Rotten Orange build - Gary Fisher Aquila shifter buildup!

I am using the Sick Bike Parts shifter kit. The drive mechanism drives the front sprocket via a front freewheel, so you can pedal if you want, or just let the motor do the work and sit back and "coast" with the pedals in one position.

Right now, I'm working through some issues with the extra-wide bottom bracket my bike has (73mm wide - English threaded). I believe I've found a drop in solution though that will allow me to install the freewheel mechanism without any spindle bearing width issues.

Found this TH Industries 73mm x 127.5mm bottom bracket for $24. I just ordered it and added expedited shipping, so should see the new part in a couple days.

Cool. I didn't know the front was going to be freewheel.

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We would not even suggest such a thing, let alone sell it. (To paraphrase a bad ad slogan! )

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hey datz, I just had a thought about your gas tanks.

It might be nice when you go to mount them to make them "quick-disconnect," i.e. easy to remove. That way you could fill up at a gas station if you needed to (long trip maybe) and mix right there in the tank. With it removed, you should be able to mix just as easily as if you had a gas can. just a thought.

Cool, I'll have to think about that.

Right now, I want to concentrate on making the tank as solid as possible, especially the mounting system. So, mine will be bolted down tightly to my rear rack.

Just a quick update.. Been under the weather a bit the last couple days so have not built the gas tank yet.

So, I got a big box from Niagara Cycles the other day which had all sorts of goodies for the build. The Rotten Orange will be getting some Apex MTB fenders to fend off the mud and muck it'll eventually be seeing off-road. Also, I got in the new set of Shimano SL Mega9 3x9 rapid fire shifters. Unfortunately, since I ordered them, I found out that they cannot be swapped left to right, so I can't use them on this bike. I took apart the old rapid fire shifters and found that hte ratchets cant be swapped over side to side, so there's no way I can use the rear shifter on the left hand side. So, this brand new shifter set goes into the pile of parts to be used for bartering with local bike buddies.

Knowing the rapid fires weren't going to work, I had to find a nice grip shift for the bike to run the rear gears. Needed something high quality, since it is imperative that the gear changes be perfect every time with the jackshaft kit driving the gearset. Can't have any mis-shifting or chains falling off with the engine driving the bicycle chain.

Ended up ordering a rght hand Shimano X.0 SRAM ESP 1:1 9-speed grip shifter. This will get mounted on the left side of the handlebars, upside down, allowing gear shifting & clutch to both be worked woth my left hand.
Here is the one I ordered for $40 from JensonUSA:


Naturally, when you change out a shifter, sometimes the existing rear derailleur wont work with the new one, so had to order up a new derailleur as well. This is turning into an expensive project! I choked when I saw the price of the SHimano X.0 derailleur (~$230), so went with an X.7 long cage derailleur instead for $60 from JensonUSA as well. Since the X.7 also uses the ESP 1:1 standard, it should work fine. Looks to be a decent derailleur at least. I just want a setup that is going to give me super-accurate shifting for this shift kit engine setup.

Also, I've been working on solving some issues related to installing the freewheel crankset on my 73mm bottom bracket. The supplied spindle would not work, so I came up with a workaround which involved removing the chain guide off the rear of the freewheel assembly and installing the widest bottom bracket bearing/spindle set I could find to allow the the freewheel assembly to clear my frame. here is the bottom bracket set that I found that should give me enough clearance for the freewheel crank:
The bottom bracket I ordered was a TH Industries Aluminum Cartridge Bottom Bracket, 73mm Shell x 127.5mm Taper Spindle
Bike Tools Etc. - 1000's of bicycle tools and parts for the home mechanic!


Since this 127.5mm spindle is narrower than the kit supplied spindle, it also may require removal of the chain guide off the back of the chainring assembly. So, i had to have some means of keeping the chain on the chainring when I'm in low gear on the rear cassette. I found this N Gear Jump Start Chain Deflector on JensonUSA as well for $10, so threw that into the order. its an all metal unit and looks to be fully adjustable for the chain line.
https://www.jensonusa.com/store/prod...Deflector.aspx


So, thats where I'm at as of today.. Now, its just another waiting game... waiting for more parts to arrive. In the meantime, I'll see if I can get the gas tank welded up and painted. I'll get photos up as soon as it is done.

That should be a good bunch of solutions to problems. I didn't trust myself to work on a motorized bike today so worked some on my cruiser. Maybe a few days and I can get the motor on the cruiser. You are so close with the bike just waiting on a few odds and ends. Next week for you too? Yea get the tank ready and that will be good. The tank for oil is our trade right?

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Lenny, Yep, that will work for me. Don't you just love the barter system?

I'll get my tank done over the next few days and let you take a look at it before I build yours. You can then let me know if you want any changes on yours (mounts, filler or outlet position, fuel capacity, etc) That also reminds me... I need to find a gallon or two of some motorcycle tank liner/sealer to use on these custom tanks.

Any other Phoenix, AZ locals that want tanks or any other custom fab work done, I can do it for barter/trades or reasonable cost for time and materials

I'll see how well these first few tanks go together and then may think about producing a few short runs of these custom cylinder tanks for others that might want one.

Wow. Looks to be an awesome build.

I bought the little brother of that shifter for under $9, and I still have my stock Shimano dérailleur:



The seat post deflector is an idea that I didn't think would work with the kit.....but at the time I didn't know they even sold such things. Now we will try it, too!

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