I purchased a 48cc kit from BikeBerry and picked up a Schwinn Delmar cruiser to mount it in. I got the motor kit last week and the bike just arrived today according to the FedEx tracking page and I suppose assembly will start this evening after work. Happened upon this forum looking for mounting techniques since I've read it may not be a simple bolt-in project as I'd imagined. We shall see in a few hours.
New from Philly, PA. Getting ready to build my first motored bike.
- Thread starter Xavier
- Start date
Thanks for the welcome. Still working on my install, haha. Ran into a few snags being as this is my first bicycle in about 15 years. I have a quick question I hope someone can answer quick as well.
How do you set up the rear wheel? While installing the rear sprocket I seem to have stopped the wheel from freely spinning. It feels as if it is dragging and I don't remember, and haven't found, how to remedy this.
How do you set up the rear wheel? While installing the rear sprocket I seem to have stopped the wheel from freely spinning. It feels as if it is dragging and I don't remember, and haven't found, how to remedy this.
BarelyAWake
New Member
Yer aptly named... lazieboy 
Xavier - I'm wonderin' if yer Delmar's coaster brake is messin' w/ya, the arm usually needs be a lil bent for clearance during installation, if you've messed w/it - there's a chance the assembly is now too tight. Here's a handy "howto" for ya;
http://motorbicycling.com/f30/how-remove-your-coaster-brake-arm-15928.html
BTW welcome to the forum! I usta live on upper west philly... I barely escaped w/my life heh
|.o
Thanks for the link BarelyAWake, took a look at that with those tips in mind while disassembling the rear sprocket. Noticed the sprocket itself was dragging on the dust cap so I enlarged the sprocket hole and it seems to be working fine. Finished the build, need to tweak the muffler a bit because the pedals drag on it a bit even after a lot of failed attempts and one successful attempt at bending it.
BarelyAWake
New Member
Noice! Don't forget to take some pics while yer at it FTW
I'll get some pics this afternoon. By the time I finished it was dark out. It is a bit sloppy and there are definitely a lot of scratches in the cheap paint, but I'm happy.
Quick question... Are these motors always pretty noisy? Seems like there is a lot of noise coming from the motor, though I'm guessing it is the clutch.
Quick question... Are these motors always pretty noisy? Seems like there is a lot of noise coming from the motor, though I'm guessing it is the clutch.
BarelyAWake
New Member
Yarp - good guess FTW
You can dab a small amount of grease on the gears under that cover, but no more than say 1/2 the size of a pencil eraser (don't want excess in the clutch itself ofc). People also line the clutch cover with rubber mat (mouse pad cut to fit), or buy covers for the outside - or even what I did, which is just sprayin' a coupla coats of rubberized undercoating on the inside of just the cover itself, which works quite well.
It IS kinda a disturbing noise heh - I assumed the thing was tearin' itself apart 'cause some guy in China had left something in there he shouldn't
4500 miles later - it sounds the same *shrug*
You can dab a small amount of grease on the gears under that cover, but no more than say 1/2 the size of a pencil eraser (don't want excess in the clutch itself ofc). People also line the clutch cover with rubber mat (mouse pad cut to fit), or buy covers for the outside - or even what I did, which is just sprayin' a coupla coats of rubberized undercoating on the inside of just the cover itself, which works quite well.
It IS kinda a disturbing noise heh - I assumed the thing was tearin' itself apart 'cause some guy in China had left something in there he shouldn't
4500 miles later - it sounds the same
*shrug*Here is one for now. My fiancee is an amateur photographer and won't release any pictures, even to me, until she thinks it is worthy of carrying her name, lol. I'll update with others as I get them.
One thing I've definitely noticed is I need more braking power. Searching didn't turn up much specific info, what kind of options are out there for universal brake setups? I'd really love to get a disc up front but those look expensive.
One thing I've definitely noticed is I need more braking power. Searching didn't turn up much specific info, what kind of options are out there for universal brake setups? I'd really love to get a disc up front but those look expensive.
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BarelyAWake
New Member
I love that color man, nice job 
Brakes? Depends on yer price range - but yea, although the individual components of a front disk brake aren't pricey at all - it adds up quick as you'll need a fork (mounts) and wheel (hub) as well as the caliper and rotor. Upside is it's an opportunity to get front shocks while yer at it.
When I was lookin' around I found the least expensive way was to buy a cheapo bike w/disk and strip it, used or new - this was often a LOT cheaper than getting the components separately. Catch is - cheap disk brakes are... well... cheap lol, the inner brake pad drags on a lot of them and there's no way to adjust it.
Second was to go to yer local bike shop and see what they've got for take-offs. Used or new - a lot of people "upgrade" their front shock and/or disk brake, the stuff they leave behind is often of high quality - but quite inexpensive (depends on the shop ofc).
I ended up goin' with a Sturmey Archer drum brake, they're about $50 (mine cost more 'cause it's got a genny in it FTW), but you'll still need the rim relaced which adds about forty bucks or so to the price *shrug*
The least costly method is ofc just adding rim brakes. They work well provided the pads are high quality... and it's not raining lol
Brakes? Depends on yer price range - but yea, although the individual components of a front disk brake aren't pricey at all - it adds up quick as you'll need a fork (mounts) and wheel (hub) as well as the caliper and rotor. Upside is it's an opportunity to get front shocks while yer at it.
When I was lookin' around I found the least expensive way was to buy a cheapo bike w/disk and strip it, used or new - this was often a LOT cheaper than getting the components separately. Catch is - cheap disk brakes are... well... cheap lol, the inner brake pad drags on a lot of them and there's no way to adjust it.
Second was to go to yer local bike shop and see what they've got for take-offs. Used or new - a lot of people "upgrade" their front shock and/or disk brake, the stuff they leave behind is often of high quality - but quite inexpensive (depends on the shop ofc).
I ended up goin' with a Sturmey Archer drum brake, they're about $50 (mine cost more 'cause it's got a genny in it FTW), but you'll still need the rim relaced which adds about forty bucks or so to the price *shrug*
The least costly method is ofc just adding rim brakes. They work well provided the pads are high quality... and it's not raining lol
OCCstingray
New Member
Nice bike. Philly isn't too far from here. I am also thinking about a front disc brake for my bike.
Ok, ended up scavenging a front brake from an old mountain bike which greatly improved my braking... just leaves a lot of brake dust on the rest of the bike, haha.
Went ahead and upgraded the fuel line, installed an in-line fuel filter, upgraded the spark plug and wire/boot. It is time to upgrade the chain today, though, as I broke the stocker. Not quite sure what happened, guess I'll have to look into the alignment. #41 chains fit these motors, right? I'll have to see if my local TSC has them in stock.
Went ahead and upgraded the fuel line, installed an in-line fuel filter, upgraded the spark plug and wire/boot. It is time to upgrade the chain today, though, as I broke the stocker. Not quite sure what happened, guess I'll have to look into the alignment. #41 chains fit these motors, right? I'll have to see if my local TSC has them in stock.
BarelyAWake
New Member
Yeppers - #41 is just a hair wider tho FYI... shouldn't be a prob however, I'm runnin' one on my Schwinn
...the stock chain is junk, that's prolly all that happened - still, best to check alignment and didja bend the tensioner so it's in line with the chain and not the chainstay? That's a pretty common problem.
...the stock chain is junk, that's prolly all that happened - still, best to check alignment and didja bend the tensioner so it's in line with the chain and not the chainstay? That's a pretty common problem.
GoFastBicycles
New Member
Might see each other some day in passing?
Adam
Adam