~$4.00 ea., I figured I couldn't "go wrong"

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

prop shoe FTW