my new weedeater bike project

[nathandance1996]

hi i live in Bognor Regis, England and i am planning on using an old mcolluch strimmer to power my bike, im going to mount it horizontally on one of those mountain bike panniers (the ones that clamp to the seatpost) so i can switch it from bike to bike easily. I'm trying this approach as none of my vertical mounted engines have had success due to stress on the engine.

 

[PatrickW]

Welcome to MBc, Nathan. If I may: Is a "strimmer" something similar to a "weedeater?" Also, I noticed in your drawing (which is quite nicely done, btw) that unless there is some way to reverse the direction of your drive shaft, it would constantly run in reverse...or do motors where you are come with drive shafts that run clockwise instead of anti-clockwise?

Last thing...I think your idea to run it horizontal is the much better way to go. I have never seen a friction drive run right with the engine vertical...it tends to run the wheel off at an angle, among other nasty things. I have a feeling that you will do quite well. Good Luck.

 

[professor]

Hi Nathan, welcome to Motoredbikes. This idea of mounting the drive roller on the side of the tire has come up before. The big problem is the roller will scrub as it rotates. If you place the roller like Patrick said that is a non issue.

By the way, has anyone figured out what is causing the cold weather in the UK.
Almost as bad as here.

 

[wheelbender6]

Good idea. I have been doing some sketches for a rim drive. Maybe one day I'll figure it out.

 

[ibdennyak]

If I am understanding this correctly, one thing to keep in mind is that you will probably have to place an idler of some kind on the opposite side of the tire creating a pinch effect.

 

[nathandance1996]

Welcome to MBc, Nathan. If I may: Is a "strimmer" something similar to a "weedeater?" Also, I noticed in your drawing (which is quite nicely done, btw) that unless there is some way to reverse the direction of your drive shaft, it would constantly run in reverse...or do motors where you are come with drive shafts that run clockwise instead of anti-clockwise?

Last thing...I think your idea to run it horizontal is the much better way to go. I have never seen a friction drive run right with the engine vertical...it tends to run the wheel off at an angle, among other nasty things. I have a feeling that you will do quite well. Good Luck.

a strimmer is the British English word for a weedeater / weedwhacker, and the engine direction doesn't matter as you can take the pannier rack of and have the roller on the other wheel side. i am using a pannier rack that clamps on to the seatpost and am just using the tension of the pannier rack, maybe add a tensioning roller on the other side, but it seems sturdy enough as it is. the pannier rack in question
(http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...er-_-Product_List_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PLPz1)

 

[nathandance1996]

Good idea. I have been doing some sketches for a rim drive. Maybe one day I'll figure it out.

I've tried rim drive before but i wouldn't advise is if you have v-brakes or calipers etc, as when I tried that the rubber worn down a ruined the rims, and it's very difficult to remove all the rubber from your rims, and it can ruin your brake pads

 

[wheelbender6]

There is a site in France that sells rim drive kits but they are not very powerful, probably because of the reason you mentioned.

 

[nathandance1996]

There is a site in France that sells rim drive kits but they are not very powerful, probably because of the reason you mentioned.

do you know the sites name, I might have a look at those

 

[wheelbender6]

The site that sells rim drive kits is in this thread.
http://motorbicycling.com/f9/rim-friction-drive-15707.html

There is a post below the sellers link with a translation.