Well this is my cheap slow runabout with friction or belt drive options. I
finally came up with a wet weather drive roller, simple really. I burned some
#36 grit emery paper and panned off the ash 'til nothing was left but black
corundum sand. I took my old, deeply etched Staton roller, cleaned it, and
roughed it. Then I mixed the grit with JB Weld,(I don't think regular epoxy
would work as well), and applied a smooth rounded coat to the roller. It
grips exceedingly well, but one needs to pedal off to 7 or 8 mph & throttle
gently. Otherwise it will eat a tire like a chainsaw through balsa. Done properly,
there's no slippage or wear to the tire.
I also found a simple solution for a direct belt drive without a reduction gear.
Instead of a GEBE-like cogged belt, it uses a more durable, regular wedge belt.
Having tried a variety of pulleys, I finally struck on one that doesn't eventually
slip , and does not require excessive clutch burning tension. It is simply the
direction pulley from a 3/8" rope ratchet. Both adapt to my Staton
friction kit which is rotated 180 degrees in the horizontal plane for the
belt drive.
