Deacon's bike build

deacon · #31 (**permalink**) 03-30-2008, 06:48 PM

Joe Let me ask you something. Am I remembering right? The size of the wheel makes no difference in the speed of the bike with a friction drive. Since the friction roller moves the wheel the same distance no matter what size Is that not right. The bike wheel im talking about not the drive wheel on the bike engine

deacon · #32 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 04:59 AM

I bought a weed wacker engine from ebay and when it arrives the build begins again.

**Bikeguy Joe** · #33 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

Joe Let me ask you something. Am I remembering right? The size of the wheel makes no difference in the speed of the bike with a friction drive. Since the friction roller moves the wheel the same distance no matter what size Is that not right. The bike wheel im talking about not the drive wheel on the bike engine

Well, not quite.

For a given roller size, the smaller the driven wheel gets, the faster it will turn.

However, if that driven wheel is also the drive wheel, then the smaller wheel will produce less ground speed.

So, yeah, sort.

deacon · #34 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 06:30 AM

I guess I'm just gonna have to try it to see what the difference is in real time. I think it might be easier to mount the engine if I use the 20" wheel on the bike. I hope that I can work it out so I can vary the size of the friction drive wheels to increase or decrease the speed. I was able to do that no problem on the electric ones. I hope I can use the same method of attaching the friction wheels to the centrifugal clutch

It would give me a lot of fork from the seat to the wheel to play with. Also keep the engine down low for better bike balance and stability. I notice on the china girl bike that the cross winds are very destabilizing. I expect with a high mounted friction drive they would be even worse.

deacon · #35 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 06:57 AM

Does anybody know anything about that ryobi engine. I have no idea what I got myself into.

deacon · #36 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 07:08 AM

I guess I need to start a new thread in the bike contest since this bike is going to be going to the motor phase soon.

deacon · #37 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 01:42 PM

This is probably the last entry of this thread since the bike is more or less ready for an engine.

I started with a lightweight 3speed bike. I removed the front brake and both wheels. I had to go with coaster rear wheel and wider front wheel for stability. I replaced the chain ring with a smaller one to make it easier to start going uphill. I added a coaster brake rear wheel. I repacked the crank bearing and I had previous repacked the front wheel.

I decided to make it a little more colorful so I repainted the frame. Only one coat so far it will need more. So it is not ready for an engine. I have one bought on ebay and when it arrives I will have to make it work then somehow attach it to the bike. It is a weed wacker engine and will have to be friction since the bike frame is all wrong for a china girl engine.

I will see if I can get one of the mods to move this to the bike contest section now.

Before image.

in progress at this time

I know it looked better before lol

It has been a wet miserable day and the bike matches the weather lol...

**Norman** · #38 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 04:57 PM

Deacon man you got to break down and buy yourself a wire feed welder you could become famous for custom motorized bicycles it won't take you long to learn how to weld being retired you could get lots of practice and even help out your friends when they need something fixed. You have hidden talents that you need to tap into. You know what I mean?!

Norman.

If you can find an engine with bearing on both sides of the crank it will work better for what you want to do. A single bearing engine will have a huge force put on it single bearing when used like you are going to do. I might suggest a friction roller at least 1" in dia. and use a hinge to engage and disengage the engine with a lever in front of you. Just some BS for you to think about. good luck on your bike.

Norman

deacon · #39 (**permalink**) 03-31-2008, 06:17 PM

norman,

Read the thread on weekwacker engines. I'm thinking to just leave it engages most of the time. I might put a cable on the choke and just ride it turned on and turned off. And yeah I hope it has bearing or at least bushings on both sides. Those things are pretty light and I think I'm going to go with a spring without too much tension at first.

My electric bike rollers were like an inch or 1 1/4 pvc joints which would be a quarter inch larger in diameter. The work pretty well and since they are smooth I think they have less wear on the tire. However if they won't pull my fat butt up a small hill, then I go for the rasp kind and let the chips and rubber fly lol...

Actually I was well satisfied with the electric power just the lack of range made me nuts.

And yes I need a welder even though My next door neighbor has one. I will bolt everything up and slide down to his place and con him into welding it for me. I got the 20" wheel on the project bike. So I'm just waiting for the engine.

Gronkster · #40 (**permalink**) 06-27-2008, 11:11 PM

That one is for winter riding, it will keep the old gonies warm.