Comments on: technical

By: Plastics Springs

Plastics Springs — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:35:41 +0000

Great concept. Keep up the good work. Alex

By: roo

roo — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:48:51 +0000

Hi there, Mark…I used a stub shaft made by Kubota…it is 1.125″ Dia…

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:45:17 +0000

Nice project! How did you mate the Comet 94C CVT to the kubota flywheel?

By: Al Rodi

Al Rodi — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:30:16 +0000

How does that Comet FNR gearbox work..
I am thinking of using one on a a railcar project.

By: Roo

Roo — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:58:12 +0000

hey there, William…
to answer your questions:

I already tried the heat and score method…seems to work only on flat glass:
I am gonna try using the tile saw, and making several depth cuts next…

as far as CG, I considered it carefully:, the engine is not really a “rear” engine but more “mid” and my calculations put my cg just about where my but is (better) with two people in the car) and the front wheels are just about where my knees are…and I did want to keep some weight on that rear wheel…it is the driving wheel, after all….and all my weight is inside the “magic” triangle of the three contact patches…front engine-frontwheel drive made a lot bigger, heavier car than I wanted, and more complicated, as far as winter driving…we will just have to see…there are not too many days here that the roads are snow covered…good luck on your project!

thanks for commenting!

By: William Dysinger

William Dysinger — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:11:46 +0000

Roo,
You’ve got the right idea bud! Lots and lots of people are building their own vehicles(mostly 3-wheelers because of lax laws pertaining to motorcycles.) I think people have to build their own small vehicles like this because of US laws being so strict on the import of “micro-cars”! One of the members of our Yahoo group called “cabinscooters” posted a link to your website so thought I’d come take a look! I’ve got a couple suggestions for you. I asked a local hotrodder and glassman how to cut untempered safety glass and he said use a standard glass cutter on both sides of glass then sprinkle some lighter fluid or alcohol on the lines, light it, and start working the cut line..The fuel heats the glass evenly all along the cut line and will soften the plastic center enough to pull it apart slightly then cut plastic with knife. Be sure to use gloves because burning alcohol can’t be seen! The second thing I would like to suggest: before you get too far down the road with your progress is this: If you install that 117# engine (plus at least another 40 or 50# for the drive train) into the back of your rig, you might want to think about your center of gravity. With that much weight clear in the back and if you keep it up inside roo, you may have handling problems. I know it’s probably not something you want to hear but to not take CG into consideration may come back to bite you. Mounting the engine and drive train as low as you possibly can might help some. Just curious, seeing that snow in one of your pics tells me you get that kind of weather, at least part of the year? Why didn’t you design your Roo with complete drive train in the front as FWD? Then, with heat in the cab, this could be a year round rig! As it’s designed now, that rear drive tire will be riding up on a uncleared snow path in the middle of the lane during winter!
OK, enough of that. I too am building a 3-wheeler but am just in the planning and supply gathering stage right now. I’m toying with building my first one much smaller than your design and may build a good percent of the body out of epoxy/glass & wood! My front window will also be real glass with the rest in lexan. I will be using a Honda 350 engine installed up front, will be turning the engine sideways (like they do in dwarf cars,) and will run a short coupling to a differential out of a 4X4 quad. I will also be using quad extended CV axles, extended A-arms, rims, and brakes (for wider stance of at least 54″) along with 10″ street tires. Also like you, I will be using a borrowed motorcycle vin and title to register this. I will not need inspection in Oregon but if they ask I am NOT telling them I’m using any off-road parts. That will kill the registration in a hurry!
My second cabinscooter will be diesel like yours but probably using a Kubota 602 engine I already have but I’ll probably start that one in a couple years. Take care and good luck! William Dysinger

By: gary foster

gary foster — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:13:17 +0000

hello Roo i really like your plan and some day want to do something simalar .
a few thoughts ,you may want to check on useing parts that are not D.O.T. approved
like your atv wheels will never get past an inspection as they did not get tested for on road use just off road.They may be fine but good to check .Also check how much of your donner bike you have to use to be abile to use the id plate,most states want you to use the frame un altered. love to hear more .gary foster

By: Roo

Roo — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:21:09 +0000

Roo-

Love the concept! It’ll be fun following your project going forward.

Glenn Warren