Changelog
04/03-Opening post
04/03-Update 1- Frame welding and improvements
05/03 Update 2- Frame Tectyled, Benchmounts, Popnuts
05/03 Update 3 - Front wheels, drum brakes, rod ends, control and tweaks.
14/09 Update 4 - Custom sprockets
I'm from The Hague, Netherlands. A few years ago my mother gave me her Nihola Dog Trike. The design is pretty clever, the hood is supported by two aluminum rods that can be stored in the compartment, they have the same shape. Further the wheels steer independently of the frame, the result is a very comfortable ride and good control. The dog edition is almost the same as the family edition but has a door in the front of the compartment that allows easy entrance for pets. Below are the general specs of the trike.
Total length: 2 meter
Total width: 89 cm/85 cm with turned front wheels
Weight: 32 kg
Max. load: 100 kg + rider
Transport box height: 50 cm
Max. width in cabin: 62 cm
Max. length in cabin: 88 cm
https://i.imgur.com/TFqZH6qt.jpg[/url]
Planned upgrades:
-Nuvinci N380 Internal Gear Hub
-Automatic Hub Interface
-Automatic Grip Shifter
-Tsdz2 Motor (48V), Opensource Firmware, Bearing upgrades, Cooling improvements and Electric tuning
-Custom Luggage Rack with battery compartment
-Custom Batterypacks
-Magura HS11 Rimbrakes
-Sturmey & Archer Drum brake improvements
-HellermannTyton Tube and Cable Metallic Conduit System SSC10-SS316ML
-Custom Stainless (SS316) and Brass Surface Mounted Cable Saddles
-New SKF Bearings and Askuball KI-DNRBF Stainless rod ends with PTFE anti-friction film
-Vredestein Perfect Moiree tires
-Frame improved, leached, de-rusted, tectyle treatment, zinc primer, powder coating (3-layer) black and clear topcoat
-Mounting adapter for passenger bench or other add-ons
-Stainless (SS316) Mud Guards
-All Stainless (AISI316) fasteners and parts (where applicable)
-Lights, Alarm, GPS, BMS etc.
When I got the bike it had no electric assistance. Also it was pretty rusty (after only 3 years). Plenty of reasons for a total rebuild.
In this topic I will post pictures and text of the process. Hope you guys enjoy!
The bare frame with the compartment's bottom plate removed, all rivets drilled out.
[url=https://i.imgur.com/qg6D7Ry.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/qg6D7Ryt.jpg
Some parts
Some rusty parts
Cleaning the parts, stripping the paint. Paint stripper with methylene chloride. Lots of thinner and aceton.
The frame has returned from a nightlong alkalic leaching bath. Some (rivet)holes taped up so the phosphoric acid stays contained in the frame. This treatment will convert the rust inside the frame to iron phosphate.
04/03 Update 1- Frame welding and improvements
The rear fork is one of those places where a frame starts rusting first. Four pieces of SS316 were welded en ground to shape so when the coating is compromised the corrosion won't creep underneath the rest of the coating.
After another acid treatment, wooden inserts were turned for the various bearing fittings. Threaded holes filled with a screw. The frame was then sandblasted, coated with zinc primer and finally the black and clear powder coating. The result is pretty sweet.
05/03 Update 2- Frame Tectyled, Benchmounts, Popnuts
Closeup of the brass knurled thumb screws. On both left and right side a metal flap is welded with two threaded holes.
The thumbscrews consist of Onkenhout en Onkenhout PFC2-M6 "Press fit panel adapters" so called captive screws. A knurled slice of brass rod is connected on top with a press fit, the large diameter allows for pleasant operation.
Rowan reading "Finnegans Wake" on the freshly mounted bench.
Detail of the topside mounting. Basically a PFC2-M6 Screw+Ring, two custom Stainless parts were machined, press fitted together sandwiching the polycarbonate.
Stainless PopNuts M4, appeared to be to tough for my handheld manual PopNut tool. So I ordered one by phone: "I want one on battery!", later finding out the price was a bit sturdy
PopNut in place, connecting the bottom plate to the frame while providing a M4 threat insert and Tectyling entrance.
Back view of the Mud Guard adapter showing the "crimp/clamp" connection method.
Through all of the holes in the frame a straw with spraying head was pulled, inserting lots of Valvoline Tectyl inside the frame. Even if there was some rust left inside, it is now isolated and the process can't continue without air/oxygen.
05/03 Update 3 - Front wheels, drum brakes, rod ends, control and tweaks.
Nihola advertises with maintenance free steering. Ironically the steering is the only section of the trike where non stainless parts are used. The 20" front wheels are build around Sturmey & Archer X-SD 70mm Hub's with drum brakes. They have various different versions, 90mm/70mm, quick release axis, dynamo, polished.
Nihola opted for the "free floating axle principle", this means that (in this specific case) a standard 1$ bolt is used to clamp the wheel to the steering control. The bearings have a 12mm ID, the "axis" is 11,87mm. The idea is not all of the forces will end op on the axis, this principle is used with car's not bikes. Just a way to justify not having to machine a custom axis if you ask me. To get rid of this issue, 12mm centerless ground shaft steel was machined to lenght and threaded, 3mm holes were drilled for through axis wiring.
Some pictures from another Nihola, some before and afters. Where needed parts were machined from SS316, the nuts that hold the drum brake pad together with the threaded tube are made of 22mm and 24mm hexagonal SS316 stock. The thread is M16x1.0, pretty nasty machining, I had to buy a special tap.
14/09 Update 4 - Custom sprockets.[/b
Im building custom gear, spider and sprockets for the TSDZ2. I was not happy with the current centerline and thin sprockets.
Maedler sprockets
Front 54t
Back 28t
Spider Alu 6076T6
40 M2 screws fasten the spider to the sprocket
HiRes files of the spider and sprocket
https://i.imgur.com/RLNuyVM.png
https://i.imgur.com/5TIkTL6.png
Lots of pictures tell the story. To be continued.
9-Spline
Enviolo/Nuvinci Data sheet
Enviolo/Nuvinci Data sheet
Gear ratio
Spider
Sprocket
Sprocket
Sprocket
Maedler
Maedler
M2 screws 12.9 Ti Gold platen CS Hex
Custom spider
Custom spider
04/03-Opening post
04/03-Update 1- Frame welding and improvements
05/03 Update 2- Frame Tectyled, Benchmounts, Popnuts
05/03 Update 3 - Front wheels, drum brakes, rod ends, control and tweaks.
14/09 Update 4 - Custom sprockets
I'm from The Hague, Netherlands. A few years ago my mother gave me her Nihola Dog Trike. The design is pretty clever, the hood is supported by two aluminum rods that can be stored in the compartment, they have the same shape. Further the wheels steer independently of the frame, the result is a very comfortable ride and good control. The dog edition is almost the same as the family edition but has a door in the front of the compartment that allows easy entrance for pets. Below are the general specs of the trike.
Total length: 2 meter
Total width: 89 cm/85 cm with turned front wheels
Weight: 32 kg
Max. load: 100 kg + rider
Transport box height: 50 cm
Max. width in cabin: 62 cm
Max. length in cabin: 88 cm
https://i.imgur.com/TFqZH6qt.jpg[/url]
Planned upgrades:
-Nuvinci N380 Internal Gear Hub
-Automatic Hub Interface
-Automatic Grip Shifter
-Tsdz2 Motor (48V), Opensource Firmware, Bearing upgrades, Cooling improvements and Electric tuning
-Custom Luggage Rack with battery compartment
-Custom Batterypacks
-Magura HS11 Rimbrakes
-Sturmey & Archer Drum brake improvements
-HellermannTyton Tube and Cable Metallic Conduit System SSC10-SS316ML
-Custom Stainless (SS316) and Brass Surface Mounted Cable Saddles
-New SKF Bearings and Askuball KI-DNRBF Stainless rod ends with PTFE anti-friction film
-Vredestein Perfect Moiree tires
-Frame improved, leached, de-rusted, tectyle treatment, zinc primer, powder coating (3-layer) black and clear topcoat
-Mounting adapter for passenger bench or other add-ons
-Stainless (SS316) Mud Guards
-All Stainless (AISI316) fasteners and parts (where applicable)
-Lights, Alarm, GPS, BMS etc.
When I got the bike it had no electric assistance. Also it was pretty rusty (after only 3 years). Plenty of reasons for a total rebuild.
In this topic I will post pictures and text of the process. Hope you guys enjoy!
The bare frame with the compartment's bottom plate removed, all rivets drilled out.
[url=https://i.imgur.com/qg6D7Ry.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/qg6D7Ryt.jpg
Some parts
Some rusty parts
Cleaning the parts, stripping the paint. Paint stripper with methylene chloride. Lots of thinner and aceton.
The frame has returned from a nightlong alkalic leaching bath. Some (rivet)holes taped up so the phosphoric acid stays contained in the frame. This treatment will convert the rust inside the frame to iron phosphate.
04/03 Update 1- Frame welding and improvements
The rear fork is one of those places where a frame starts rusting first. Four pieces of SS316 were welded en ground to shape so when the coating is compromised the corrosion won't creep underneath the rest of the coating.
After another acid treatment, wooden inserts were turned for the various bearing fittings. Threaded holes filled with a screw. The frame was then sandblasted, coated with zinc primer and finally the black and clear powder coating. The result is pretty sweet.
05/03 Update 2- Frame Tectyled, Benchmounts, Popnuts
Closeup of the brass knurled thumb screws. On both left and right side a metal flap is welded with two threaded holes.
The thumbscrews consist of Onkenhout en Onkenhout PFC2-M6 "Press fit panel adapters" so called captive screws. A knurled slice of brass rod is connected on top with a press fit, the large diameter allows for pleasant operation.
Rowan reading "Finnegans Wake" on the freshly mounted bench.
Detail of the topside mounting. Basically a PFC2-M6 Screw+Ring, two custom Stainless parts were machined, press fitted together sandwiching the polycarbonate.
Stainless PopNuts M4, appeared to be to tough for my handheld manual PopNut tool. So I ordered one by phone: "I want one on battery!", later finding out the price was a bit sturdy
PopNut in place, connecting the bottom plate to the frame while providing a M4 threat insert and Tectyling entrance.
Back view of the Mud Guard adapter showing the "crimp/clamp" connection method.
Through all of the holes in the frame a straw with spraying head was pulled, inserting lots of Valvoline Tectyl inside the frame. Even if there was some rust left inside, it is now isolated and the process can't continue without air/oxygen.
05/03 Update 3 - Front wheels, drum brakes, rod ends, control and tweaks.
Nihola advertises with maintenance free steering. Ironically the steering is the only section of the trike where non stainless parts are used. The 20" front wheels are build around Sturmey & Archer X-SD 70mm Hub's with drum brakes. They have various different versions, 90mm/70mm, quick release axis, dynamo, polished.
Nihola opted for the "free floating axle principle", this means that (in this specific case) a standard 1$ bolt is used to clamp the wheel to the steering control. The bearings have a 12mm ID, the "axis" is 11,87mm. The idea is not all of the forces will end op on the axis, this principle is used with car's not bikes. Just a way to justify not having to machine a custom axis if you ask me. To get rid of this issue, 12mm centerless ground shaft steel was machined to lenght and threaded, 3mm holes were drilled for through axis wiring.
Some pictures from another Nihola, some before and afters. Where needed parts were machined from SS316, the nuts that hold the drum brake pad together with the threaded tube are made of 22mm and 24mm hexagonal SS316 stock. The thread is M16x1.0, pretty nasty machining, I had to buy a special tap.
14/09 Update 4 - Custom sprockets.[/b
Im building custom gear, spider and sprockets for the TSDZ2. I was not happy with the current centerline and thin sprockets.
Maedler sprockets
Front 54t
Back 28t
Spider Alu 6076T6
40 M2 screws fasten the spider to the sprocket
HiRes files of the spider and sprocket
https://i.imgur.com/RLNuyVM.png
https://i.imgur.com/5TIkTL6.png
Lots of pictures tell the story. To be continued.
9-Spline
Enviolo/Nuvinci Data sheet
Enviolo/Nuvinci Data sheet
Gear ratio
Spider
Sprocket
Sprocket
Sprocket
Maedler
Maedler
M2 screws 12.9 Ti Gold platen CS Hex
Custom spider
Custom spider