Posts by neostar

My final commentary for this "weird noises in the back" topic. My rear pulley definitely had some overstressed bearings resulting from my attempts at adjusting the belt alignment. Over-stressed bearings give you a very obvious creaking noise. The ratchety sound like in my video is a result of dirt/grime build up in the teeth of the pulley and belt. The service manual calls it some kind of "beading" when I came across the topic. So cleaning and lubing is your best bet for that ratchety noise if you have it.

I finally went through the belt tension reset process after buying the service manual. Talk about a painful and tedious process. For those that are curious you basically can't tweak the belt tension you have to completely reset it first by undoing the associated bolts (4 in total) to include the massive swing-arm nut. Doing this will completely loosen the belt to the point where you can take it off if you needed to.

But It's not as simple as loosening up the bolts to remove the belt tension you have actually have to loosen then re-torque certain bolts (and in a certain order) to a light setting before beginning to put an initial tension on the belt. It's crazy because it's an elaborate ritual to the point where you have to loosen the swing-arm nut then re-torque it to 195 lbs then immediately loosen it again. It's crazy but if you don't follow the 25 steps or so verbatim chances are the belt will be too tight and you will over-stress the pulley bearings like I did a couple of times getting the process/order right.

My advice to those out there thinking about adjusting the belt tension, don't do it unless you have the manual otherwise take it to a professional you can trust. I would not rely on youtube videos because I have yet to see anyone go into enough detail to get it right. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.

Quote from edwardaneal

from what I understand the mounting is the same for all years - the fact that the madstad adjustable windshields use the same factory mounting holes and they fit every year would seem to confirm this

If you are still unsure it would be very easy to check. the outside mounting of the double bubbles is the same as the standard windshield, so we know that will work so just pop off the center trip peice and verify that the other hole is there, if it is the double bubbles will fit

here are some snaps showing the mounting holes

the plastic trim that covers the center dash just pops off by pulling up on the front edge

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Thanks for the pics, I will definitely check out those bubbles

soon.

Quote from MADDMOE

......here you go

Install Projector / Puddle lights INSIDE the OEM mirrors.

I plan on doing this mod in the winter , just have to decide on what I want to display on the ground

Awesome concept. Thanks for the heads up. Alas, word on the streets (norfolk area) is that cops are clamping down in the area on external lighting that isn't stock or standard amber/red. I wouldn't be surprised if they go after my front DRLs since they are not stock.

With that said I would consider doing something like this but having the lights shine on the floors of the car when parked and not occupied (car show mode). Cool idea for sure.

I actually was offered that set for free but turned it down because I don't think it will fit on the 2019. I might have to ask the owner again to see if I can test them out.

It is a clean simple look that compliments the theme well.

Quote from Slingrazor

Ill have to fix that.

9,480.

Yeah get the mileage in there or people will assume the worst. With the miles I can't see it selling for less than $23k so 25k is a good target. Great looking sling for sure.

Quote from dcarhart

nice, where did you get the orange stripping, or did you cut it yourself?

I've got the decal on the front and the tires, but would love to do the stripping.

I had it professionally done. I figure the best shop to do it would be those that do graphics on commercial trucks. They gave me a great price compared to the custom shops that specialize in modding/striping high-end cars etc. I saved about 30-40% doing it this way. Got a great warranty on the materials and labor too.

Quote from Funinthesun

It looks good, but it really needs to have the double bubble windshields to finish it off

Yeah I know of the one that is out there (nicely priced) for older slinghots but I am holding out hoping for a nicer version to come out from a 3rd party. The madstad one is tempting but pricey and too many adjustment fittings to spoil the clean look. Still I might consider it down the road, just wish it was no more than $300.

Curious why there is no info on the mileage. It's the only thing not listed. It's a nice sling no doubt with lots of value invested that's for sure.

Ever since I brought my 2019 SL home a couple of months ago, I knew I would turn her into a true batmobile someday. Might as well since it was being called a batmobile already.

My inspiration was the first car toy I ever had as a kid. When I was 6, my mom bought me the 1960s batmobile toy and I fell in love with it (played with it to death) even though I still didn't know who batman was. Of course I grew up to become a comic book nerd but that car really stuck in my mind after all these years. Fast forward many decades and I decided it's time to make my toy come to life as best I could without paying 100k+ for a custom Barris replica.

My vision is now complete...

To say this has been turning heads would be an understatement. I literally had a guy pull-over (like I was a cop with a siren) and let me pass by so he could take it all in. I especially get a chuckle when I see folks pulled up next to me at the stoplight transfixed at the wheels. Needless to say, out of 20 slingshots I have seen locally at gatherings only one has tried an old-school wheel look everyone else is sticking with stock or modern thin-spoke low-profile designs.

I plan to visit the local comic-con in va beach later this year and see if I am lucky enough to spot a young stud in a high quality batman suit. If I get that lucky I will see if he wants to do a video shoot with the sling and post it on youtube for massive views. I also plan to crash the local car shows. Should have no probs getting a parking spot I think.

I worked with a local wheel shop. I made it clear I was looking for old-school fat spoke muscle car wheels. First name to come up was cragar, since they had work on getting wheels for slingshots in the past it was no problem for them getting the right fit for my sling. I am about to post the final look of my "batmobile", stanby

Quote from Bigdog

Be careful what you wish for....

Right now we are classified and sold as a motorcycle.....in my state it’s an autocycle....with no motorcycle license required, motorcycle plates and following motorcycle rules..

If lawmakers get involved anymore.....we could be put into a different classification with a whole bunch of rules and regulations we can’t live up to or don’t want.

We could be required to add a bunch of equipment like airbags....and pass a certified crash test to be sold. Or to even be allowed on the road.....if I own a $20,000 vehicle I’m not allowed to have on the road anymore, I’m going to be pissed. If we have to fit into an actual car designation we’re screwed big time. Then you have two choices....pay for all the very expensive upgrades or have a piece of useless junk you can’t even sell or put on the road.

Right now we have the best of both worlds.....lawmakers could change that thinking they are doing something good......that very rarely happens or turns out right.

You can never make everyone happy.....keep government out of our lives.....

A can of worms could be opened as a result of unintentional wave making because you do or don’t want to wear a helmet....then they’ll look at other aspects of what is and isn’t a motorcycle.

Let a sleeping dog lay.

Thousands of current slingshot owners could get screwed...in more ways than one.

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Not sure who you are talking to but my guess if the slingshot/vanderhall were to really take over the road rec vehicle niche we could see more restrictive laws (mandatory airbags, bumpers, built-in roof, etc) simply because there would be lots more crash data. And at some point the rest of the car driving population would demand the autocycle follow car rules for safety to share in the pain and ugliness that it entails . The biggest downside of this fun vehicle is how light it is, It makes for a very dangerous ride in rain and just after (hydroplaning).

Quote from Bigdog

First of all.....this may sound controversial ...why do lawmakers care if you wear a helmet or not.....I think some do it to make potential voters happy.....some might want to see you kill yourself because you’re just an outlaw...

The most dangerous risk we face is our own driving...at times...showing off....speeding....whatever...

The second most is people texting...driving drunk....speeding....high....and people that shouldn’t be driving.

As a very famous Dirty Harry once said...... Do you feel lucky punk.....we’ll do ya?

My riding advice to everyone is...Drive like other drivers are intentionally trying to kill you...

Statistically according to insurance facts....once every ten years you will wreck a vehicle...

Which vehicle will it be and when? Will it be major or minor? Will you survive or not? Are you doing everything in your power to increase your odds of survival?

My ex wife’s first husband chose to ride his bike without a helmet. The driver that blew the red light killed him. His head hit a metal telephone pole. But he didn’t died right away, he laid in a coma for a year then he died. That was over 30 years ago.

How many people are driving distracted today.....I would estimate it ...at least 50% percent. That means you have a 50% percent chance of being or not being in an accident, not caused by you. I’m not crazy about those odds....That distracted driver doesn’t care if you’re driving a car, a truck or a tank, a bicycle or walking....Because they probably won’t even see you....They don’t care if you are wearing a helmet or not. They don’t care about your loved ones....they don’t even care about theirs...They don’t care if you live or die. The most important thing is them and the imperative text message that can’t wait.

They are intentionally trying to kill you.

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Politicians don't want blow back especially from relatives when their loved decides to drive without a helmet, hence the laws.

The good news about distracted drivers is that once they see my sling, (especially my custom batmobile ) all eyes stay on it. Always a plus when it comes to driving. In fact yesterday I saw someone actually slow down and hold off making a right turn just to see me go by

Quote from slopoke

This is great info and I am working with my GA legislators to try and bring this up for a vote to amend the current law.

I have scoured everywhere looking for the source of the statement above. Do you happen to have the actual *linkable* source from the AAN?

Thanks!

Nope, this is a 3rd party commentary at the bottom of the article,so he is probably going off some old news posting. I wouldn't be surprised if these AAN remarks happened shortly after they had came up with the HANS device. I remember the racing world/news media making a lot of noise about this topic a couple years after Earnhardt's death.

I encourage discussion on this topic because I just read this one comment from an article and it had never dawned on me the downside of wearing a full-helmet with seat restraints like the ones of the slingshot.

First off, common sense makes it clear you are safer with a helmet even with a sturdy roof like the slngshade but what about whiplash from a hit from behind (or forward for that matter)? What then?

A comment from this very good article https://www.thedrive.com/motor…equired-on-three-wheelers sums it up nicely.

"Actually, the American Academy of Neurosurgeons has already weighed in on this and they NEVER recommend the use of a helmet when NOT USING A HANS device, while restrained, as in "wearing a shoulder/lap belt". Forces on the neck are increased 40 fold in both frontal and rear impact crashes, nearly assuring death of the driver when the added weight of a helmet is added to the driver's head. Unfortunately, our legislatures are so short sighted, most have not addressed this issue, and won't until they are sued for INCREASING chance of injury/death by REQUIRING a helmet when driving a 3 wheeled vehicle equipped with seat/shoulder belts."

After all, this is what killed Earnhardt twenty years ago granted at a much faster speed but I swear seeing it live it looked like he hit the wall at 40 mph relative speed.

Now I have to wonder, what is more risky, 1) no helmet/just eye protection or 2: full heavy helmet. That's a tough one.

By the way that article above is a must read for all slingshot owners.

Quote from NNEVES57

What I was told the meaning of a removable roof is one that you can take off while driving, say your going to the beach and decide to take it off and drive around and then all of a sudden decide to put it back on. you cant do that with the slingshade or most other types for that matter. its not a removable or soft top or anything like that. we have discussed it with a friend that is a lawyer and of course as he says, it is all left to interpretation and all depends on who you get at the time and how they interpret it themselves. but everything is left up to argument. lol get a good jailhouse lawyer......

Just take a step back and ask yourself why there is a need for a helmet to start with then ask why a roof can be a helmet qualifier with regards to head protection.

Note this verbiage:

"Operators and passengers riding on motorcycles with wheels of eight inches or less in diameter or in three-wheeled motorcycles or autocycles that have nonremovable roofs, windshields, and enclosed bodies shall not be required to wear protective helmets. "

Reading this verbage it's clear to me the intent of the law is to ensure the riders of the vehicle can be reasonable contained in the vehicle during an accident. (I know people can easily be thrown from a rolling car with seat belts are not used). The clue lies in the preceding sentence: motorcycles with small wheels i.e. slow max speed thus less likely to be flung?

Also remember:

There are 3 requirements: nonremovable roof, windshield and enclosed bodies before you are exempt from helmets. The question remains is a slingshot an enclosed body and does the partial plexiglass meet the definition of windshield for this law?

Pretty sure when the autocycle laws first got on the books it was due to this bad boy (POS in my opinion):

"Elio Motors has been the subject of a great deal of criticism. Its affordable three-wheeled car, known simply as "the Elio," was scheduled to begin production in 2012, but still has not begun today, six years later. The company is desperately trying to raise money to remain open long enough to actually start building cars.

But Elio has made one successful accomplishment: the creation of the "autocycle" vehicle category in many states. This category recognizes vehicles that have three wheels but are fully enclosed and operated like a car."

https://www.thedrive.com/motor…equired-on-three-wheelers

Also for this bmw note the small wheels hence no need (nor room) for a helmet.

Quote from NNEVES57

I have taken mine through inspections twice so far and have passed both times with no issue. I also have stopped by the Fairfax police station and have been told that there isn't problem with any lighting that I am running as long as I don't run with underglow. I have only been stopped while on fort Belvoir for lighting while operating. Police off post in Alexandria, springfield, Lorton, woodbridge, they all just gave a thumbs up and have never pulled me over except in admiration. It was a cop that gave me the number of where to look for the rule. As for going by what is legal or correct I will always follow what is written in black and white and approved in signature by headshead. Old Army thing I guess. I don't take word of mouth as rule of thumb or something that I can protect myself in court with. it has to be black and white. Again the LED Headlights that I am using passed inspection.

Like you, I am not going to sweat it, if they try to fight it, I will pull out the law that I just posted here and have them try to prove the law wrong. lol. good luck out there.

Just remember it's good to have the cops not have issues but the one that will get you is the state inspector. I had my 2014 leaf with 3rd party led foglights pass 3 yearly state inspections but on the 4th, the inspector was not in a good mood and decided to fail me. I lost some money that day both in having to remove the LEDS and in the labor required since it was a real pain to get to the lights. BTW I have a buddy who is an VA ex-cop and he says he sees no issues with what I got on the sling too.

Now the helmet laws are a different matter. Lots of local slingshot owners are under the impression that once you get a 3rd party roof you are good to go without using a helmet. Nope, matter of fact no roof not even the slingshade will exempt you from using a helmet. The keyword is "removable". Even though some roofs take over half an hour to remove they are still removable so you can and will get ticketed not using a helmet in VA. This was the feedback I got from the former VA cop.

So yeah I am with you about getting the story straight when it comes to laws.

Quote from NNEVES57

According to Virginia State Law: We are authorized LED lights of white or Amber running lights, they do not have to be OEM. The lights may not be flashing while on a public road however if you are not on a public road you may operate the vehicle while the lights are on.

19VAC30-70-570. Permissible Lighting Equipment.

NOTE: LED (light-emitting diode) lights with a clear lens are acceptable, if of an approved type. For those vehicles that are equipped with a multiple LED light (not filament-burning

bulbs), they will pass inspection if more than 50% of the diode lights are burning.

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Here is the part you missed from a few lines above in that section:

"

B. Inspect for and reject if:

1. Lamps are not of an approved type (DOT or SAE-P2, P3, PC), or do not comply with subsection A of this section."

The key phrase "if of an approved type". An LED shop told me that approved types have to come from the car-makers inventory. Any 3rd party items are not considered "approved". This is coming from a shop that specializes in LED installs. I learned this the hard way years ago when my 2014 nissan failed state inspection because I had installed LED foglights to replace the halogens. I was told they were not of an approved type. The headlights were already OEM LED btw.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the light shop asking for approved LED foglights to be installed in my 2019 nissan only to be told there is none. I asked how could that be and was told because Nissan doesn't make LED foglights for my model. Simply put in order for LED lights to be of an approved type they must be of an OEM type. Now this is only talking about cars so I have no idea how strict motorcyle rules are. In any case I am hearing from the locals not to sweat my LED mods but by the letter of the law they are not approved, time will tell.

Quote from neostar

If it's a clicking noise like from my video posted earlier then as has been recommend, silicone lubricant on the belt did the trick, my belt is whisper quiet now. If it's a cyclic creaking noise then it could be overstressed bearings located on the swing-arm shaft. I played around with adjusting the 30mm pivot nut and 22mm hex shaft and started causing the creaking noise (didn't have it before) then made more adjustments to where I got rid of the creaking noise. Now ( after 30 miles of testing) my SS is super-silent in the rear area. All you hear now are the gearing howls and no clicking or creaking. It took a butload of adjustment testing to figure out what was causing the creaking. And it's not shot bearings else I wouldn't be able to get rid of the creaking sound. After 30 miles I am confident the bearings are fine.

Update: I am beginning to suspect the creaking noise (that sounds like stressed bearings) may indeed be friction on the thread caused by locktite used at the factory. I hope to verify this later this week when I apply a touch of grease to the threads. Right now my belt alignment is off because my adjusted shaft position was the only sweet spot I found that wasn't causing creaking because it was far enough from the ideal position that locktite is not present. Just a theory for now.

Also for you DIY'ers doing belt alignment adjustments pay close attention to the front pulley. The workshop manual doesn't talk about the front pulley but when the belt is in the proper position on the rear pulley (slight inboard left bias) the belt is centered perfectly on the front pulley. When you have the belt kinda centered on the rear pulley it's very obviously off to the right of center on the front pulley. This is huge when adjusting because now you can see what you are truly aiming for.

Update2: Well my theory has changed, I finally stuck my head between the front and rear pulleys while the back wheel was jacked (under load) and the belt properly aligned and could hear the creaking coming from the rear pulley area (not the wheel axle and not the swing arm shaft area). Even though I checked the belt tension several times and each time showing factory tension levels I now suspect it's the belt being too tight. The giveaway was tonight when the outside temp dropped by almost 30 degrees. When it was warm I could clearly hear the cyclic stress on the pulley bearings but tonight after checking the cold belt tension (factory settings of .3 inches) then doing a test drive, I heard no creaking until after a few miles when the belt had a chance to warm up and tighten. Clearly it's too tight and it's stressing the rear pulley bearings. Going to fix it once my new tools come in later this week.

I suspect my determination to drive in the day during the godawful hottest july days ever in VA got the belt warm enough to stress the bearings to begin with. They were super loud a couple of days ago during record heat. If after loosening the belt tension the bearings are still acting up then I just need to throw in the towel and contact the dealership for a warranty claim on the pulley bearings.

Quote from wokka

I seem to recall Texas having the same type of setup, but I couldn't put my finger on it with a quick google.

I had asked Troy about this and he's sold several here in Texas, even one to a police officer. Our inspection is not to deal with modifications, just check to see if it's road worthy per their inspection guidelines and told me not to worry about it.

So, I'm not, just going to cross that bridge if I ever get to it.

Unfortunately here in virginia the laws are the worst. Not sure about 4 wheel mods but I'm just sweating the fact that I have LED running lights in the front. By the letter of the law I wouldn't pass yearly state inspection because they are not OEM lights. Really annoying I know, thankfully reports from local modded-slingers are that they are having no issues with state inspections.

And just to add more weight on the matter here is a more current article.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.…ter-wheels-really-better/

Heavy wheel (Mas)

total weight per corner: 42 lbs., 4.6 oz.

vs.

Light wheel (Volk)

total weight per corner: 30 lbs., 14.6 oz.

Lap times in seconds:

and as expected a more notable difference in acceleration (braking assumed as well)

0-60 times:

The one thing I will emphasis that the article doesn't cover is the more cushioned drive thanks to more inertia from the extra weight. I swear putting on the cragars felt like I had upgraded the shocks.