learn as you go

deacon · #11 (**permalink**) 06-29-2009, 04:03 PM

today I learned that changing the scooter sprocket for a bicycle sprocket on the scooter motor then using a 16" bicycle wheel is not a good idea at all. The reason is performance and range are terrible. The sprockets are too close to the same size. It is best to stay with the scooter sprocket on the motor #25 and weld a scooter sprocket to the bike wheel. It is much cheaper to get a bike wheel than a rear scooter wheel I think.

My next plan is to build a fuel (battery) efficient pusher. I think the 250watt hub motor is pretty efficient but I would like to build one on my own that is efficient as well. I will be looking for a 280watt scooter motor with the three hole mounting design since I have brackets for that motor. then I think I will go with a larger sprocket on the rear wheel than I have on my fast pusher. I am using a 55 tooth model on it. I think a larger sprocket might give me better economy. Anyway it's the plan at the moment.

deacon · #12 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:15 AM

I am thinking about this for the next build... Kind of a faux trike...

or maybe training wheels. That's the ticket motorized training wheels. I think I might be onto something here..

deacon · #13 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 06:43 PM

The next guy who says you get what you pay for is going to get a piece of my mind. The smallest hub motor made was $275 no batteries. I bought it and now it is dead less than a hundred miles later. I'm sure that I can fix it someday, but I can build an ebike for under fifty dollars no batteries included. yes I have to work on them as well, but somehow I don't mind as much. So please don't tell me that you get what you pay for sometimes you get more sometimes less but seldom do you really get exactly what you pay for...

deacon · #14 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 11:15 AM

Today's lesson hub motors are hard to deal with when they are broken. I think my controller is bad. If it is I am playing the devil trying to find one that will work for less than what I can build a PAT for complete.

This is pure garbage.

deacon · #15 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 05:26 PM

I just put my hub motor on ebay. I don't want to fix it. I will if nobody buys it but I don't want to...

deacon · #16 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 06:28 PM

Today I learned that not only does too much current blow a fuse, but it will also melt a switch. Yes I hit the power on the 24v motor before I pedaled it up to speed and it blew a fuse. It also melted the household switch I was using. Which caused me quite a bit o grief. I bought three of those switches and all three have melted. Other switches don't do that but this three did. I wonder if they are dangerous in the walls of a house.

Because I am having fuses go left and right with this big motor and fast wheel combo I have decided to finally go to a controller. I'll let you know how that works out.

deacon · #17 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 09:53 PM

Another lesson learned today maybe. look over there <----------- At the adv for a bike engine epa approved... that gets 150 mpg and also does 35mph out of the box I presume. I would guess that is a case of getting a head start on inflation that is coming.

My bike would do maybe 90mpg and 27mph out of the box.... How about yours... Probably not the best place for such inflated claims. I think most of the people here know better. Maybe I'm wrong though. I have been wrong before.

deacon · #18 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 12:10 PM

This morning I learned my memory is going faster than my other body parts. I 'put up' a controller to test later. I went to test it today and can not remember where I put it. I have torn the shop apart no luck.

Izzy · #19 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 01:53 PM

heres a much better tricycle alternative you could use a 3 wheel conversion kit theyre very simple to operate
Lexco - Bike Parts & Accessories

deacon · #20 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 04:13 PM

I'm probably missing something but I don't see a description or explanation of how it works. No price either.