My Sidewinder Buggy project

Jones · Dec 16, 2008

Hi,
While not model engineering, this is a mechanically inclined project so I thought I would share it here for anyone interested.
I have always wanted an off-road buggy and now that I have finished school I have a 4 month break in which I have been building this, as a little break from model engineering. It's a Sidewinder, designed by 'The Edge'. http://www.edge.au.com I looked at many different designs before settling on this one.

Frame progress

Rear suspension swingarm (Increased size of the bracing tube to make it stronger)

Front suspension swingarms

I bought this written off motorbike (statutory write off - can never be re-registered) from an auction:

It's a 2007 Suzuki GS-500F with only 9,500 km's on it.
Here is the engine removed (it's VERY heavy)

I hope to have it finished, or at least driveable, sometime mid january.
Comments, questions and *constructive* criticism welcome.

malcolmt · Dec 16, 2008

Hi Jones'y
What a great project, I hope you will keep us updated with the build, I see some fantastic work in that frame and suspension parts you have built. :bow: :bow: :bow:
Criticism ???????
NEEDS A BIGGER ENGINE

Great stuff

Kind regards

Malcolmt

BobWarfield · Dec 17, 2008

Buggies like that are cool. Some are insanely fast with a motorcycle engine. I like the full roll cage too.

Are you going to scavenge the bike's brakes too?

Cheers,

BW

stevehuckss396 · Dec 18, 2008

I made something like that years ago with a 2 cylinder 340 snomobile engine. You wont regret it!! Just be careful!!

rake60 · Dec 18, 2008

Nice looking project Jones!

Please keep us posted on the progress.

Rick

Tin Falcon · Dec 18, 2008

Jones nice project . From personal experience you may want to disassemble the engine and check for internal damage. I had a car years ago that I bought as a wreck it had minor front end damage. I ended up giving it to my brother who needed a car. After only few hundred miles it started smoking. My brother being an experience bike mechanic opened up the engine and found that the retaining ring that held tone of the wrist pins in place apparently broke loose in the accident. This little part put a deep score in one of the pistons and allowed oil to blow by. That engine looks great but you may not want to assume that it is fine internally. A inspection tear down may save you major problems later. Just a thought.
Tin

kustomkb · Dec 18, 2008

Cool!
Ya got a real nice powerplant there.

I have done a little swing arm building of my own.

From a cub 70

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6636067717591910300&q=source:004805650779899911724&hl=en

Have fun.

Kevin.

Bernd · Dec 19, 2008

Kevin,

Were can you get plans to build something like that.

I'm thinking steam powered. :big: :big: :big:

Bernd

kustomkb · Dec 19, 2008

Bernd,

It is a one off I built as I went along, Sometimes I look back at something I've built and have no idea how it was done.

Like I was possessed or something. ;D

KB

Jones · Dec 19, 2008

Kevin that has got to be one of the weirdest rides I have ever seen! It looks like great fun.

OK, I have done a bit more since the last update. HAVE PICS!

Close up of the bars which I added to the front of the frame:

Put on the rear suspension mounts:

Cut the frame

Then welded it back together 20mm downwards. The HUGE Suzuki engine won't fit otherwise

I also bought two shocks from a yamaha XT-550. Unfortunately the designer of the Edge buggies says that I will have to upgrade the springs in them to make them work properly. I'ill see how it goes.

Andrew

kustomkb · Dec 20, 2008

Good foresight on the frame.

Why is everything blue? Is there alot of moisture out there?

rleete · Dec 20, 2008

kustomkb said:
Why is everything blue?

It's sad because it isn't finished? :big:

Jones · Dec 20, 2008

All steel comes from the supplier painted that blue colour. I guess it is to stop rust. I think the manufacturer is called "Bluescope steel", and they paint all their steel blue. It's great because it never has rust on it (except where it get's welded)

Metal Mickey · Dec 20, 2008

Really great thread! Keep up the good work. I built a lotus 7 replica from a book sold in the UK that was called "Build a sports car for under £250" or something like that. Anyway I built it for my suns 17th Birthday as it was cheaper to insure!

Don't take it as a criticism because your welds seem deep and strong so I would grind some of the excess off if I was you......just a thought.....

I would love to build something like it again but being disabled,would never use it. If someone in the UK wants a frame welded up let me know. I love working with 1" square tube steel. Making the frame was the best part of building the car and I think your doing a great job.

That's the trouble with this forum theres so many good things going on......I never get to do the things i should!

Looking forward to your next post.

Maryak · Dec 20, 2008

Metal Mickey said:
That's the trouble with this forum theres so many good things going on......I never get to do the things i should!

You too ???

Best Regards
Bob

Jones · Dec 21, 2008

I would grind some of the excess off if I was you

I know what you mean, some of the welds look pretty bad. It is arc/stick welding and I am now much better at it than I was when I first started the frame. HOWEVER, some places wont let you race if you grind off any of the welds so I thought 'better safe than sorry if I decide to race this at a later date'.

Metal Mickey · Dec 21, 2008

I didn't think the welds looked pretty bad, but I am interested in your comment that they won't let your race if they are ground back! Not being involved in that side of things, it is a bit of a surprise. You learn something everyday.

Keep going your projest does you proud! :bow:

Maryak · Dec 21, 2008

Jones,

For your vertical welds - vertical up - reduce the amps and a slight weave
vertical down - increase the amps and go like hell no weave.

They look like V up to me which is stronger than v down but much harder to get a neat weld.

Hope the above helps ??? ???

Best Regards
Bob

zeusrekning · Dec 21, 2008

I was so please to see this post. I actually though I was @ the wrong forum. This is the same buggy I hope to start on sometime after the new year. Make sure to keep us informed. Are you on the edge fourm. I have been been following The Edge buggies since the mid to late 90's.

Jones · Dec 21, 2008

For your vertical welds - vertical up - reduce the amps and a slight weave
vertical down - increase the amps and go like hell no weave.

Thanks very much Bob :bow: , I had only tried to do a vertical down once and it immediately blew a massive hole in the metal. Almost all the welds on the frame were done by rotating the frame so I was just doing a normal flat weld. It is getting a bit more difficult to do that each day as the frame gets heavier.

Zeusrekning, I am on the Edge forum. I have a topic in the 'in progress' section called "Andrew's Sidewinder".
I would highly recommend the Sidewinder over the other Edge buggies because it is SO much easier to build than the Piranha (needs laser cut parts and CV joints = $$$), and it is a huge step up from the Taipan (no suspension).

My Sidewinder Buggy project

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