hello there a couple of questions from Queensland
1 are there any other minis in Qld?
2 a long while ago there was a post with photos of modifying a set of bike forks for a llm, any body have a link or where it was?
thanks
Peter
G'day Peter, we have minis here in Bourke which is just over the border and a long way inland. In the construction forum there was a very good discussion on the front end and lots of variations mid last year. Look up Lake Lefroy mini Explorer plans - steering assembly. While it does not give a cut this piece to length X and weld to angle Y description, the information there will let you adapt a variety of different wheels to the front end successfully. Photos show how a 20" BMX fork was cut to attach the 20mm steering shaft, the washers reduce friction between the frame head and the forks, remove up and down slop and set the correct height. The third photo illustrates the difference in fork angle to achieve the correct alignment. The similar diameter 16" bike and 400 -8 wheels are close to the same angle. The 20" wheel needs to be lifted up and back to get the steering neutral. A line taken down the steering tube to the ground should intersect a vertical line through the centre of the wheel. or thereabouts. Cutting the fork from head stem inwards on one side and from inside of the U on the other eventually gets to the correct angle and gives plenty of metal to weld to.
Good luck
Colin
thanks for the info I am surprised that you have them out there but I suppose there is plenty of flat country to play on
When you can find clay pans like this to play on and get some windy changes coming through it makes it all worth while. Its surprising talking to other properties who have clay pans how many odd wind powered carts have been built over the last 40 years out here. Usually based on someones old catamaran sail and mast guyed down onto a chassis with car wheels. These usually ended up rotting away under trees on the edge of the flat, too big to take anywhere else. The portable LLM has sparked more interest with a few people inviting us to try out spots they reckon would be good. Often they don't realise that a lovely flat spot surrounded by tall trees is not what we are after. A mate has scouted out a spot 250 km west of here, even landing his Gyrocopter on it to check out the surface. About 40km of farm tracks from the homestead to get to it but potentially it gives us a 2.5km run. Just need no flooding or rain in the previous month, good steady wind, a weekend and a crew with a few days to spare to combine all at the same time.
