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09-12-2013, 11:57 AM | #1 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
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PVC Buggy
I have been working on a neighborhood cruiser made from PVC pipe for a few months now. I mainly did it as a proof of concept idea to see if I could. It has turned out pretty well so far and It has help up better then expected.
I have a build log on DIY Go Karts website here: http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21082 I thought I would share it on this site. So here is my build log from the begining until now. I got the idea from http://www.americanspeedster.com/ I bought a set of the plans and was really disappointed in them. The plans were a few pages of mostly text, with a few pictures made using a word program. I mean, I could have hand drawn better pictures!! So I came up with my own design borrowing some of the ideas from the americanspeedster design. I love Google SketchUp so I spent a lot of hours drawing up my design. Here is a link to a Intro video I made about the idea and some of the PVC parts I used: |
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09-12-2013, 12:02 PM | #2 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
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PVC Buggy
I used a 110cc 4-stroke engine out of a little Chinese quad that I found on craigslist. It is electric start, automatic with Forward, Neutral, Reverse. I used as many parts as I could from the quad. Here are a few pictures of it in different stages.
I spent a lot of time cleaning up the motor and labeling all the wires to make sure I know how to put it back together. |
09-12-2013, 12:08 PM | #3 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
|
PVC Buggy
Since I decided to use PVC, I had to come up with some ways to reinforce some of the areas of the build.
I decided to make a cage for the engine to mount in. That gave me some strong points to attach things like bearings and axle, brake caliper, exhaust, ect. |
09-12-2013, 12:16 PM | #4 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
|
PVC Buggy
The frame need some steel reinforcement too so I borrowed the idea from the americanspeedster plans and used the top rail from chain link fence materials, that fit inside the 1 1/4" pipe. I made some drawings with the some of the PVC clear so you can see where the steel reinforcement is.
I had originally planned on making some spindles out of pipe couplings but I decided just to use the spindles that were on the little quad. It worked out better anyway because it was easier to set up my steering geometry. |
09-12-2013, 12:24 PM | #5 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
|
PVC Buggy
At this point I finally decided to start the build. I went to the local Home Depot and bought my PVC pipe, and got to work.
If anyone has worked with PVC glue, you know that it sets pretty fast. So I had to make sure I had a build order so I could ensure I assemble it properly. I opened up my drawings and changed the color of the different lengths of pipe. I exported 2D drawings of the different stages and basically just followed the pictures. |
09-12-2013, 12:29 PM | #6 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
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PVC Buggy
Since I had a few curved sections of pipe to deal with, I set up sort of a pattern to follow and used a heat gun to bend the PVC. I took a video of me bending one of the sections.
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09-12-2013, 12:36 PM | #7 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
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PVC Buggy
I decided to use bicycle wheels for their light weight, and cost. I found a guy on craigslist selling 15 bikes for $100 bucks. I was able to salvage some 48 spoke rims, inner tubes, and tires, and I got a little radio flyer tricycle and a starter bike for my son!
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09-12-2013, 12:47 PM | #8 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 22
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Re: PVC Buggy
very cool
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09-12-2013, 10:11 PM | #9 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
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Re: PVC Buggy
I wanted both sets of rear wheels to drive, so I needed a differential. I found a peerless 100 differential on eBay for $60.00 that worked out pretty well. I just had figure out a way to make one of the axles longer.
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09-12-2013, 10:22 PM | #10 |
Not Yet Wild
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: League City, TX
Posts: 39
|
PVC Buggy
Next, I had to figure out how to adapt the bicycle wheels I planned on using, to the rear live axle. I found a instructables post here: http://www.instructables.com/id/26-w...-for-pedicabs/ where a guy used "bore hubs" and mounted them inside the wheel hub. I used a 3/4" axle so I had to get bigger bore hubs. I turned them down a little on my lathe and welded them to the bicycle hub. I used a 3/4" hardened drill rod to keep everything straight when I welded them. I used another bore hub for the brake disc.
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bicycle wheels, buggy, plastic, pvc, quadricycle |
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