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Front wheel hubs for tadpole trike

March 12, 2025 — BarryK

Continuing the new "Meanderer" build-from-scratch recumbent full-suspension leaning tadpole trike project, here are recent posts:

Using bicycle parts where possible, is good; however, there is a problem with the front wheels. A bicycle front wheel has support on both sides of the axle, whereas only on one side on a trike. This is a problem; we need a certain type of bicycle wheel hub, known as a "thru hub". This has a shaft, or axle, that goes right through, usually of 12mm, 15mm or 20mm diameter.

We really want the 15mm or 20mm axles, which is another problem, as they are only used in premium mountain bikes. So, finding that type of wheel secondhand might be difficult. Suitable wheels could probably be purchased from a bike shop, or maybe a cheap secondhand tadpole trike could be located.

My first trike project, now mostly completed, was a cheap trike that I modified, with front suspension, etc. I'll refer to it as my "current trike". It has wheel hubs for a 20mm thru-axle:

img1

I got a bit confused, as this hub is only about 92mm wide, whereas looking online, available hubs are 100mm, 110mm, or 135mm wide. Nothing under 100mm. So I bought a couple, 15x100 and 20x110, to examine. After they arrived, I realised something; they are not "really" that wide.

To explain, here are photos of the hubs on my current trike:

img2

And the inside:

img3

...it looks very much like some extensions on both sides has been removed. The width of the inner alloy tube is only 82mm, and total width of the hub is 92mm.

Yes, the two hubs that I purchased have plastic extensions on both ends, extending the width to 100mm and 110mm. But, cut them off, and the with becomes 92mm and 84mm.

This is one that I purchased, 15x100, meaning 15mm diameter thru-axle and 100mm hub width, for AU$28.39 (plus 10% GST):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005254533680.html

The other, 20x110 32-hole, for AU$41.59 (plux GST):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008343824211.html

20mm axle hubs are somewhat rarer and much more expensive. Photo:

img4

I reckon those plastic width-extenders could be cut shorter. So, I plan to build the axle length on the Meanderer wheel knuckle for a 92mm wide hub. That will handle all three of the above hubs. Maybe make the knuckle axle a bit longer, and washers can be used if required.

A note about a tadpole trike; we need to be careful about overall width. For the Meanderer, I want total width to be no more than 730mm, so as to fit through my front door, and motel doors when touring. So taking 10 - 15mm off the hub is important.

If you want to read more about mountain bicycle front wheel hub types:

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/mtb-axle-standards

Should also mention, there are axle diameter reducers available. I bought this one to evaluate, 20x100 to 15x100:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006596535497.html

Plan to build the wheel knuckles soon, and there will be a blog post when that happens.    

Tags: light

EasyOS Daedalus-series version 6.6.4 released

March 11, 2025 — BarryK

Version 6.6.3 was released on February 19:

EasyOS Daedalus-series version 6.6.3 released — February 19, 2025

Highlights of 6.6.4, since 6.6.3:

Release notes:

http://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2025/6.6.4/release-notes.htm

Getting started notes:

http://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2025/6.6.4/readme.htm

Download:

http://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/daedalus/2025/6.6.4/readme.htm

Feedback welcome at the forum:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=144474#p144474    

Tags: easy

Limine Installer efibootmgr usage fix

March 09, 2025 — BarryK

Problem and fix reported by Caramel:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=13986

Fix commited:

https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commit/b6659b50045762a59c4aefef7dc413bc418b378c  

Tags: easy

Universal-joint for Meanderer trike

March 03, 2025 — BarryK

Earlier posts on this new trike built-from-scratch project:

In the "swivel-coupling" post above, I did post plans for a swivel-coupling, or universal-coupling, but withdrew it. Have reconsidered, modified the plans, and here it is again...

Bought a little universal-joint off Aliexpress, for a 10mm shaft. These are available from many vendors:

img1

However, not happy with it. There is some sloppiness in the movement, and I would like it to have replaceable bearings. Hence a design to make one...

In SolveSpace, it is possible to create what is called an "assembly", multiple 3D components put together. However, I have found that to be very difficult. So, have designed the universal-joint in two parts, then mentally visualized how they would work when put together. Here is Part-A:

img2

The aluminium sheet is 5mm thick; a couple of local stores only had 3mm, so I bought it at a premium price off Aliexpress:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003726781313.html

Though, likely there are local aluminium fabricators that would have 5mm offcuts. The main block of aluminium is the 22x22 square, that I provided a purchase link in the previous blog post.

The 8mm hole will have a brass flanged bush, the 12-8x6x6 from here:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005073792086.html

Actually, I have referred to the bushes as made of brass, but it is listed as "copper-based alloy"; whatever, it is very strong, not soft like copper, and has a different colour than brass.

One thing; to get sufficient flexibility, those square corners near the 8mm holes, will need to be rounded off. That will be easy enough; just cut off the corners and round off with a file.

Here is Part-B:

img3

Again, a piece of the 22x22 square aluminium.

I'm having to mentally visualize whether it will have adequate flexibility; seems OK.

In the above diagram, the 5mm holes are for tapping a thread for an m6 bolt. In the first diagram, the 4mm holes on the sheet will be drilled out to 5mm, and in the main block tapped for an m5 thread. The m5 bolts will go through and bolt the sheets onto the main block. There will be m5 grub screws to lock the 10mm rod.

Note, m5 standard thread has a pitch of 0.8mm and the required drill size is 4.2mm. So a 4mm drill bit is a bit small. Might have to experiment to cut a m5 thread in that smallish hole.

The 5mm thick sheet hasn't yet arrived; however, tomorrow can manufacture the three 22x22 main blocks (there will be two Part-A).

Here is the SolveSpace design, files renamed with a false ".gz":

https://bkhome.org/news/202503/images/t2-universal-joint-parta-2.slvs.gz

https://bkhome.org/news/202503/images/t2-universal-joint-partb-2.slvs.gz  

Tags: light

Fix browser menu entry disappear when update

March 02, 2025 — BarryK

The menu in EasyOS that I'm running right now:

img1

I have Opera and Chrome installed. If click the "Download latest ..." from the menu, for example Opera, update occurs; however, the "Opera web browser" entry disappears. Same thing will happen with the others. Now fixed.

The problem was reported in the forum for Vivaldi:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=13874      

Tags: easy

Progress planning The Meanderer

March 01, 2025 — BarryK

I don't know if that name, "The Meanderer" will stick, for the new full-suspension leaning recumbent tadpole trike. Here are recent posts:

...in the post of Feb 28, I posted plans for a swivel-coupling, then changed my mind and removed it. The swivel-coupling, or more correctly a universal-joint, needed a bit more thought. For other components of the trike, waiting on parts to arrive. So what can I build now? -- can build the swivel mechanism for the shock absorbers.

Getting the parts together, need various lengths of aluminium extrusion. Want 50x50x3 mm square extrusion, about 3 metres. Not available at Bunnings (our main hardware chainstore here in Australia), so looked online. Got a quote from one company, but this is a big company and 50x50x3 is sold in 6.5m lengths. They will sell by the metre, but about double the price. Then they wanted AU$150 to deliver, about a 50 minute drive away.

Hmmm. Found a local little family business; they had 50x50x3 in stock and were happy to sell by the metre, and very cheap. Pickup only, so I rode my ebike there:

img1

...don't laugh! Was able to ride the bike with that load.

The proposed tilting is by a swivel-bracket where the shock absorbers join, see this blog post:

img2

In SolveSpace, created a design for that swivel-bracket. Here it is:

EDIT 2025-03-05:
Following diagram and SolveSpace file have been updated:

img1

The central post is 22x22 mm, with a 8mm hole through the middle, so not quite solid. Bought it from here:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004854415047.html

The diagram shows five holes of 10mm diameter. The four at the top will have brass bushes, to take 8mm rods for the shock absorbers. There are bushes available with 1mm wall thickness, and it is a good idea to put those in, so as to have replaceable wear surfaces, rather than wearing the aluminium holes. The 10mm hole at the bottom of the post will not require a bush.

Have the 22x22, but want sheet 5mm thick; only have 3mm. Have some 5mm on order; have to wait until it arrives.

A note about the spacing of the two sheets. The required spacing depends on what shock absorbers are used. I'm not sure, but I think that motorcycle shock absorbers are 19mm, whereas those on bicycles and scooters are 24mm.

Just remembered also; the bicycle shock absorbers require 8mm bolts, the motorcycle type require 10mm. At least, for ones that I have looked at.

Here is the SolveSpace file, gzip-compressed:

https://bkhome.org/news/202503/images/t2-susp-swivel-2.slvs.gz 

In the above diagram; the 10mm hole at bottom of the post will have a 10mm rod through it. There will need to be grub screws either side, as the swivel-bracket is required to be locked to the rod. Likely I will drill either 4.2mm holes for a m5 bolt, or 5.0mm holes for a m6 bolt (the diagram shows 4.0mm). Probably the smaller. Note, the rod is required to be locked to the swivel-arm as that is part of the tilt control; will probably drill the 4.2mm holes slightly into the rod, before threading, so as to have very positive locking of the rod.

The 5.0mm holes are for m6 bolts, so will need to be drilled-out to 6mm through the sheets, and tapped in the post.

Oh, and to round off the explanation a bit more; that central post has a 8mm hole right through, and at the top a m8 bolt can be slid into it to lock tilting. There will be aluminium sheet above the swing-arm, with a 8mm hole; slid the bolt through that and into the post, then no more tilting. Just in case the rider doesn't want the tilting mechanism, that is how easy it will be to disable it.    

Tags: light

Fix orange-ball install as root

March 01, 2025 — BarryK

EasyOS has "orange ball" menu entries, apps that are not yet installed. Alfons reported that installed Aqemu, but at the final step where the Orange Installer offered to open Rox-Filer to be able to drag the icon onto the desktop, there was an error "Directory /home/aqemu not found".

The reason is that some apps default to install as the root user, and there will not be anything under /home directory. This is set by the $UN variable; for Aqemu, look at /usr/local/orange/config/aqemu

Fixed, see github:

https://github.com/bkauler/woofq/commit/4a66c2d92a5baf0d081ae21ec971a369742659ae   

Tags: easy

Steering swivel-coupling for new trike project

February 28, 2025 — BarryK

I have started a new project, to build a full-suspension tilting recumbent tadpole trike from scratch. Here are earlier posts:

Cannot guarantee that will finish this project; main interest right now is the technical challenge of implementing the new steering and tilting idea, rather than the end result. Thinking of all those DIYers out there, having detailed plans for parts of a trike will be helpful. This post is one component, the steering swivel-coupling. Measurements and details in this blog post, but there is also intended to be a video on YouTube, showing how it is contructed with a link back to this blog.

The new trike needs a name, so how about "The Meanderer"?

EDIT:
I decided to remove this first contruction post, as it is a bit premature. I'm still thinking out some details.

    

Tags: light