Need some advice on my swing arm design

adbradley · 05-20-2010, 12:34 PM

I am building my first cart, its a 75 cushman, and im using the rear axle and carrier from a yamaha warrior, as well as the engine.. here is what i have come up with for a swing arm design so far, please give me some more input.

The plan is to use the stock warrior bearing carrier, axle, sprocket, breaks, and wheels, that is all in yellow, the engine is blue, and the swing arm is red.

The swing arm will hingle at the front by a single heim joint, and connect to the axle just inside the wheels using pillow blocks. The bearing carrier will also be attatched to the swing arm. I plan on using 2 shocks, one just above each pillow block.

scottyb · 05-20-2010, 12:39 PM

Nice drawings......IF the swing arm has only one center attachment to the cart ... what is to keep it from moving side to side?

adbradley · 05-20-2010, 01:01 PM

i hadnt got that far, i guess a panhard bar maybe mounted somewhere between the motor and axl? any sugestions?

scottyb · 05-20-2010, 01:15 PM

Not yet, we need more info. What is the suspension going to consist of?

adbradley · 05-20-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyb

Not yet, we need more info. What is the suspension going to consist of?

Not quite sure what you are asking..

I planed to use 2 atv shocks set and a similar angle to what you did on your work horse. Then the swing arm will be made of mostly 1.5" square tubing. I figured a 3/4" heim joint in at the pivot would be strong enuff.. The engine will be mounted to the swing arm. the swing arm will connect to the ATV axle mainly with pillow blocks at each end of the axle.

Here are some pics of the axle and engine

scottyb · 05-20-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adbradley

Not quite sure what you are asking..

I planed to use 2 atv shocks set and a similar angle to what you did on your work horse. Then the swing arm will be made of mostly 1.5" square tubing. I figured a 3/4" heim joint in at the pivot would be strong enuff.. The engine will be mounted to the swing arm. the swing arm will connect to the ATV axle mainly with pillow blocks at each end of the axle.

Here are some pics of the axle and engine

That answered my question... I think you need more connection between the differential and the cart. You have only one heim joint to transfer all of the motor torque to the cart frame so far.... that's my take lets see what the real experts here have to say

davisz71 · 05-20-2010, 05:13 PM

I agree with scottyb, you've got to much weight shifting around (motor, axle, wheels). I think a wider base at the frame would be your best option. Instead of triangulating the links or bars to one center point make them parallel 20" or so apart. You may still need a panhard bar to keep side to side movement at a minimum. Just my 2 pennies.

davisz71 · 05-20-2010, 05:14 PM

BTW are you wanting a true swing arm meaning up and down movement only or are you after articulation?

adbradley · 05-20-2010, 06:14 PM

The reason i went with the single hinge point was to get the ability for some articulation, i dont need much just a little.. Is there a simple setup that will get me this, or should i just forget about it, and go for the up and down only?

This is not going to be any kind of high performance project, just something to cruse around the trails on.

Adam

rifter · 05-20-2010, 08:25 PM

Experts!! Look at Scotty B's setup, he has control arms that run down both sides from the front mount crossmember to the dif mount, that's the way to build it. Don't go for up and down only unless you will only run the Drag Strip.

05-20-2010, 12:39 PM	#2
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: Need some advice on my swing arm design Nice drawings......IF the swing arm has only one center attachment to the cart ... what is to keep it from moving side to side?

05-20-2010, 01:01 PM	#3
adbradley Getting Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 75	Re: Need some advice on my swing arm design i hadnt got that far, i guess a panhard bar maybe mounted somewhere between the motor and axl? any sugestions?
adbradley Getting Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 75

05-20-2010, 01:15 PM	#4
scottyb Happy Carting Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 73,417	Re: Need some advice on my swing arm design Not yet, we need more info. What is the suspension going to consist of?

05-20-2010, 05:13 PM	#7
davisz71 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 19	Re: Need some advice on my swing arm design I agree with scottyb, you've got to much weight shifting around (motor, axle, wheels). I think a wider base at the frame would be your best option. Instead of triangulating the links or bars to one center point make them parallel 20" or so apart. You may still need a panhard bar to keep side to side movement at a minimum. Just my 2 pennies.
davisz71 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 19

05-20-2010, 05:14 PM	#8
davisz71 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 19	Re: Need some advice on my swing arm design BTW are you wanting a true swing arm meaning up and down movement only or are you after articulation?
davisz71 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 19

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05-20-2010, 06:14 PM	#9
adbradley Getting Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 75	Re: Need some advice on my swing arm design The reason i went with the single hinge point was to get the ability for some articulation, i dont need much just a little.. Is there a simple setup that will get me this, or should i just forget about it, and go for the up and down only? This is not going to be any kind of high performance project, just something to cruse around the trails on. Adam
adbradley Getting Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 75

05-20-2010, 08:25 PM	#10
rifter rifter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orlando Florida Posts: 4,055	Re: Need some advice on my swing arm design Experts!! Look at Scotty B's setup, he has control arms that run down both sides from the front mount crossmember to the dif mount, that's the way to build it. Don't go for up and down only unless you will only run the Drag Strip.

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