Another Harbor Freight Attempt

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MaxPower

New Member
Jul 1, 2009
551
1
0
Sierra Vista AZ
I've been reading a lot about various Harbor Freight Grayhound builds. I saw tyrslider's video (YouTube - ShellyBelly WhisperDrive) and I was hooked. putt...putt...putt...putt.... I'm drooling while I type. It got me thinking if I could attempt the same thing on my tandem shifter cruiser. The two stroke that's on it now is so 2009. It'll be steep learning curve but that's the fun of it....right...? The first thing I need to figure out is if my idea is even plausible. check out the picture I've attached. I'll help with visualizations.

I'd like to use a timing belt from the engine to the jackshaft but I have no idea if it's appropriate in this situation. Will the speeds and distance be too much? Would a V-belt or chain be better? My math may be a little fuzzy but I think I will need a 12"-14" pulley on the jackshaft input. Is that right? It'll make a heck of a flywheel. where can I even get a timing belt pulley that big?

I plan to use tyrslinder's universal mount so I've got that taken care of and I'm confident the frame is large enough. Except for the 12" pulley, the jackshaft is already complete. That was maybe the hardest part when I first built this bike.

I also have to figure out a belt tensioner. I'll leave that for a future thought.

My plan seems possible to me at least. I don't have access to high tech equipment, just hand tools and a dremel that I can't live without. I can bug my friend who has some nice stuff but he has a life. Steps I think I'll have to take

1. Am I content with life. Do I need to do this to my Motorized bike?
2. Figure out gear ratios and weather or not to use a timing belt
3. Find a pulley large enough, a belt long enough, and a clutch that's compatible (max-torque HTD)
4. Come up with some DIY belt tensioner
5. Use Univeral motor mount to mount the motor
6. Make custom exhaust
7. Make a DIY throttle.
8. Be content and not attempt this again.

It's just that easy.
 

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mdlee1958

Member
Feb 22, 2009
204
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Fort Collins, Colorado
Max,
Do you have your MaxTorque clutch yet, if not I have a brand new one that has only been taken out of the package and slid onto the drive shaft only to find out that it wasn't going to work for what I had in mind. It is an 11t 5/8" shaft cent. clutch. Would part with it cheap if you are interested.
 

MaxPower

New Member
Jul 1, 2009
551
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Sierra Vista AZ
Max,
Do you have your MaxTorque clutch yet, if not I have a brand new one that has only been taken out of the package and slid onto the drive shaft only to find out that it wasn't going to work for what I had in mind. It is an 11t 5/8" shaft cent. clutch. Would part with it cheap if you are interested.
that sounds great. Is it the HTD clutch (http://www.maxtorque.com/html/htd_clutch.html)? I need to think through this project before I dive into it.

I'm estimating $400-$500 to get the job done. Right now I'm having problems locating a 12" O.D. timing belt pulley (or any pulley that big) with a 5/8" shaft. It's sounding like it'll have to be custom made. I'm trying to avoid using a EZM or Firebelly gearbox. Just trying my own thing. there is a reason those boxes are so expensive.
 

Youngbird

Vendor
Dec 2, 2008
129
0
0
Longneck, DE
MP....I'll give away one of my ideas. Go to max-torque and get a driver and a driven....then you have a torque convertor that is in fact capable of changing ratios for you....check it out. Total cost about $180.-$200. including the belt.
 

tyrslider

New Member
Sep 26, 2008
958
2
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RainCity
Looks like the smaller pitch one is about 1.5" in diameter (don't know doesn't say). If you put a 9" pully and a 10 tooth sprocket on the shaft you'd have about the right ratio. On a typical shift set up for the Hondas is 32:1 ish, so w/ the HF around 16:1 will do. It is tough to see when your reduction is all at once, but let's compare it to the typical 2 stroke set up.

Off of the output shaft at the motor it is reduced on the same side w a 20t sprocket (I think, Have only done one 2 stroke shift kit) so frome 4:1 to 8:1. Then on the other end another reduction is made from a 10t to a 40, 44, or 48t chainring depending on your preferences giving you ratios 32:1, 35.2:1, and 38.4:1. you then drive your rear cog w a 32tish chainring giving you a top speed in mid gear of 32.5mph, 29.3, and 26.8 respectively. My ratio estimate of the 2 stroke may be off but o/a reductions are accurate.

in your setup your trying to make one reduction before you drive the rear instead of the standard 3 used on a standard 2 stroke and 4 stroke set up. so by reducing the rear drive sprocket as much as you can you help make this possible w/o having a huge pulley motor drive side.
 

tyrslider

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Sep 26, 2008
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RainCity
A quick cursery check yeilded no specs on the MaxTorque converter set up but looks to be in the range of 2:1 to 1:1 o/a ratio band and would require more reduction for a single speed and still more for a shifter.
 
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MaxPower

New Member
Jul 1, 2009
551
1
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Sierra Vista AZ
MP....I'll give away one of my ideas. Go to max-torque and get a driver and a driven....then you have a torque convertor that is in fact capable of changing ratios for you....check it out. Total cost about $180.-$200. including the belt.
Is this what your are refering to (http://www.maxtorque.com/html/torq_convert.html)? If so, I don't think it will give me a big enough ratio. Just looking at the picture the jackshaft input looks to be about 6". My calculation show with a 13" OD pulley I'll get about 19:1 on the high side and 7:1 on the low side. I believe the max torque variable speed drive is not tall enough for my needs.

anyone know where to get large timing pulleys? or any large pulleys?
 

Felton

New Member
Dec 17, 2009
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GA
Its not for a timing belt but its a pulley around 13 in. and its for a 5/8 shaft. might have to paint it so it won't rust. 14A X 5/8 Die Cast One Groove Sheave

I would stick with the pulley not the timing belt. I have been doing similar research but do not want to talk too much about it in public for fear of taking away customers from someone elses product. I too have been drooling over tysliders gear reducer. Two things keep me from buying it one is I want a little more reduction because I plan on pulling a heavy trailer and I want to have my bike ready for March.
 
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MaxPower

New Member
Jul 1, 2009
551
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Sierra Vista AZ
If you put a 9" pully and a 10 tooth sprocket on the shaft you'd have about the right ratio.
A 9" pulley would be much better than a 12" but I think it'll give a ratio thats to low. I'm probably wrong

some math:

For the high side
1.5" drive pulley and a 9" jackshaft input pulley = 5.6:1
18 tooth cog to 32 tooth cog = 1.78:1
Final Drive ratio= 10:1
Speed at 3600 RPM = 28 mph

For the low side
1.5" drive pulley and a 9" jackshaft input pulley = 5.6:1
18 tooth cog to 14 tooth cog = 0.8:1
Final Drive ratio= 4.4:1
Speed at 3600 RPM = 64 mph

I'm looking for a top speed (no wind and I loose 50 pounds) of 40 mph on the bike. So I think the mathematical top speed should be about 50 mph. I have no experience with this engine but I think 9" is to small because it yields a speed of mathematical speed of 64 mph. I could be completely wrong.
 
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ocscully

New Member
Jan 6, 2008
373
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Orange County, CA
The folks at Pfeifer Industries will probably have what you are looking for. Here is a direct link to the Tech pages http://www.pfeiferindustries.com/timingbelt_pulleycharts.htm
Pfeifer Industries is owned by the son of Jim Donavan from Max Torque. I bought one of their 5mm HTD clutches for a project of mine and also purchased a couple of driven 5mm HTD driven pulleys from Pfeifer. Both companies are very helpful and a pleasure to do business with. 'E-mail either with a description of what you are trying to set up and get their input. I'm not an expert but the reductions you are talking about might be on the high side? I've read here that the lower RPM/high Torque motors don't need near the amount of reduction that the Honda GXH50/Clone motor needs.

ocscully
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
12,765
115
48
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Moosylvania
Max, that is gonna be an awesome build! Can't wait to see her done.

With all that room, you could do a really funky reduction using many pulleys. Be expensive and ridicules but hey... lol

Talking about the HF's sound. I showed Carol that vid and was trying to convey how important the sound is. It really really is music to my ears. Just so cool. That old world MotorBike "pop pop pop, brugghhhh, pop pop" Spent a lot of time trying to get my 2 smokes to sound like that.
 
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MaxPower

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Jul 1, 2009
551
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Sierra Vista AZ
With all that room, you could do a really funky reduction using many pulleys. Be expensive and ridicules but hey... lol

I thought about doing that but I thought It would look cool with a big pulley. Put...Put...Putt... turning a Huge freaken wheel. You'll be able to see the torque.

Just sent an email to Pfeifer Industries :: Metric Timing Belts and Pulleys in hopes that they have a pulley that will suit my needs. I'm still up in the air about using a timing belt or a v-belt.
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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Moosylvania
I thought about doing that but I thought It would look cool with a big pulley. Put...Put...Putt... turning a Huge freaken wheel. You'll be able to see the torque.

Just sent an email to Pfeifer Industries :: Metric Timing Belts and Pulleys in hopes that they have a pulley that will suit my needs. I'm still up in the air about using a timing belt or a v-belt.
Really is going to look cool Max. Ya gotta post a vid!
 

tyrslider

New Member
Sep 26, 2008
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RainCity
Max your low is high and high is low. And your math is off. You don't need or want a 13" pulley.

1.5" to 9" is 6:1

According to Sheldon Browns gear calculator at 100 rpm's your speed w/ a 10t (your jackshaft drive sprocket) going to a 20t (middle speed on an average 7 speed cog) your speed will be 3.9 mph. If you motor is reduced by 6 (6:1) at a max of 4500 rpms your shaft'll be spinning at 750 rpms. So 7.5 (100's of rpms) x 3.9 (mph per 100 rpms) = 29.25mph.
I accidentally had 27" wheel in the calculation earlier and that's why the #'s changed.

P.S. That sounded kinda snippy, didn't mean it that way. Don't want you to waste $ on stuff that's too big when you can go smaller and get what you want!
 
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tyrslider

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Sep 26, 2008
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RainCity
OK I just clued into the fact that you want a big pulley. And here's the reason I don't think that you do. It's an engineering average that an Oz. of rotating mass is worth a Lb. of nonrotating mass. In other words if you can remove an oz. of rotating mass e.g. wheels, crank, flywheel, transmission, it's like removing a lb. off your frame, handlebars, seat etc.

Admittedly it would look cool like a MotoGuzzi Falcone w/ a big "MeatSlicer" on the side.
 
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MotorbikeMike

Dealer
Dec 29, 2007
477
3
18
Sacramento
Hello MaxPower, well I don't know what you are really going to do, or what it is you really want to use for a clutch BUT: with the earler numbers you had presented, the info I will give you now will be correct.

We have done a few HF's tho not my favorite, here are mathematical equasions for you, using the numbers you provided earlier.

assuming a 26" rear wheel
40 mph, 3600 RPM with a 6.9 to 1 overall ratio
mathmaticly 6.5 to 1 = 42.8 mph

NOW you say that you have;

.777 rear High gear looking for 6.5 ratio
1.777 rear low gear 14.85overall ratio = 3600RPM =18.7 mph

So to accomplish this you can use this pattern;

you will be looking for a Primary reduction 8.357 to get your 6.5 however it worked out easier to be 8.65 or 8.77.

So if you used 1.5 pulley 12 pulley=corrected ratio of 8.77,
if you used 1.34 pully 14 rear=corrected ratio of 8.65

with the 5.65 ratio selected, here is the math

Low gear 15.38=3600rpm=18.1mph
High gear 6.73=3600rpm=41.37mph

I do not think you can pull the ratios you want to do, but I do know that you will get a bit more RPM, these are raw figures, but will accomplish what you said on paper.

Hope this helps some

Mike
 

MaxPower

New Member
Jul 1, 2009
551
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Sierra Vista AZ
Here is the screen shoot of the calculator I'm using. On is of a 9" pulley at 6:1 and the other is a 12" at 8:1. I do think a 13" or 14" will be to big. I've got hill in my area so I'd like it to be geared on the high side
 

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