Thread: Tricycle of Terror

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Hi, I guest first introductions are due. My name is _______ and my wife and I are haunters. We have been haunting for 4 years. So far I've built an electric chair (with animated corpse), toe pincher coffin, full size witch, and have far more Halloween props and decorations than any sane person should have. This year we are extra juiced and have started on the horse drawn hearse, mad scientist lab, black light carport, and a haunted trike.
Now to the hardcore question.
I am trying to figure out a way to switch a tricycle so that it will reverse. The trike will roll eerily forward, stop, and the next time triggered go back along it's track. I am using a small but powerfully AC motor from weedwacker, but I don't know electronics well enough to get reverse out of it. It seems I should be able to reverse the motor, reverse the polarity? If not, I can switch to a power window motor I have.
I was just hoping that someone could tell what to buy and how to wire it. I plan on mounting the switch on the front wheel, so when it goes a full revolution it hits the switch. Trying to keep this simple, thanks for all of your help.

You are going to need a DC motor to do reverse.

Use a DPDT relay like this:

If a DC is not really an easy option, and the trike does not have to be self-contained...you could use a linear linkage. Probably too limited though...?

For example, like the piston motion of a steam powered rail locomtive. A half turn of the wheel will push the rod forward and the second half of the revolution pulls it back to the starting point. Using limit switches and some circuitry, it could pause at either part of the cycle.

The more linear motion needed, the larger the radius of the motor crank arm.

Using something like a accelator cable (control cable) to actually hookup to the trike.

Hope that makes sense...I had to go this route on something similar when I did not have a strong enough DC motor onhand to do what I wanted. The only motor in my pile with enough torque was not easily reversed.

Thanks guys,
I am thinking of using the power window motor, it is plenty torqy. I just haven't figured out the most viable way to hook it up. The one I have on there now has it's own drive wheel under the rear step area, but it is off to the side and twist the trike to the side. So, I am considering a remote motor, and a pulley system. Then again, I have alot on projects and may have to scrap it if I can't simplify it more.