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CHAPTER 7 - Tilting Delta Trike Prototype 2 Build |
Basic Design Done For Proto-Type 2 (February 26, 2010) This web page will document the building of the Schultz Engineering Delta-12 Tilting Triketm proto-type number two. The Delta-12 is a tilting electric motorcycle with three wheels (1 wheel in front and 2 wheels in back) with multiple riding positions and designed to be upgraded easily by the end user.  |
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Raw Material On The Floor (March 9, 2010) Here is a stack of raw material. We will borrow the motor and electrical controls from our electric CB-125S motorcycle for initial road testing and upgrade to 72 volts as concept is proved out.  |
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Water-Jet Frame Pieces (March 30, 2010) This picture shows frame pieces before bending and 6 hours of welding...notice the bulkheads.  Beside making the frame much stronger and less twisty, they make assembly for welding easy. Masking tape held the pieces together so that the frame could be tack welded and finally welded at all seams. Note: Kale and Karl Kotecki of K2 Metals LLC in Zeeland, MI (phone number 616.836.3252) did the welding on the trike. I highly recommend these guys. They do awesome work! Everyone who sees the trike complements me on the welding work.  Very strong and lightweight (20 pounds)!  |
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Rear Suspension (March 18, 2010) Not easy to see in the finished pictures, torsional rubber half axles are used to provide independant rear suspension.  Torsional axles in place and a shot that helps show the front tilt axis pin.  |
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Getting ready to assemble and going together (March 30, 2010) All major parts machined, welded and weighed. Ready to be assembled. If you look closely all components have their weight in pounds written on them.  |
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Rolling Chassis (March 30, 2010) Prototype 1 and Prototype 2 side by side  Dustbin and Prototype 2 side by side  Spring loaded "Shot Pin" close up that locks tilting rotation at stop.  |
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First Powered Test Drive of ProtoType 2 (April 6, 2010) Notice batteries are mounted in the rear. But, test rides proved the vehicle was too light in the front causing the front end to be lifted easily during acceleration with resulting loss of front wheel traction.   |
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Working on Ergonomics and Actuation Controls (April 2010) Experimenting is all about trying different things. Notice the pile of handlebars of various shape and size ...and look at how the headtube angle is adjusted...also see the wooden seat made from recycled wood using a door latch and hinge...tilt and seat lock controls are bicycle gear shifters on handle bars... "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." Thomas Alva Edison  |
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Batteries Moved Up Front, Controls Added (April and May 2010) The tilting and multiple seating positions are working great! Moving the batteries up front freed up lots of room in the back for storage. We took the trike out in public for the first time on May 14, 2010 and it was a big hit. It was an attention magnet.  |
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72 Volt System Installed 72 Volt Module on the ground. The vehicle is designed to be modular. The Battery module can be swapped out by pulling 3 pins and disconnecting two snap electrical connectors (no tools required).  Max speed at 72 volts is 50 mph.  Building a trailer to transport the Delta-12 to various events this summer....  |
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June 2010 We attended the Michigan EAA Electric vehicle Rally and Show. We were awarded a trophy for BEST IN SHOW FOR 2 WHEELERS.  Tony Helmholdt giving the Delta-12 a test ride at the Livionia Show  |
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At Vintage Motorcycle Days in Ohio 2010 Visiting with the Electric Vehicle Guys at Vintage Days. For a report on this event with some pictures of the electric vehicle attendees, visit http://www.schultzengineering.us/chap8.htm  |
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July 2010 - Air Venture 2010 Went to Airventure 2010 in Oshkosh to learn aircraft construction techniques http://www.schultzengineering.us/chap9.htm  |
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August 2010 Helped Coordinate the 2010 West Michigan Clean Energy Gathering http://www.schultzengineering.us/gather.htm  Test fitting some Thundersky 40 Amp Hour batteries in the Delta-12.  |
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January 2011 Here is a picture of the Delta-12 rear end with an ADC 140-01-4005 motor mounted in it. This entire assembly (frame, wheels, motor, etc.) weighs 107 pounds. The ADC 140-01-4005 motor weighs 36 pounds all by itself.  |
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(Next Chapter - Mid-Ohio Streamliner Gathering 2010) |
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This webpage was written by Kraig D. Schultz. Copyright 2010, Schultz Engineering, LLC |