3 Wheel Golf Cart Build, The "Tri -X- Side", Here Goes Nothing!

[coolpool]

This build will most likely be done over a few months; my son and I hope to have it ready for trikefest at the latest

I got this 1965 Marketeer 425 from a co-worker for free last month and decided it needed to be re-born as a "Tri-X-Side". I purchased a 1986 Honda TRX250 for $700 that's solid and runs/shifts well. Rear diff is great and all brakes/lights work. I was going to cut off the original rear diff from the cart and attach the quad frame to the cart swing arm keeping the stock cart suspension. The original swingarm is a beast and would have handled the load. Matt, (thankfully) talked me out of that idea and we removed the stock diff/swingarm. With the help of a saws-all, Matt trimmed the quad frame which fit it in easier than I imagined keeping it as one integral package. There's a lot of steel bracing on this old cart to work with! This will be a roller by the end of the week I hope. I'll be installing 2 1/2" wheel spacers on the rear and using a trike front wheel and axle. Not sure which one yet, but leaning toward a 200X configuration. I might even try to rig up front brakes There'll be lots of fabrication in store as I work out shifters, brakes, throttle, gas tank and electrical. A couple of black tractor seats should keep us comfortable and the whole thing will be sprayed in olive drab with black rims. I'll keep updating as we move along.

[MRSOUND]

Do you think you will have any trouble keeping the motor cool enough with it enclosed in the body like that?

[coolpool]

Do you think you will have any trouble keeping the motor cool enough with it enclosed in the body like that?

We put some thought into that scenario. There will be grating in the front and a cooling fan installed. Matt's thinking of some side scoops too. Hopefully that will handle it.

[kaymo]

that rear axle looks beefy. got any more pics of that? and what kind of motor did it have?

[coolpool]

that rear axle looks beefy. got any more pics of that? and what kind of motor did it have?

The original rear axle must have been from a car or something. There's a double roller chain attaching the spool to the original 36V DC motor. Any pics in mind that you'd like to see? The wheel stud spacing is 3 3/4" which is oddball even for golf cart standards. The brake linings are attached to the rims and the metal shoes are on the axle, weird.

[hoosierlogger]

This is gonna be cool.

[6speedthumper]

I ha similar aspirations when I was a kid!

[blue27]

Your hauling the beer at TF!!! This should be a cool build

[kaymo]

I have wanted to do this (i have two lifted golf carts but crappy electric) but i have feared the side to side stress on the swingarm mounts would be too great. your golf cart looks fairly narrow and light though, so you might be ok. i was going to use a big red too but decided to fix it instead wouldnt mind sacrificing a TRX. single a arm sucks a bit...


looks good cant wait to see more!

[coolpool]

I have wanted to do this (i have two lifted golf carts but crappy electric) but i have feared the side to side stress on the swingarm mounts would be too great. your golf cart looks fairly narrow and light though, so you might be ok. i was going to use a big red too but decided to fix it instead wouldnt mind sacrificing a TRX. single a arm sucks a bit...


looks good cant wait to see more!

Kaymo I did research some custom carts and seen the same scenario with aluminum frames, wish bone swingers etc. I am very lucky to have an all steel body which as you stated is light enough for one guy to lift and lower onto the quad chassis. I think the cart is 44" across at the rear.

[danbur55]

really interested in this one!! this idea is how i wound up getting into atv/atc about 3 yrs ago was wanting to do something like this for in-laws to get around at lake, now 8 quads and 3 trikes later i still havent done it looking good

[Motorgidd]

Very cool Pete! I have been pondering something similar but you have taken it to the next level compared to what I was thinking. I see old electric golf carts for sale cheap here all the time on Craigslist. Can’t wait for the end result!

[Samjp22]

It's basically a roller now! coolpool will most likely upload the pics sometime today

[coolpool]

And Sam is correct! Now that I finally have gas hooked up to the MIG, ran a 20A circuit, combined with Sam's welding skills it's coming along nicely. No more sloppy welds. Hopefully we'll have brakes and throttle done by the end of the weekend. If your wondering about the bolts, we're designing it so that we can lift the body off at any time to service the drivetrain. So far it's been easy while retaining it's strength. And the kick start will still be available! Once it's fully mocked up we'll tear it down to make it pretty.

[coolpool]

Finally got the rear brakes, throttle and shifter hooked up. Fairly easy to do IMO. We can even use the original park brake pedal. Sam had a great idea to use the top motor mount for a shifter fulcrum; I said giver. Final result, finger push forward to grab gears, pull back for reverse, easy! Bravo! Took it for a rip up the street past trick or treaters last night; got lots of weird looks lol. That's the bull work done; now to hook up the choke, reverse interlock cable and wiring/lights. I must say we were able to use a ton of parts off the old quad which helped out immensely. Speed will not be a friend but it does ride fairly comfy.