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Post by davej98002 on Dec 12, 2018 12:26:00 GMT -5
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ahweh
New Member
Posts: 48
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Post by ahweh on Dec 12, 2018 22:51:47 GMT -5
Do You know if it is possible to put compound corves in square tube because I would like to have two rails mate up for the canopy and body sections on my trike?
The rest can be round tube and I am hoping 1.625 by .120 is not to much on over kill as I am prone to do.
I have also designed a tubing bender that I would like to build before I build my trike but the finances have to come in first.
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Post by davej98002 on Dec 13, 2018 14:24:39 GMT -5
It looks like a French man is trying to resurrect the Eco-Exo kit. There are a total of 12 made in the whole world, most plain Jane versions, not as well done as Edward's here. These kits started life as a 250cc Scooter powered and they upgraded them to 400cc. It will not easily take a larger engine due to size of the frame. This French man is saying he will do the upgrades to make it handle more power. You can see more over on the MEV forum here: mevowners.proboards.com/board/16/eco-exo |
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Post by joesarasota on Dec 16, 2018 20:52:48 GMT -5
I used the Harbor Freight tubing roller to bend 1.5" O.D. x .060 wall steel tubing. Its a bargain compared to other tubing benders, however they use a set screw to secure the dies onto the mating shaft. This is the weak link in the design, there should have been a keyway instead, because the set screw loosens up and creates a wear point on the mating shaft. The good news is considered a hand tool and Harbor Freight gives it lifetime warranty like there other hand tools. Back to H.F., after the second one failed I finally ended up drilling through the shaft and adding a hardened steel allen head cap screw., good luck!
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edvb
New Member
Posts: 56
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Post by edvb on May 9, 2019 15:55:58 GMT -5
The start of this year just had a lot of rain during the week so was not able to do much. I got my boat back from storage and got it waxed and ready to go. As soon as I get it on the lift I can pull the Eco Exo trailer out of the garage and put it in front of the boat trailer. I can roll the trike in and out as it is the trikes garage during the summer season. I was able to try out a Vanderhall Venice Speedster when on vacation in Chicago. It was like sitting in a bathtub with a short windscreen I could look over. It had a lot of power and was very easy to drive. After driving it and thinking about the drive a few hours later it just was not for me. I just like my Eco Exo so much better when I drive it. Like Roger said you just kind of put it on and you are so connected to the machine you just can't help but smile when driving it. I should have it back on the road in about a week so that will make me happy. I am getting some new hearing aids with Bluetooth stereo streaming for music and phone calls. That will be nice when listening to music when driving over 45 MPH. Other than that there in not much new. The engine is so reliable I did not even have to adjust the valves as they were spot on. Just the basic maintenance I did last year and with the new tires I am all set for this year. That is it for now.  IMG_20180716_194916699 |
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edvb
New Member
Posts: 56
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Post by edvb on Feb 18, 2023 14:35:31 GMT -5
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Post by davej98002 on Feb 18, 2023 20:43:00 GMT -5
Welcome back Edward. Nice to see you are still flying this trike. I have for the last two years been making round trip road trips to Saco Maine and thinking I should stop by your area and take a look at your Eco-Exo.
I am working a deal to start up the Eco-Exo kits again with a British chap. He bought the whole rights from Stuart and is currently revamping the plans. He is not doing the HOOP front steering. But he is also wanting to use more common European scooter engines that we can not get in USA and if the new plans will not let a common USA engine to fit its not happening here in USA. Two common available engines in USA are Burgman 400, Kymco AK550, and maybe a Yamaha X-Max 300
I am waiting for better weather and will be driving from the Seattle area to Colorado to buy a unfinished Eco-Exo kit and tow it home. The 2004 Burgman engine does not have a title so I will be looking for a newer 2008 up and do the mods like Roger did. I had a local rider that crashed his 2021 Burgman 400 with 1,100 miles. I bought it for $720. All right side plastics, windshield and handlebars are totaled. But I got it with a clean title.
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Post by davej98002 on Feb 18, 2023 20:55:25 GMT -5
So your Crossarm tube cracked at the welds. Welding causes a heat effected zone and can be heat treated out but it costs $$$.
This is kind of common in a high stress area.
If I buy that unfinished kit I may try to design fix for other owners to have welded in. It would be a slow forum but we really need a Eco-Exo forum page for 12 kits sold. Mostly to cover upgrades and some failures that need attention.The MEV page is kind of dead. |
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edvb
New Member
Posts: 56
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Post by edvb on Feb 18, 2023 22:01:45 GMT -5
Hi Dave
I added a bunch of tabs that were close together during the build. The original tubing was too thin for that. I used .125 chromemoly that was twice as thick for the repair so no more worries about it cracking now. Unless I pointed it out most would not even know it was repaired. Roger sold both his trikes to one guy near him. He has a Slingshot now. If you buy the kit you have to move the motor mounts anyway so at the same time you can beef up that crossarm.
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Post by davej98002 on Feb 18, 2023 23:28:04 GMT -5
Yeah, going thicker wall and Chromemoly is a big step up. Its like if I cut 1 tube to fit, I might as well cut 2 or more for other owners if they knew. Most metal supply companies do not have a 2 foot section of Chromemoly laying around so I'd need to buy a 10 foot stick. The deal I am working out for the Eco-Exo-R unfinished kit is if he still has it come spring I will buy it. Putting money down on something so far away is not in my nature.
If I buy it I will lift the back tire off the ground into an old school car Tow Bar from Harborfreight and tow it home backwards as the two front wheels are installed. It need some more fitting, pull it all apart to paint and all electrical work done.
You still flying aircraft?
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