Modifying Staton Friction To Chain Drive

5-7HEAVEN · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 08:00 PM

Modifying Station Friction Drive To Chain Drive

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Yesterday, I converted my Staton rear friction drive to chain gear drive on "Mr. Hyde", my twin-engined cruiser. Then I mounted that friction drive and a pocketbike engine onto "Girlie", my coaster-bike cruiser.

I had always wanted to use Staton chain drive on "Girlie" but was unaware if Staton's freewheel sprocket and hub would even mount on the cruiser's narrow dropout. I didn't want to buy the extra HD hub and 16Tsprocket anyway.

So I'm staring at the friction roller from the back of the bike. The rear wheel is an old chrome Spookytooth with 12g spokes and a 36T sprocket. It is a reminder of an unsuccessful attempt to mount a Happy Time engine on a girl's bike.

Peering intently for a long time under the friction drive assembly, the idea crawled out and bit me in the face...

Staton friction drive conversion to chain drive!

If I remove the engine and friction roller, a jackshaft can be created by sliding a 3/4" shaft and a 10T sprocket in its place under the housing. This sprocket lines up and chains to the 36T wheel sprocket. The shaft then extends less than 1" out the right side of the aluminum housing and supports another 10T sprocket. This cog is chained to the third 10T sprocket mounted onto the 5:1 gearbox, which is bolted onto your engine of choice. The Staton aluminum housing is drilled and slotted to mount your engine. Spacers under the engine adjusts the gearbox's chain tension, the Staton support rods adjusts the 36T's chain tension and the Staton front mounting bracket aligns the jackshaft's sprocket with the 36T cog.

The entire conversion might cost $100, as compared to maybe $500+ for
the Staton drive, HD hub and sprocket. It'd be cheaper and lighter with Staton quality components and engineering(mostly).

What do you guys think?
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Honey, it's just a bicycle. and i REALLY need it to excercise, and to ride it to work.(hehe)

deacon · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 08:39 PM

Im totally lost since I know nothing about stanton drives but it sounds good to me.

5-7HEAVEN · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 12:55 AM

Actually Staton chain drive without engine is $469 plus $148 for HD hub and 16T sprocket plus $100 shipping(for me)=$717 plus some labor...

versus $125.60 for one jackshaft, 36T sprocket+hardware, three 10T sprockets, two locking collars, 5:1 gear box, two lengths of chain, engine plate + shipping plus some labor if machine shop drills and slots the plate.

seems well worth the conversion.
__________________
Honey, it's just a bicycle. and i REALLY need it to excercise, and to ride it to work.(hehe)

5-7HEAVEN · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 01:12 AM

deacon, for riders that have the Staton friction drive kit, it should be cheaper and lighter to convert to chain drive. Basically, the engine and friction roller are removed and a jackshaft installed in its place. The engine WAS bolted on the left side of the aluminum housing. Now it bolts atop the housing. Its centrifugal clutch is replaced with a 5:1 gearbox with a built-in centrifugal clutch. The engine sprocket faces to the right and connects to the jackshaft with another 10T sprocket which is outside/rightside of the aluminum housing.

Right now it's just an idea in my head, but should be do-able.

comfortableshoes · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 05:34 AM

it sounds doable to me too. matter of fact the set up sounds a lot like the set up for a golden eagle but with a chain drive

5-7HEAVEN · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 06:50 AM

Shoes, actually it is VERY similar to the Titan chain drive kit. Engine sits atop facing right, gearbox connects to jackshaft under the engine plate and the left-side jackshaft sprocket links to a Happy Time sprocket.

In fact, the 5:1 gearbox is from the Titan kit.

comfortableshoes · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008, 06:13 PM

titan that's the manufacturer that I was thinking of...

Stoney · #8 (**permalink**) 01-31-2009, 12:45 PM

Hey What ever happened with this project? Did you follow through with your idea? I hate cliff hangers!

5-7HEAVEN · #9 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 12:45 PM

I have two twin-engined monsters, "The Iron Dragon" and "The Dragon Lady". The "Lady" uses friction drive front and rear; the other uses front friction drive and rear chain drive.

The chain drive is superior to friction in every way except ease of installation. It's a good compromise if at least one drive assembly is chain drive. One of the reasons is to lessen resistance drag from friction drive. Two wheels with friction creates a LOT of drag, especially for the wheel with 1.5" roller which has to overcome the other wheel's drag at all speeds that the other engine is idling.

I'm still thinking of retrofitting the front friction assembly to chain drive. This could be done by mounting the engine w/5:1 gearbox atop the aluminum channel frame. Then install a front wheel with disc brake hub and sprocket top-hat adaptor to mount a 36tooth sprocket.

Still thinking about it. I got sidetracked by other projects.

NEAT TIMES · #10 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 09:11 PM

5-7, How Much Does The 5-1 Gear Box Cost, Is It Centrificial Clutch Type?? Can You Get The Sprockets You Need That Would Fit A 1/2" Or 5/8" Jackshaft? 3/4" Is Extra Heavy Duty. Ron