Trying to adapt a Spyder to custom 3-wheeler - any help appreciated?

[HDMagnum]

So I've had this Tri-Magnum for about 25yrs, was in storage for the last 20 yrs. After purchasing it I installed an '86 sportster as the power plant. 2010-2016 I owned a 2010 Spyder RS, just recently semi-retired and now I want to put an Electric shift Spyder in the Tri-Magnum for the fat tire, hp, water cooled and mechanical reverse. 16yrs of thinking and planning. Basically the donor bike is only used from the fork neck back, so if I utilize a Spyder can I take the front wheel sensors and splice them into the rear wheel sensor ( so to fool the computer that all wheels are spinning all together)? And if I extend the wire harness as needed (moving gauge cluster, handle bar controls, etc) will it throw codes in the computer as it adds a slight more resistance in the readings to the control boxes, etc.? Any help is appreciated.

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[Mikey]

Very interesting, please keep us posted how you make out!!! It's always fun to think out of the box now and then!! Good Luck

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Wow! What a cool project. Please keep us updated on your progress. Can't help you with your question unfortunately.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Sounds like a fun project, even if it's not something I'd do - why would you even consider desecrating a Spyder to tuck yourself away inside something like that Tri-Magnum?? OK, difrn't strokes fer difrn't folks, I know, but really!

That aside, how big/what size are the front tires on the Tri-Magnum?? If they aren't too different to the Spyder's, why not just install the Spyder's tone rings and wheel speed sensors onto its front wheels?? Problem solved, AND you get to keep all of the Spyder's VSS capabilities...

And how long is the wheel base on the Tri-Magnum? I think you might be surprised at how much wiring loom length there actually is in the Spyder's loom, so if the wheel base isn't too different, there may not be a need to lengthen the wiring at all - besides, in your pics, the Spyder looks to be a little taller than the Tri-Magnum, which'll add somewhat to the length necessary for its loom to reach everything, so that loom probably doesn't need much in the way of modification to reach wherever it needs to go in the lower Tri-Magnum. And even if you do need to adjust the length a tad, a good auto elec should be able to sort out ways to do that without too much difficulty.

So I'd suggest that you really don't need to buy trouble for yourself before you get there and find out for sure that it's a problem - if you're going to give this a try, get on with it and find solutions for this sort of issue when and if you find you need to, without busting your chops over any of it before you actually know if it's ever going to be a problem anyway!

Just Sayin'

 

[Cobranut]

You could always try splicing the wheel speed sensors together on the Spyder and going for a test ride.
I considered running all mine through a switch so I could disable the nanny on demand, but I really don't want to start cutting into the harness unless I know it would work.
What year Spyder are you using as a donor?

Interested to see how your project turns out.

 

[HDMagnum]

Sounds like a fun project, even if it's not something I'd do - why would you even consider desecrating a Spyder to tuck yourself away inside something like that Tri-Magnum?? OK, difrn't strokes fer difrn't folks, I know, but really!

That aside, how big/what size are the front tires on the Tri-Magnum?? If they aren't too different to the Spyder's, why not just install the Spyder's tone rings and wheel speed sensors onto its front wheels?? Problem solved, AND you get to keep all of the Spyder's VSS capabilities...

And how long is the wheel base on the Tri-Magnum? I think you might be surprised at how much wiring loom length there actually is in the Spyder's loom, so if the wheel base isn't too different, there may not be a need to lengthen the wiring at all - besides, in your pics, the Spyder looks to be a little taller than the Tri-Magnum, which'll add somewhat to the length necessary for its loom to reach everything, so that loom probably doesn't need much in the way of modification to reach wherever it needs to go in the lower Tri-Magnum. And even if you do need to adjust the length a tad, a good auto elec should be able to sort out ways to do that without too much difficulty.

So I'd suggest that you really don't need to buy trouble for yourself before you get there and find out for sure that it's a problem - if you're going to give this a try, get on with it and find solutions for this sort of issue when and if you find you need to, without busting your chops over any of it before you actually know if it's ever going to be a problem anyway!

Just Sayin'

I got the same guff from the Harley people when I put the sporty in it I was wondering about the wheel sensors and how the mounted to the hubs, being a ring it may adapt to this, the front end is a '72 VW bug steering and axle assembly. So it currently has 14" tires. I had wanted one of these since the plans came out in Feb 1982 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine. When I found this one for sale I snatched it up. They are all home built. Only know of about ever completed and put on the road, and ever since Can-Am came out with the Spyder, I've wanted to put one in (never done) so I'd have a fat tire, more power and a mechanical reverse to make it more user friendly.

...
What year Spyder are you using as a donor? ...

I'm looking at a 2012 RS SE5

 

[Peter Aawen]

Your 2012 Spyder should have 14" wheels too, so I'd just be transferring the tone rings & sensors straight across - shouldn't be any hassle!

And the same goes for the wiring loom - I can't remember the VW's exact wheelbase length in inches (or proper modern measurements, millimetres, either! ) but IIRC, it's pretty damn close, so that most likely will be good too!

Go On, DO IT! You know you want to!

Full Speed Ahead, and damn the torpedoes!

 

[Snoking1127]

So I've had this Tri-Magnum for about 25yrs, was in storage for the last 20 yrs. After purchasing it I installed an '86 sportster as the power plant. 2010-2016 I owned a 2010 Spyder RS, just recently semi-retired and now I want to put an Electric shift Spyder in the Tri-Magnum for the fat tire, hp, water cooled and mechanical reverse. 16yrs of thinking and planning. Basically the donor bike is only used from the fork neck back, so if I utilize a Spyder can I take the front wheel sensors and splice them into the rear wheel sensor ( so to fool the computer that all wheels are spinning all together)? And if I extend the wire harness as needed (moving gauge cluster, handle bar controls, etc) will it throw codes in the computer as it adds a slight more resistance in the readings to the control boxes, etc.? Any help is appreciated.

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If I was going to do that project I would do it with the 1330 Ace motor and 6 speed tranny.