Staton Robin Subaru crank shift kit

[MaxPower]

Max, how much weight are you going to be pulling with rider, bike, motor/gearbox, trailer, and contents?.........Don

It's a heavy load but having such a low gear was one of the reasons I wanted this kit. I weigh 220lbs, I guess my bike weighs 40lbs, 35lbs kit, 30lbs trailer and the weight of whatever I tow. so... at least 325lbs. That's quite a load for 1 horse. Getty Up!!

 

[dtj6ppc]

It's a heavy load but having such a low gear was one of the reasons I wanted this kit. I weigh 220lbs, I guess my bike weighs 40lbs, 35lbs kit, 30lbs trailer and the weight of whatever I tow. so... at least 325lbs. That's quite a load for 1 horse. Getty Up!!

Thats a little less than I pull when I am doing 50-60 degree max incline slopes on off road trails, so the motorbike will do it all day long, just not at record breaking speeds, yes getty up!

Downside, I had to replace my first broken rear spoke today, hope it is not a sign of things to come............Don

 

[MaxPower]

this is what Staton had to say about the wine.

Is it Normal to have a loud wining noise coming from the gear box? No, not at all. The gearbox should be very quiet and you should not be able to hear any gear noise above the noise from the engine.

Will it quite down after break in? If they do make noise it always get better – less noise. You have the 16.07 to 1 gearbox... it should be very smooth and quiet. It should like you might need more grease or it’s just not broke in. Call me sometime when you are able to start it while on the phone.

 

[dtj6ppc]

this is what Staton had to say about the wine.

Is it Normal to have a loud wining noise coming from the gear box? No, not at all. The gearbox should be very quiet and you should not be able to hear any gear noise above the noise from the engine.

Will it quite down after break in? If they do make noise it always get better – less noise. You have the 16.07 to 1 gearbox... it should be very smooth and quiet. It should like you might need more grease or it’s just not broke in. Call me sometime when you are able to start it while on the phone.

Hi Max, here is a short video of my "trued" chain ring assembly while in motion and the whine sound that an 18 to 1 Staton gearbox makes while under load after 3 months and about 1,000 miles off road useage, how does my gearbox whine sound compare to yours?................Don



6 05 2011 :: 20110605_1950303.mp4 video by dtj6ppc - Photobucket

 

[MaxPower]

yup. Thats what mine sounds like.

 

[dtj6ppc]

yup. Thats what mine sounds like.

Max, any updates on your build after the one week milestone............any tips, suggestions, or feedback for Staton crankshift owners?.........Don

 

[MaxPower]

9 hours on engine
about 5 tanks of gas
145 total miles
top speed 42.7 mph at 8100 RPM (down hill w/tailwind of course)

Overall it's going pretty good. I still have a wobble in my crank and the gear box still makes the whining noise. I hit a bump that broke a spoke and un-trued my rim but was able to fix it. I don't like the fuel tank. It needs to be bigger and the cap needs to be easier to get a proper seal. I'm probably going to replace it with a camping fuel bottle.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

9 hours on engine
about 5 tanks of gas
145 total miles
top speed 42.7 mph at 8100 RPM (down hill w/tailwind of course)

Overall it's going pretty good. I still have a wobble in my crank and the gear box still makes the whining noise. I hit a bump that broke a spoke and un-trued my rim but was able to fix it. I don't like the fuel tank. It needs to be bigger and the cap needs to be easier to get a proper seal. I'm probably going to replace it with a camping fuel bottle.

It would be nice to know what top speed on flat ground, on a windless day would be.
My friend's son has gone 43 mph downhill w/no tailwind...and no engine.
FWIW, 8100 rpm is way past that engine's redline max.

If you can rotate this engine 90 degrees clockwise, the gas tank would work better.

I always install four-liter Happy Time fuel tanks on my projects. They might not look cool to some people, but to each his own.

If using a camping fuel bottle, don't forget to make a fuel vent hole.

 

[dtj6ppc]

9 hours on engine
about 5 tanks of gas
145 total miles
top speed 42.7 mph at 8100 RPM (down hill w/tailwind of course)

Overall it's going pretty good. I still have a wobble in my crank and the gear box still makes the whining noise. I hit a bump that broke a spoke and un-trued my rim but was able to fix it. I don't like the fuel tank. It needs to be bigger and the cap needs to be easier to get a proper seal. I'm probably going to replace it with a camping fuel bottle.

You may want to check with Staton for a larger tank, I believe I have seen larger tanks for the Sabaru that would be bolt ups and have the exact same fittings as the existing tank which would make for the easiest swap out.

How well is the kit handling hills and steeper grades?.................Don

 

[MaxPower]

It would be nice to know what top speed on flat ground, on a windless day would be.

FWIW, 8100 rpm is way past that engine's redline max.

If you can rotate this engine 90 degrees clockwise, the gas tank would work better.

If using a camping fuel bottle, don't forget to make a fuel vent hole.

Top speed on flat is about 30 mph but it's hard to say. cheap walmart speedometer.

8000 RPM is red line for this engine. The tach I'm using only cost $40 so there it may not be accurate either.

This is a four stroke engine and I don't think It can be rotated because of oil scavenging. I remove the tank from the engine when I fill it so I can get a full tank.

How well is the kit handling hills and steeper grades?.................Don

It does great on hills but it goes up pretty slow in such low gears.

 

[dtj6ppc]

Top speed on flat is about 30 mph but it's hard to say. cheap walmart speedometer.

8000 RPM is red line for this engine. The tach I'm using only cost $40 so there it may not be accurate either.

This is a four stroke engine and I don't think It can be rotated because of oil scavenging. I remove the tank from the engine when I fill it so I can get a full tank.



It does great on hills but it goes up pretty slow in such low gears.

You can always double the horsepower by going to the Honda GXH50 which will be a staight bolt up switchover, and retain the same reliability, downside more money invested...............Don

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Sorry, I forgot Subaru is four-stroke, so cannot be rotated.

I had a Subaru on my 20" Dahon folder bike. It had Staton friction drive w/1.125" friction roller. Top speed for me was 27 mph on a slight decline.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Top speed on flat is about 30 mph but it's hard to say. cheap walmart speedometer.

8000 RPM is red line for this engine. The tach I'm using only cost $40 so there it may not be accurate either.

This is a four stroke engine and I don't think It can be rotated because of oil scavenging. I remove the tank from the engine when I fill it so I can get a full tank.



It does great on hills but it goes up pretty slow in such low gears.

Thanks for the information. I have a Subaru engine. I was thinking about installing it on my Scooterguy/shift kit. If top speed is only 30 mph on the flats, then I won't waste my time and effort on it.

No offense or disrespect meant.

 

[Stoney]

As for as rotating can't be done because it is a 4 stroke is not correct (I'm sure you know this. I am stating it for others who don't). It's because it's a subaru. The honda 35 can be rotated 360 degrees which is something that should be considered when buying a 35cc 4 stroke.
Max Power, Thankyou for posting your experience with this new setup. I know You two are helping alot of people out with your purchases. And with all due respect, I would return the crank for one that is properly set up. I get annoyed reading that you have to deal with it. I don't know of too many, if anything at all, that if something is out of balance and you continue to operate it that it will become balanced. I want you to enjoy your ride. I want staton to be held accountable for their reputation. No wobbles is a given and a supposedly quieter gear box 16-1, that you paid extra for, should be quieter or don't advertise it as such. Any way, if you are frustrated at all GOOD you should be. Allow David to make it right. His reputation depends on it.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

this is what Staton had to say about the wine.

Is it Normal to have a loud wining noise coming from the gear box? No, not at all. The gearbox should be very quiet and you should not be able to hear any gear noise above the noise from the engine.

Will it quite down after break in? If they do make noise it always get better – less noise. You have the 16.07 to 1 gearbox... it should be very smooth and quiet. It should like you might need more grease or it’s just not broke in. Call me sometime when you are able to start it while on the phone.

My friend Rick had a Staton chain drive box w/Honda 35cc engine on it. When he would start up and leave, all we heard was the gearbox noise, couldn't even hear the engine. From that build, he upgraded to a Staton twin-engined(Honda 35cc) setup. Both boxes were lubed with Staton's latest compound. The lubricant had the look and consistency of thick strawberry pancake syrup. Both of his boxes were noisy and both of them failed. When he split the boxes, they were completely dry! There is no gasket between the halves of the box. Methinks the lube leaked out and the non-heat-treated gear burned out. Rick replaced that gear, then filled the gearbox with GP grease. He's running a 4.2 hp 460 engine with no problems now. Top speed is 53 mph on the flats, with NuVinci hub.

Now his engine is louder than his gearbox.

 

[MaxPower]

update:
480 miles
28 hours
1 oil change
about 150 mpg

I've been quite pleased with the kit so far. Staton sent me some new thinner lube to put in the gearbox, free of charge . It eliminated the noise that I was experiencing but I now get grease leaking from the drive sprocket opening on the gear box. Can't have everything. I still have wobble in the front sprocket and the clutch is quick to engage. It doesn't slip much and I can get a jolt if I don't apply the throttle just so. I've had absolutely no problems from the engine but the fuel tank that comes with the kit is small. The cap on the tank has problems sealing if I don't take the time to get it seated properly and because it's so small, you can get splash back from gas pumps if you careless. I got a face full the other day . I've added some 55 watt halogen lights that kick A! I only get about an hour on my 8 amp battery before it's dead. It's more than enough to get me home.

 

[MaxPower]

update:
1000 miles
58 hours
3 oil change
about 148 mpg

I haven't posted in a while. Haven't rode the bike much after one of the freewheels broke. I've ordered a new freewheel and should be back in bushiness in no time. I'll post some pictures when it's in working order. I've got some cool mods to show off.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Good job, man. Thanks for posting.

I have a cheap freewheel on my chainring sprocket. It wobbles so much that you can measure the runout with a ruler, lol. They're cheap, they wobble, but mine hasn't broken yet.

Aint shift kits the greatest? What's your gear ratio?

My friend used Staton's new lube on his twin-engined gearbox. Since there's no gasket or silicone seal between the gearbox halves, all the lube leaked out. He eventually blew the gearbox. It's back at Staton's awaiting a complete overhaul. This time, I'll be using old fashioned grease. That's what Staton used for years on his gearboxes.

I'll be running twin GP 460 engines, but that's another story, lol.

 

[dtj6ppc]

update:
1000 miles
58 hours
3 oil change
about 148 mpg

I haven't posted in a while. Haven't rode the bike much after one of the freewheels broke. I've ordered a new freewheel and should be back in bushiness in no time. I'll post some pictures when it's in working order. I've got some cool mods to show off.

Max, I have also lost a couple of the ACS chainring freewheels, always on the inside position like yours.

Beware, if you are replacing the freewheel with another ACS it will also most likely fail. For some reason the ACS freewheel covers will spin off no matter how well tightened, dropping the ball bearings and shredding the ratchets. The only fix that has worked for me is to remove the freewheel covers (clockwise loosens) and re-install using red locktite. I have also heard some guys are spot welding the covers using mini-arc welders. The covers cannot be peened to lock in place as they are super hardened and will shattered any tool steel.

The super expensive "white industry" freewheels do not have this problem due to their different design, but are too costly for most of us to use.

Another possible recomendation would be to use a Shimano 18 tooth freewheel which run around $32 retail in my neighborhood. I have not gone this route but I will try it if I have another freewheel failure. You will have to alter the spacers in that the Shimano freewheel tool slots hange out a bit further and require more spacing to prevent contact with the bottom bracket bearing carrier.

Also, when installing your new freewheel, assemble all the components on the keyed axel which will align all the chainring components and remove all the runnout you have with your present setup.

Pay special attention to the dis-assembly sequence of the chainring assembly, somewhat complex, and if you get it wrong you can damage things....................Don

 

[MaxPower]

I just shipped my sprockets off to staton for repair. Removing the freewheel adapter form the freewheel can be a "bit" and I thought it easier for dave to do it. He said he would do it free of charge if I paid for shipping. He said that the Dicta freewheels (18 tooth 1/2" x 3/32" Freewheel Sprocket Dicta Brand: Staton Inc) work as good as the ACS and that's what he's replacing it with. It must have red locktight on it to prevent it from unscrewing he says. I'm hoping to have the part back for the Oct death race http://motorbicycling.com/f35/death-race-oct-29-2011-a-34058.html