creeper.jpg

The Motorized Creeper



It’s dangerous to leave a man to his own devices – especially if he is surrounded by tools and has a mind dead set on speed and fear. Dowie found himself in such a position and just had to be concerned about what might happen. It was warranted…

Introducing the motorized creeper. Every garage needs one.




See Comments on the forum.

tcianci

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
4,242
Location
Walpole, Ma
If you hit the wrong thing at speed, the fuel tank ain't your only problem! We built a motorized drafting stool as a shop project in HS. It had a car battery and a modified starter motor. It was amazingly fast and totally uncontrollable!
 

rsanter

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,492
Location
visalia ca
why do that?
it would be much more comfortable to ride around in a motorized recliner

or you can motorize a bar stool and drive it down to the local bar. all the stools there taken up. no problem, I brought my own

bob
 
OP
R

Ryan

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Messages
5,700
Location
Texas/Hawaii
why do that?
it would be much more comfortable to ride around in a motorized recliner

or you can motorize a bar stool and drive it down to the local bar. all the stools there taken up. no problem, I brought my own

bob

Because you would look like a total tool riding around on those things... While on this thing, you just look CRAZY! Crazy like a fox!
 

rustyfords

Active member
Joined
Jun 1, 2009
Messages
34
Location
Houston area
Too cool. I want one.

However, this dude needs some more protection. One unexpected divot in the road surface or a caster bearing seizes and his face is grinding directly on asphalt, and he's eating through a tube and talking to Oprah about how he recovered from a jaw transplant.

I was raised in and around fast cars, dirt bikes and later, military hardware, and I've pushed the envelope way too far at times. However, from early on I was taught to wear effective safety gear and that safety gear has saved me from serious injury (the not funny....oh **** type of injury) on a few occasions.

This dude, especially going face forward, just makes me cringe.

That having been said....dude...I want one (building parts list in his head).
 
Last edited:

tyrell2004

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2009
Messages
116
Great, now I can change the oil in my girlfriend's car while she is driving to the store!!
 

Shmeefer

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
6
Location
Logan, UT
We built an electric barstool to race at World of Speed at Bonneville. We broke the exisiting record of 49.972mph with an average speed over 2 runs of 53.557mph. Similar drivetrain as the drafting stool mentioned earlier but in a CNC frame with custom everything. Rules, video and...
jmar_rear_view_of_Karen_and_racer_s.jpg


jmar_wheelie.jpg
 

jaker

New member
Joined
Oct 20, 2006
Messages
1
Location
Genesse WI
Dowie is nuts!

I've followed along this build from conception to it's current stage....

it rules!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

rwhite692

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
1,850
Location
Central Valley, CA
There is a video:


Dowie it looks like you put some thought into it...could probably improve it immensely by lowering it and using something different for a wheel and tire setup, though (wider, go-kart style wheels and tires)??
 

dowies

Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2009
Messages
6
Location
Milwaukee
There is a video:


Dowie it looks like you put some thought into it...could probably improve it immensely by lowering it and using something different for a wheel and tire setup, though (wider, go-kart style wheels and tires)??

This design is actually very stable at high speeds. I designed a two bar steering linkage with spherical ball joints and adjustable toe in. Currently it's aligned with .188" toe in. The design also has a mini friction damper for the steering lever that I made from an old die spring and some fiber washers. So no speed wobbles. I modifed the 8.50" pneumatic tire casters by pressing in high speed radial bearings. I also machined new wheel bearing spacers for a perfect .010" preload on the radial bearings. This thing is designed and engineered for speed. The best thing about it is that it only cost me $200 to build.
 

dowies

Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2009
Messages
6
Location
Milwaukee
Not to change the subject but tell us about the flathead hot rod and the
Harley knucklehead -

The 31 Ford roadster has a 39 flathead motor. I restored this car from 2005 to 2008. Kept the car exactly how I found it. Full mechanical restoration, left the original paint.

The 1946 Knucklehead is the same story. I've been building this bike with my buddy Carlos over the last two years. Full mechanical restoration, but keeping it a period correct bobber. We're hoping to finish it this next spring.

We were waiting for parts for the 46 build, and my mind drifted towards the motorized mechanic creeper. I took a two week detour and speed if the fruit of my labor.

Pictures of the 31 and 46 build can be viewed here:
www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=993
 
Last edited:

dowies

Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2009
Messages
6
Location
Milwaukee
Need options:

Brakes
Chain Guard
Head Rest

A chain guard adds weight which decreases speed.
A brake system adds weight which decreases speed.
A brake system is redundant because I have shoes that can stop this light rig.
A head rest adds weight which decreases speed.
A head rest is redundant because I have to lean and turn my head in the corners.
 

rwhite692

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
1,850
Location
Central Valley, CA
Dowies, with all due respect for your need for speed: Use your obvious skills and fab up a brake system for that thing.

I don't care how good you are at stopping it with your feet.....Somebody is gonna back out of a driveway in front of you or something, and then we will all be sitting here saying,

"Hey, remember that guy with the motorized creeper?? I wonder what happened to him, he never posts here anymore..."
 

cambyz28

Banned
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Messages
93
Location
NE
Holy **** I though I was a lurker does that say you have been a member for over 2 years and this is your first post:shocking::shocking::shocking:
 

airbassador

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
58
Not to be a buzzkill...
but don't let anyone with long hair ride that contraption if they value their scalp!
 

urban

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2007
Messages
12
Location
Germany
Hello cambyz 28

i´m from germany and my english writhing is not so good, so i was reading a lot but writing nothing.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!