Steam Driven Chair

[rf9rider]

By the way Sin, did you get the handguards?

I did thanks, thought I'd sent you a reply, apologies if I didn't, very nice they are too, saving them for the stocker since they are so good.   

You might have said so, can`t remember, been away a lot recently in the "other" house 

[Sin_Tiger]

Right. got the new V5 for the tug while I was away, Thought I might free up the brakes and sling it through an MOT just to see how she goes and any other niggles.

Then I had look at the rear rim  it was a bit cheese like before but during the winter it has gone severely mouldy Swiss cheese, I think the spokes and the tyre are holding together. I want to stay with spoked wheels, therefore it's time for a new rim with stainless spokes.

So question for Mustang. What width  is the Trophy rim that you're using, haven't been able to able to find specs for the Trophy that show the rim width only the tyre size.

[Tripodtiger]

Sorry in advance for the highjack. Still relevant though.
Mustang, I have a couple of old Soviet era outfits and am planning on mounting one of the hacks to my Tiger. I am on the scrounge for sub-frame plans and the like. I ask because as the saying goes, I don't want to re-invent the wheel. I plan on fabricating it myself, largely on account of I am in Sweden and getting something shipped from the US and then paying EU/Swedish customs duty makes it prohibitively expensive. ( They even charge 25% on the cost of shipping) Having built 2 sidecars, 1 a trials outfit and the other an enduro/mx one, I believe I am up to the task.  Getting it through Swedish vehicle registry/inspection on the other hand......

How'd you go with finding some sub-chassis plans / ideas?

[Sin_Tiger]

No luck yet,  did you make it up as you went along or work to an existing plan?

[Sin_Tiger]

Spent the last week all rebuilding the calipers, bike was not movable at all, what fun  , just as well Jay didn't get around to doing that before sending it to me, he would be  as some previous joker had used a pair of mole grips on the pistons 

While waiting for the paint to dry on the bits, I decided to have a play. Hooked up a jumper battery, turn the key, all lights on  , hit the starter and she spins over nice and free and the oil pressure light goes out after about 4-5 revs  . Hooked up my test tank with some petrol stolen from the other half's lawnmower stash and fill the float bowls. Kick her over and blow me if she doesn't fire first rev 

Not enough room to do my little happy    but you get the idea. Only problem is she sat at 3500 rpm, choke cable seized, maybe she will rev a bit more, nope, throttle cable seized  oh well, can't win em all, still a happy chappy.

[qbto]

I've a couple of old Trophy rims out in the garage, if you need I can check the rim size.

[Sin_Tiger]

Cheers, Mustang helped me out,  5.5" if you have a tape measure in your hand next time you're in the shed.

Not out on the Tiger, crackin day for it 

[Sin_Tiger]

Well things have taken a decidely left turn. As some may have spotted, thanks BB  , a Steamer with chair recently came up on Fleabay. After a chat with the vendor and more than a chat with the other half, it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. It was all in one piece, already had leading link forks, was already colour matched and was a proven article, unlike my project 

Some waiting and I finally made a bid in the closing hour, after some nail biting and calling up as much Karma as I could I was lucky enough to win. I managed to get down to Bromley South after the weekend to collect it from a very helful vendor who had a huge amount of paperwork from the original (who kept a detailed log) and previous owners, I have come to the conclusion this is the same rig that started me off on this journey (see pic in first post), having featured on an earlier version of Hedingham's website (not there now).

After getting my sh1te together and mustering a fair bit of courage, not having operated a combination since I was in my teens and then only around a field and farmyard, I set off through the streets of greater London just as the evening rush hour was starting to build in search of petrol, the M25 and Scotland. I know, mad as a box of    and asking for trouble  Well the Gods must have taken pity on me because I managed it without any collateral damage but not without scaring myself on a few occasions, stopped for a break part of the way home and to cut a long story short ended up in a hotel that I hadn't planned on much later than I would have liked, thanks Laterooms.com (not).

Pure coincidence but the bar in the hotel as you see below  I don't think I will be getting approval to redecorate with a similar theme anytime soon. Since I was near enough to Hinkley I couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in a little spiritual homage before heading North, I think I caught a glimpse of John Bloor closing his curtains and taking the phone off the hook as I rocked up at his front door, the custom SUS end cans are loud 

It's hard to believe but the engine in this thing is the sweetest of the three I now have, and the quietest, I wasn't expecting that after the PO admitting that he had drilled a few extra holes in the end plates because the single outlet had a whistle that he found irritating and the airbox has been truncated on one side to accomodate the subframe but she pulls like a good 'un without a hiccup or flat spot anywhere 

Serious recalibration has been required, I need to overhaul the brakes, I think the suspension may be getting a bit tired, I will need to do some setting up to suit my loading, after 500 miles in a little over 24 hours, I now know why regular sidecar pilots have neck and shoulder muscles like a Welsh Scrum Front Row but I am seriously hooked and importantly so is the Boss, anybody want to buy a low mileage Trophy SE, I'll throw in a spare sidecar I happen to have lying around?

[John Stenhouse]

Cool, that's good buy mate. Are we going to see it in Wales?

[Bixxer Bob]

Fantastic mate! Looking forward to seeing it.   Jackie says the whiskey must've gone to your head.... 

[Mustang]

 if you grin like an idiot when you ride it ,

it's hard to go back to a solo bike again , you'll want to take the hack everytime !

[Sin_Tiger]

Yup, going to get a new open lid so I stop deafening myself laughing 

Note to self: try not to make big decisions after drinking English Whiskey 

[Mustang]

have you "flown the chair", yet?

[Sin_Tiger]

Yes but I wouldn't call it planned or in control 

[JayDub]

  ............ I knew it