first bike builds and some questions

TCBCustoms · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 07:44 PM

Well I finally got a small old 1980s model solo leaf blower motor and stuffed it into a bike. But I wasnt happy with the outcome so I got a nice bmx bike from a friend and put it in that. Its friction drive and works flawlessly. Now Im trying to put a 26cc weed eater motor in a tiny kids bike. I have it all mounted up and secure, along with the 5/8 spindle. I dont know if this will work, but if anyone thinks it will let me know before I get to carried away! sorry the pics arent that great, there just off my phone.

**fairracing31** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 08:28 PM

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined us

Nice job

**Bikeguy Joe** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 09:29 PM

Welcome....I'm moving this to the "Homebuilt" forum....details please.

deacon · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 10:05 PM

Welcome

I don't see any reason it won't work just fine. How do you plan to start the engine. It is going to be drag start. Do you have a kill switch and throttle.

TCBCustoms · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2008, 10:38 PM

My leaf blower bike has a very nice round slide carb that came with a long cable, so I just had to hook it up to a old brake lever and use it like a thumb throttle. The weed eater motor dosent have a throttle on it yet. Im just working on getting it mounted sturdy and finding out whats wrong with the carb. Im guessing its just clogged. Ive been wondering though, does the size of the tire matter? I always though of it light sprockets, the smaller the rear the more power? Is this true in this case?

and yes the weed eater has a pbno kill switch that will be hooked up once I rewire it. The leaf blower however does not. I really dont even remember how it was when I got it, but theres only 1 wire on the whole thing and thats going from the magneto? hm

deacon · #6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2008, 12:20 AM

The one single wire if you touch it to the frame will probably ground the plug out.

We have been discussing the motor with no throttle and it will probably work fine. i would try that kill switch cause the bike might want to keep going even with the brakes on.

the larger the drive wheel the more speed you get but the less pickup so they say. You will get more drive wheel skip with a larger drive wheel. It is a balancing act. Your bikes should do fine.

The last engine I got I emptied the gas tank, removed the spark plug, sprayed a bunch of carb cleaner into the gas tank and pulled the starter with the plug out. I did that for about ten times. Then I put some alcohol in the gas tank and used it to rinse out the tank. Then a couple of ounces of gas to rinse the tank again. It started just fine after that. I know the guy before me couldn;t get it started so I know it worked. I have no idea it would work for you or not.

The tire size should not matter if the drive wheel moves a twenty inch tire a foot or a 26 inch tire a foot it is still a foot. it is the size of the drive wheel that matters I'm pretty sure. It would matter with a chain and sprocket on the wheel though.

TCBCustoms · #7 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008, 12:53 AM

thanks for the info guys! I welded a couple more supports on for the leaf blower motor but now im working on the weed eater bike mostly. I dont understand whats wrong with it. I cleaned the carb and put it in the pullstart case and it started up fine, and could idle forever. but as soon as I mounted it on the bike it would not start at all? what gives?

deacon · #8 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008, 08:26 AM

Do you still have the pull start on it. I junked two 31cc motors because they wouldn't start on the bike. Now I find that it is very very very hard to drag start a 31cc. Both of those motors were probably just fine. Live and learn I guess.

If you don't have a way to lift them off the wheel to start, you might give it some thought. I don't have a way to use the recoil starter so I lift the engine and use a rope on the drive wheel to get up enough speed to start it. It works pretty well.

Since my chainsaw is a full shaft I was able to keep that pull starter and it looks like I will be able to on my leaf blower that just came in as well,

If you still have your pull starter on the engine, check the plug for gas. I assume you did clean the tank out good after you cleaned the carb. If the plug isn't wet a new filter might be in order.

If the plug is wet it could be the spark or an air intake issue. It pretty much has to be one of those,

**Ilikeabikea** · #9 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008, 08:43 AM

Welcome to the fourm. I really like that little bike. I need to put something like that on my grandsons bike. His mom would kill me...................

deacon · #10 (**permalink**) 07-23-2008, 09:49 AM

I have a 13 year old granddaughter I want to put on a motor bike so bad it drives me nuts. My son in law (her father) would kill me if she got her knee scraped let along run over by a truck