Seeking Assistance - Bentech SWB

Greetings Everyone:

I'm considered a newbie to the world of recumbent. I picked up a used BenTech SWB that was built for above seat steering. The previous own placed a short stem riser on it and a set of high rise handlebars horizontally in an effort to make it behave like an USS, this limited the turning radius to about 10 degrees either side of the center line.

I am looking for some one who can talk me through the required modifications to make it a True USS SWB bent. Does anyone have a Bentech SWB USS bent, photos or old plans they can reference.

I would love to rebuild my bent over the winter and enjoy riding it this coming Spring. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Dogpatch,
Here are some photos of Vision bikes with USS: http://s1180.photobucket.com/user/IrvJamison/library/Trikes/Vision USS Steering
One problem is finding the right handlebars that will miss the chain/idlers when turning. I believe that your bike has a 20" (406) front wheel and if so you are in luck as the following person has just what you need, a very hard to find USS front fork. His name in Andrew Carson or ADC; contact him at [FONT=times new roman,serif]adcarson*recycledrecumbent.com. I was talking to him about the fork last month but did not purchase it due to a change of plans. He quoted me $25.00 plus shipping, a great deal, IMO. If you have problems sourcing handlebars, I can give you sources for some that will work.
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IrvJamison:

Thank you for the photos. Not what I had envisioned, I had assumed there would be a pivot point under the seat where the handlebars would mount and the turning action would be translated to the fork through a simple push-pull tube to one side of the fork. Then again maybe my aviation experience is causing a basis in my thinking. I was also wondering if this could be accomplished using cables, once again the aviation metaphor comes through. Time to think, thank you for the glimpse under the tent.

 

Another way would be to mount the stem normal, in the top of the fork and have handlebars that flow down and back along the sides of the seat. I would never try cable steering as I want a solid connection.

 

Take a look at Longbikes dot com. Several of their bikes have underseat steering using a drag link with Heim joint ends. They uses a quill in the top of the fork on the front end and a pivot bolt through the frame under the seat. It's not the most elegant solution but it works for us for now. (We ride a LB Gulfstream tandem).

The Ryan Duplex (Longbike Gulfstream predecessor) had a bolt-on pivot under the seat. It's a longshot but Longbikes may still have a few Ryan parts laying around. It's worth a call. You could also Google Ryan Duplex for ideas.

Good luck.

 

It takes a bit of work but you can get thrust washer bearings from McMaster Carr, drill through the frame and basically bolt a straight or curved bar to the frame with the bearings to make it turn. Then weld a plate to the fork and use rod end bearings an a piece of rod attach one to the handlebar and one to the fork. Sounds tough but it is really pretty easy. Good luck!
Jim

 

drop me a line. Even though I build recumbents professionally now, my first ride was an SWB Bentech. In fact, it is still my daily ride and my main touring bike.