First off welome aboard. Second, you don't have to offset the IRS. As long as the front and rear universals are at equal angle you won't get any vibration. Your not the first to ask here, seems there was a similar thread with the same question.

Day, maybe there ought to be a trike thread. LOL!

Ralphy

How great of an angle would the driveshaft be at a 3" offset? The only issue could be to much angle. Remember a IRS carrier is fixed to the frame There may be force off centerline, but again everythings fixed.

Last edited by Ralphy (9/17/2013 2:41 pm)

WHERE/WHO/HOW can I get information on the black and blue IRS pictured in the upper right corner of the home page????

Somehow my main question keeps getting missed...I say again, over...

What happens to the driving charicteristics of any IRS or solid axle vehicle when the WHOLE  member is shifted by 3" OFF the centerline????

Think about the rear end being 3 " out of alignment to the front end...3 inches offset keeping the axles square, parallel and perpendicular.  Just put a Z break in the middle of the vehicle or chop it in two just behind the front seats, slide the back portion to one side 3" and glue it back together...the azz end is offset to one side or the other doesn't really matter which side.  Looking at it from the rear the vehicle is going down the road with one end going along offset and both sets of wheels running in then same parallel plane but not running in the same tracks.

I know it would cause some kind of steering problems with 4 wheels, I'm trying to understand how MUCH of a problem will occure with 3 wheels.

Any information on the black and blue IRS on the right at the top of the page???

Thanks

Last edited by OLD-WAN (9/17/2013 7:27 pm)

I was just wondering what brand the IRS was.  I liked some of the design chareacteristics and it looks stought enough.

Where does the 6" difference come from???  The unit looks symetrical to me.  I thought it might have something to do with the Ford Mustang seeing the horses on it.

Missunderstanding again...I strived for clairity but didn't quite get there.  The question of offset is academic now and rendered moot.

I just wanted to know what vehicle that IRS came from as it has some pieces and parts that might prove useful...until I found what money was being talked about.  The design is still interesting.

I will use the "other" solution and center the IRS unit (unit refering to everything along the power transfer pathway...i.e. wheels, axles, differential, brakes, supports, wishbones, and shocks) along the frame centerline and offset the driveline.

Thanks

OLD-WAN said, "I just wanted to know what vehicle that IRS came from as it has some pieces and parts that might prove useful...until I found what money was being talked about.  The design is still interesting."


I also said the rear is a Jag more than once. Which type? Day and others can tell you. Day owns the board and it's his photo. Hope this helps.

Ralphy

Last edited by Ralphy (9/19/2013 3:11 am)

The black & blue at the top is Jag.
An excellent unit but pretty heavy for your purpose.

I would suggest BMW as it's very self contained in a cradle that is easy to remove.
This should ease your goal of being able to go back to two wheels.
The usual track is about 55" and the five lug bolt circle is virtually identical to a traditional Chevy.
Some are four lug, not sure if they may be lighter.
On a trike you want to avoid any model with a posi.
Pick & Pull sells them fairly cheap.
Guzzi and BMW seem a "Natural" combination. 

Mazda Miata might also be a good but I've had very little chance to examine them to see how they are set up.
Light car so the rear should be reasonably light too.

I would build the trike properly centered and just let the driveline be off-set.
Off center will take on some of the characteristics of a side hack, cornering in one direction will be stronger than the other.