Placement of the Sidecar Wheel

[Richard 2]

We are adding a side car to our 750 Yamaha. We have read the rule book and know we need a 32" wide track but have not found any spec's on the wheel placement front to rear.
So, can the sidecar wheel be placed anywhere front to rear and what is the best position (I assume somewhere between center of the wheel base and just ahead of the rear wheel)?
Thanks in advance Richard

[Glen]

Look at willies builds in the build section,Lot's there

[Richard 2]

Thanks Glen

[Richard 2]

No luck finding anything about wheel placement in the build diaries.

[saltwheels262]

might be good to get a rulebook 4 the venue that you are planning to run.

bf

[Richard 2]

I have one, SCTA-Bonneville I don't fine any rule for the wheel placement front to rear.
Richard

[sabat]

I'm sure bak189 will chime in shortly and tell you the correct placement.

[Nortonist 592]

The rule of thumb has always been that the sidecar wheel should be 8-10" ahead of the rear wheel.

[Richard 2]

Thanks Nortonist 592 That's what I was looking for.

[sidecar]

richard 2........in regards to your question about the side car wheel placement.....i currently hold 3 side car records at bonneville and 2 other riders on side cars i built hold 2 other records.....8 consecutive years experience with side cars...contact me and i will spill the beans to you....may save some time and headaches for you...wally

[Koncretekid]

Hey Sidecar Wally,
Unless you have trade secrets you don't want to divulge, there are others (like me) who would be interested in the design details of a landspeed sidecar, if you care to share them here.  I know there are sites on how to build a sidecar, and I have seen many racing sidecars, but none were designed for landspeed racing.
Tom

[debgeo]

Hey please share your info Wally many would be interested including me.

[ol38y]

I could see a sidecar in my future as well...

[sidecar]

I told Richard that over the years of building new chairs i have moved the chair wheel further towards the CG of the bike....away from the rear axle.....thought maybe the weight transfer was hampered by the closeness of the chair wheel to the rear bike wheel (?).............current side car with 109 inch wheel base has the chair wheel 36 inches from the rear axle...the best handling side car i have been on......straight as an arrow......wally

[Nortonist 592]

I'm not sure how important the sidecar wheel placement is in LSR.  My placement is based on running a street sidecar.  But if Wally is putting his sidecar wheel 36" forward then there must be a wide range that will work.  My sidecar is 108" w.b. and as I said the sidecar wheel is 8" ahead of the rear wheel.  Its steers straight as a die.  One run at El Mirage a few years ago I had the kill switch activate right after shifting into fourth.  Rather than waste a good run I reached over with my left hand and held the ignition on.  Ran 121 with no problem.

P.S.  I run zero toe in.  Not necessary.


By weslake at 2010-07-17