Now that I am through wasting time let's see if we can figure out where to put the rear swing arms. It is important for the axles to be perpendicular to the center line of the cart. There is more than one way to do this but I like to pick out a main frame cross member and use it as a reference point. You simply measure the same distance to both sides of the mounts.

I am able to use a solid metal ruler for the final measurement. We also want to be sure that the mounts are centered across the frame. In other words you don't want one axle to be longer than the other or in layman's terms one wheel done sticks out further than the other. It is also wise to be sure that the center line of the axle is located at the correct location. ( That sounded stupid) This will determine the wheel base which means what? If you said the distance between the front and rear wheels you would be correct. Did I pay close attention to this? Let's just say that our wheel base is going to be a couple of inches longer than originally planned.

But at least the square confirms that we are perpendicular to the center line as determined from measuring evenly from the frame cross member. The next photo shows the square lining up with the edge of the mounts and the edge of the frame. You may ask, Why not just use the square and forget about that measuring stuff? That works for me but it is sort of like one measurement validating another. In this case I was pleased to find that the mounts were square with the frame after spacing the sides of the mounts equally from the frame cross member. Now let's suppose that the square did not line up with the edge of the frame after equally spacing from the cross member. Has this ever happened to me? (The armadillos are piling up) At this point you have to decide which dimension you trust more. Or, how about just splitting the difference. I like for the dimensions to be perfect but that seldom happens. Just remember that the idea is to head straight down the road.

It is always best to clamp the parts together before welding but in this case it would lift the frame unevenly off of the table. I am using the biggest magnets I have to hold everything in place. Magnets are a marvel to me. They are almost magical. Can anyone really explain how a magnet works?

Now that we have the mounts tacked in place it is time to get the Azusa bearing mounts in place. You want to attach them flush with the inside of the frame rails and bolt the bearings on the outside of the mounts. Once they are tacked in place we need to back them up with a support gusset to be sure they do not move. This next photo shows a support gusset for the bearing mount and ready to tack in place. Remember that we are still only tack welding things in place in case we have to move something. Will I be tacking anything else in the wrong place before we are through? (One little two little three little armadillos)

You can see the gusset tacked in place in the next photo. Remember that the frame is turned upside down. I mention this just as a frame of reference. It is easy to get parts in the wrong place if you forget. We will need gussets on both sides of the mounts. These gussets will not be noticed but they will be doing a lot of work. Give them your best welding effort.

We will now turn our attention to the front nose section. It has been sitting up there at the front wondering when it will get attached to the rest of the frame. It will be tilted upwards at an 8 degree angle. This should give us the propper caster angle. I made some chipboard wedges to help position the nose at the correct angle but they didn't work very well. I am just using them to prop up the front with a metal ruler under it to give it a little more lift. The level will tell us when the nose is level. Level with what you may ask. Why, level with the earth of course. If it is not level with the earth then it is easier to change the position of the nose than it is to change the level of the earth. And no it does not matter how many elephants you heard onto the southern tip of Africa it will not cause the earth to tilt.

This is not a very good photo but it shows that the bubble is between the hash marks on the level so that is a good thing. We may not be level with the rest of the cart but we will be level with the earth.

I will now hold my breath and tack the nose into place. Or I could hold my nose and tack the nose into place.