TL2 based on a Batricar scooter

[Steve H]

Wise ones,

Hi to all.

I have had a set of plans for the last few weeks and have been researching power possibilities and ended up buying an old 12V Batricar scooter, the track width and wheel base appear to suit the TL2 perfectly, as does the wheel diameter, the bonus of pre wired electrics is a bonus.
As the dims seam to be ideal I am considering building the model up from the Scooter chassis instead of dismantling all components and refitting onto the Timber monocoque.. has anyone else done something similar ?

The scooter should arrives this w/e, so I'll keep you informed of progress.

I kind of wish I had started this months ago, but don't know how I would have explained that Santa had started to sub contrat his work out to daddy !
My eldest (4) is really looking forward to 'helping' with the build.

Regards to all the builders, and thanks to real life toys for providing me with another DIY project

Steve Hopkins
Southampton/New Forest

[jock]

Hi Steve,
I to am about to start a TL2 from a scooter. At first I had the same thought as you, change the wheels and mount the tub on top. After reading many posts on here I can see that there would be some problems using the scooter I have in that way. For a start the front axle does not swing and neither does the front wheels have independent suspention to allow for uneven ground, as a scooter this does not really matter as most of the weight is over the back axle so if any wheels come off the ground it is likely to be one of the front wheels. A TL2 has a lot more weight at the front (batteries), if a back wheel was to come off the ground the car would not be able to move because of the rear differential.
Also the wheels for the TL2 are about twice the size of my scooter wheels so the gearing would be too tall. I am going to gear it down.

[Steve H]

Hi Jock,
I guess I will find out more when the scooter arrives but I don't think this has any kind of suspension either, it occurs that maybe the steering could be left attached from the front end of the chassis and then the front end cut off and some kind of pivot fabricated to make a front swing axle.
Luckily enough the Batricar has quite a large wheels (about 14") so the gearing should be fine.

The guy has just phoned and is bringing it around tomorrow.... get the hammer out !

Cheers,
Steve

[NeilL]

Hi all
Your idea for th Batricar based Landrover is a very good one. I am in the mobility scooter industry and used to deal with Batricars a few years back. They are now getting pretty old and hard to come by but i know of a couple of people who have used them as a base for some type of vehicle build, and they have turned out fine. The newer type of Batricar normally comes with a hard cabin etc and is the better type to use but these are quite expensive even now! Good luck though.
Neil

[Steve H]

Just thought I would give a quick update of progress, the Christmas break was great as it allowed me to get loads done

The body work is pretty much complete, including a defender front end and bonnet and the opening doors that the use of a steel chassis allows, its need one more coat of filler and is then ready for priming.
The scooter chassis needed a fair amount of hot work, as the scooter is meant be a low loader, this isn't much good as an off roader, so the rear axle was undermounted on the chassis instead of overmounting just a nut and bolt job -but, lowering the axle meant the motor and diskbreak mounts needed to be removed, modified and relocated. and some new mounts for the front lower uprights fabricated
The existing cable handbrake mechanism can be removed and reused quite easily, but the rod actuated footbrake needed a new mount to fabricated from scratch, none of this would be too hard to anyone confident with an angle grinder and a welding set.
The next major task is the steering, I have ordered some Cog's, chain, bearings and J's from turnabouts and this should give a 4:1 mechanical advantage, I'm also probably going to use Xbox Lotus Elise steering wheel (with some strengthening inside), its a little on the large side but it looks great.
I also need to source some defender looking lights-if anyone knows where I can find any.

I'll try and upload some pics when I've worked out how


Cheers,
Steve H

[Steve H]

Heres a few pics of progress.

Steve H

[Steve H]

Hi all,
After some real good progress over the Xmas break, I went back to work only to be promoted to Project manager.... and have since spent almost every waking hour at work- (it must be unwritten law that a project has to be in the sh!t before appointing project manager).

Anywho, I managed to grab a few hours off this sat afternoon, and managed to eventually connect the steering linkage, this is by a chain with a just over 4:1 ratio, all seams to be OK so the next step is to lift the body back on and sort out the UJ so I can fit the Lotus Elise steering wheel  (an old Xbox controller looks about the right size).

The rod connected foot break and the cable handbreak are both connected the single disk.

So I guess the next major milestone will be paint, and then the reconnection of the electrics...probably around easter :@)

Cheers all

Steve H

[Steve H]

Hi all,
At last its finished, my son calls it the Alien research vehicle.
At some time I would like to get it sparyed properly not just with ebay cans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNu6JustPoc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtQvAN-AKlw


Ill put a few pics up soons

Cheers,
Steve H