A graduate of Automotive Training Centre (ATC) Toronto recently finished an exciting project in the school’s shop. Starting from the ground up, Bill Campbell engineered and built a steel trike, powered by a go-kart racing engine. Campbell took the knowledge and skills he picked up in ATC’s auto mechanic training program and applied them to a one-of-a-kind project with incredible results.
Keep reading to learn more about how Campbell went from parts to perfection with this project, and how his training helped him do it!
Campbell Used His Automotive Trades Training to Assemble the Trike’s Many Parts
Building a vehicle from scratch is no easy task, and careful planning is always needed. Plans for the trike were purchased online and sent to the CNC facility. The plan called for the assembly of many different parts and pieces, which were constructed out of 3/16 sheet metal.
In total, the trike required 38 different pieces to be welded together, each with their own precise place. With careful welding, segments of the trike began to take shape, making it easier to see what the final product would look like.
Auto Repair Skills and Creativity Made for an Innovative Front-End System
After welding the sheet metal parts of the trike together, the vehicle had a shape, but very little function. To give the trike more capacity for steering and control, Campbell used his automotive trades training to install the front end assembly of a bicycle to the trike. This assembly included a disk brake system, which uses calipers to squeeze the brake pads against the disc to stop movement.
Disc brakes have to be installed carefully by qualified professionals to avoid problems such as squealing, shuddering, and the build-up of brake dust over time. From the looks of this trike, Campbell’s brake system is in top order!
This Trike Has a Rear for Smooth, Powerful Rides
The rear end of Campbell’s trike is where things get really interesting. This trike runs on a go-kart 6.5 HP Honda racing engine, giving the trike an exciting kick. The engine, racing carburetor, intake, and exhaust were all expertly installed to ensure maximum functionality and safety.
That’s not the only go-kart element on this innovative trike. The rear end of Campbell’s trike is actually the same as that of a typical go-kart. The one inch axel, 56 tooth gear, and standard go-kart rims and tires all make the end of this trike more than a little like a go-kart.
This is Not the First Exciting Project Campbell Has Brought to ATC
The final version of Campbell’s trike looks excellent, and it’s really no surprise—Campbell’s auto repair career has involved more than one innovative building project in the ATC Toronto garage! Recently, he led a team of students who reconstructed a 1989 Terra-Jet all-terrain vehicle, with fantastic results. This project also involved extensive welding, as well as restoring a nearly 30-year-old engine. Campbell’s knack for building and reworking vehicles is just one example of how the right auto repair training program can bring out the potential in students.
Feeling inspired by Campbell’s projects?
Contact us at ATC and find out how attending auto mechanic school in Toronto can help you find your own success!
