I could be wrong, but it appears to be a clone of a French Solex front wheel friction drive motor. First made before WWII, I believe, they were quite popular and were made for a long time in France, then more recently the company has changed hands several times... made for a while in Hungary I think, then maybe China? Not sure. The Solex still have many enthusiasts and they come up for sale now and then on eBay. It is mounted on a pedal bicycle and there is a shifting lever which engages the engine once you get rolling. Economical and kind of under powered, they were well made and are still sought after. The Japanese made Tanaka front wheel friction drive engine was a similar and simpler design, sold in the US under the name Bikebug, Taz Sptiz, Sears Free Spirit and something else I forget they were popular here in the 60' and 70's. At only 26cc they were kind of on the wimpy side for my needs. I still have a couple that run or did when I quit using them and have lots of parts. The photo you see shows a headlight built into the engine, which is how the Solex was made. The Tanaka had no headlight. Installation is pretty simple with no real modifications to the host bicycle necessary other than the front part of the front fender has to go.OK Ill bite, what is it? How big is it? Is that a gearbox with it?.......more details please and pics. Is that a head light on the front of that thing? Looks like a reservoir on the left side for fluid, kinda reminds me of a hydraulic pump.
motorized bicycle kit gas engine front friction 49cc - eBay (item 170393843026 end time Nov-11-09 11:08:22 PST)Is there a link?
I'm a tad curious
Yeah, its the same critter by a more formal name, I believe. That thing sure looks front end heavy, doesn't it? At one time I had an American set up with a tanaka friction drive over the front wheel and the front wheel itself was an electric pancake motor. Three lead acid batteries mounted behind the seat. Once rolling and started it was OK, but that one was heavy mother to peddle. It was also top heavy with two hundred pounds of Silverbear on the seat along with everything else. It was nice on hills when the Tanaka wimped out and I kicked in the electric. Gas throttle on the right and electric throttle on the left. The Solex frame and wheels are pretty heavy duty for a peddle bike, but one missing it's motor would be nice with a four stroke or HT in frame... or, gee, I guess maybe a solex clone might fit up front pretty nice. At one time I wanted one. But not any more. Redoing old American made balloon tire bikes is way too much fun. Besides, I don't speak French in spite of having attempted to learn it a little from two years of high school French. First year teacher was an ex marine and I mainly did push ups. Second year was a Cuban guy, Captain Ruban Delgato, who we cadets (I was in a military school) called Ruban the Cuban. His English was so bad, I was never too sure about his French, mostly I learned how to say "I don't know". Je ne cest pas. Something like that. Velosolex never came up as I recall or I might have paid more attention.Is there a coralation between Solex and Velosolex?
Velosolex 2200 from 1963
I would assume there is... but lol @ assumptions
I'll look around on a couple of CDs for an image. I know I have ones of an American with just the Tanaka engine, but don't know if I took any with the additional electric pancake motor. I probably did. I'll add to this thread when I run across it.TBH, tho I played w/em in the past and had a grand ol' time - I've just had too many problems with friction drives to buy one... new anyway. If one of these ol' girls were to pop up locally at a reasonable price I'd buy it inna second ofc lol
I suppose if you had any pics of yer "american" set up you woulda posted them - but I gotta ask anyway
Pics?
Heavy no doubt, but the Velosolex is surprisingly smaller than it looks in the above pic (same bike/same owner); YouTube - Velosolex Test 1 St.Remy
Ofc there's a bunch of interesting "related" vids on youtube if ya click that 'un
I'll look around on a couple of CDs for an image. I know I have ones of an American with just the Tanaka engine, but don't know if I took any with the additional electric pancake motor. I probably did. I'll add to this thread when I run across it.
SB
Yes, the lever with the knob is to raise and lower the engine and if I remember right the Solex motor had a device that somehow or other released compression, so that you could peddle up to speed with the drive wheel lowered against the front wheel and then engage the mystery thing and you had compression again... starting the motor, probably a smoother operation than starting the bikebug.I'm looking forward to the feedback on this style engine. I see 2 control levers. One I assume is for throttle, the other for clutch? The elongated handle and nob on the engine must raise it up to disengage? The percentage of tinkering to riding is a going to be a factor to consider. If its got the power, that would be great as the concept is sound. The Bikebug was very reliable.
-Mike