Here's my Trike build
- Thread starter zoood
- Start date
Thank you,... Best thing I like is the ease of cleaning them. I use purple coastal spray on cleaner and and a pressure washer. never had to polish them.
zoood
I'm now redoing my tail lites with Ride Time technologies. Ive been using 1937 Ford Tail lites on my trike. Which uses 1157 bulbs. Very hard to see in the daytime.
The LED's are populated on a circular PC board that has a bayonet insert for the light socket. Since the LED layout is only 2" in diameter and the 37 ford tail lite housing is 3". Im making a housing that will fit snug and hold the LEDs in the center. I found that the plastic lid off a Hellmans mayonnaise jar fits perfectly. Im also cutting a diameter of mirror polished 18ga SS as a base within the housing around the LED array. For more reflective qualities. I will be posting pictures of this modification in a day or so. I have to make 4 set-ups so that I will also have the same bright tail lites for my trike's trailer as well.
zoood
I managed to get a little work done last night. Here's the inside of the 37 ford tail light housing I'll be working with.
The LED array that I have to work with. Had to be mounted in this larger diameter opening and needed to stay centered. I don't know where I come up with the ideas I have. But sometimes,... I amaze myself. The Hellman's mayonnaise plastic jar lid actually fits perfect inside the ford tail lite housing. I noticed that the LED's project or shine their light straight back, so there was no need for the polished SS backing plate as a base within the lid.
I'm using a rubber "U" channel around the LED array.
I used the adhesive pictured below to mount the LED array within the jar's lid. This glue is is the best I ever used. (4 years ago I glued new soles to my biker boots and never used tacks and their still holding) I also spray painted the inside of the lid black.
This is what the LED array looks like after I adhered it within the lid.
This next picture is the enclosed set-up.
The chrome edge that you see around the lid's diameter is the Ford tail light lens trim ring. It allows just enough clearance between the two diameters to mount this assembly back into the tail light housing. I'll finish this up tonight and post pictures of the 1157 lamp out-put compared to the finished LED out-put. I'm quite certain that anyone that doesnt see my tail lights during the day-time will probably be an individual that uses the braille that you find on an ATM machine.
zoood
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trike lady
Junior Member
I like the body style on your trike.
I took a stab at trying to do a video. Ill get better at it eventually. This just shows the difference of intensity between an LED lighted tail lite verses a standard 1157 bulb.
Tail Lite Comparison
Tail Lite Comparison
Boom
Member
My 4th grade teacher used to tell me "where there's a will, there's a way". That's my philosophy when I come up with a project that I have to fabricate on my own. Probably the reason I have so much junk I won't throw away! (No, I'm not a hoarder, lol)
Well done, RJ!
P.S.
Don't forget to send a thank-you letter to Hellman's.
Well done, RJ!
P.S.
Don't forget to send a thank-you letter to Hellman's.
Zoood, really like the bare knuckles approach to design. Using " --Hellman's mayonnaise plastic jar lid"...and finding it "-- actually fits perfect..." is genius in my book.
Kinda adds new meaning to searching for that "free lunch" and the use of a mayonnaise jar...must have been fun emptying it over those long days working on your trike.
Reminds me the last time I was looking for a cover for my Sporty uncovered fuse block...used clear plastic off a "blister pack" of an HD accessory package...RESOURCES just lying around, how cool is that?
Kinda adds new meaning to searching for that "free lunch" and the use of a mayonnaise jar...must have been fun emptying it over those long days working on your trike.
Reminds me the last time I was looking for a cover for my Sporty uncovered fuse block...used clear plastic off a "blister pack" of an HD accessory package...RESOURCES just lying around, how cool is that?
Here's the pictures of the new back rest I made for my trike. Turned out pretty good considering I'm not an upholsterer.
Like I mentioned before. With the back rest curved to fit my back. The ride makes you feel like your part of the machine and not just leaning back on a flat padded rest. Very comfortable!
zoood
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trike lady
Junior Member
Turned out very nice, looks like a product from a major seat manufacturer.
Will do. I have the older style fairing. The instrument cluster covers part of the radio. So I cant install it on there. Like it was designed for the newer models There's a chance that I may be able to install it in there anyways. Ill take pictures in case it does allow an enough clearance to mount it under the fairing. This way anyone that considers doing the same. Will know it can be done. If not I'll have to install the amp in the cargo area. I hoping I don't have to go that route. Will have to extend a lot of wires.
zoood