Hi first of all I would like to say that I prolly been reading through this forum for the last month getting ideas for my current build.
And alittle bout myself I live in Iowa and own a 1983 elcamino gas hog and with gas price expecting to reach atleast 4 dollars a gallon I am building somethin that I have wanted to for awhile now a motorized bicycle.
About the build:
Frame is a mongoose bmx
Engine is a 31cc troy built weedeater.
My plans and what I have already gotten outta the way:
I have already modified the engine a bit so it would clear the frame in all directions so theres no rubbing or anything its all mounted nice and snug. Custimizing the rear tire is the big thing that I have been working on. I wanted to try and get away from the whole chain or belt drive aspect of this and its sorta making it a monster haha and less of a bicycle every day. The weedeater im using is a straight shaft design with a flex shaft(which I do plan on using to drive the bike with alittle modding, could be the weak link but oh well live and learn right.) So what I had to do sense I am using the drive shaft and the coupler thing where you would attach your stuff to I had to change the free axel to a fixed axel to alow it to mate up with the adapter so I installed radial bearings into the frame where normaly it would tighten against. this has taken the most time to figure something out that would work thank goodness I work at a radioshack that is inside a farm store lots and lots of bits and peice to work with ranging from actuall mower parts to tractor and whatever you could imagine its around just gotta keep the eyes open. So the axel is now fixed to the hub will post pictures which should be soon here. My hopes is that this all works and the flex drive doesnt blow apart which it may but it will still be inside steel tubing so if it does no injuries should incure and I have my eyes on a thicker flex extension for a ratchet set that may work out perfect for a replacement in the event of malfunction. Over all whats left is for me to cut down the drive shaft and to open up one side of the rear frame for the radial bearing like I did to the other side(tough work seems the frame is a hardened alloy not steel cause the weight is still pretty low I can left this thing with one hand still with the engine in place but it is proving very tuff to cut or grind out) and then it should be ready for a test ride and pictures.
Would gladly appreciate any input especially on the whole flex drive setup if anyone has tried this. gearing might come into play but I am light small kid for 23 weighing in at 130 I think it should move no matter what this is after all the prototype and if it doesnt work well then there will be swearing and then its back to the drawing board. But I do have a good group of friends around here and prolly one of the best small engine mechanics that I know happens to be my twin brother who lives with me imagine that luck. This has gotten him interested in making one for tooling around town on. But everyone seems to think it should work after taking a good look at it. But that should be a good run down on everything. You all have a great day and let me know what you think. I just look at it and see pure fun screaming back at me I cant wait. haha byes
And alittle bout myself I live in Iowa and own a 1983 elcamino gas hog and with gas price expecting to reach atleast 4 dollars a gallon I am building somethin that I have wanted to for awhile now a motorized bicycle.
About the build:
Frame is a mongoose bmx
Engine is a 31cc troy built weedeater.
My plans and what I have already gotten outta the way:
I have already modified the engine a bit so it would clear the frame in all directions so theres no rubbing or anything its all mounted nice and snug. Custimizing the rear tire is the big thing that I have been working on. I wanted to try and get away from the whole chain or belt drive aspect of this and its sorta making it a monster haha and less of a bicycle every day. The weedeater im using is a straight shaft design with a flex shaft(which I do plan on using to drive the bike with alittle modding, could be the weak link but oh well live and learn right.) So what I had to do sense I am using the drive shaft and the coupler thing where you would attach your stuff to I had to change the free axel to a fixed axel to alow it to mate up with the adapter so I installed radial bearings into the frame where normaly it would tighten against. this has taken the most time to figure something out that would work thank goodness I work at a radioshack that is inside a farm store lots and lots of bits and peice to work with ranging from actuall mower parts to tractor and whatever you could imagine its around just gotta keep the eyes open. So the axel is now fixed to the hub will post pictures which should be soon here. My hopes is that this all works and the flex drive doesnt blow apart which it may but it will still be inside steel tubing so if it does no injuries should incure and I have my eyes on a thicker flex extension for a ratchet set that may work out perfect for a replacement in the event of malfunction. Over all whats left is for me to cut down the drive shaft and to open up one side of the rear frame for the radial bearing like I did to the other side(tough work seems the frame is a hardened alloy not steel cause the weight is still pretty low I can left this thing with one hand still with the engine in place but it is proving very tuff to cut or grind out) and then it should be ready for a test ride and pictures.
Would gladly appreciate any input especially on the whole flex drive setup if anyone has tried this. gearing might come into play but I am light small kid for 23 weighing in at 130 I think it should move no matter what this is after all the prototype and if it doesnt work well then there will be swearing and then its back to the drawing board. But I do have a good group of friends around here and prolly one of the best small engine mechanics that I know happens to be my twin brother who lives with me imagine that luck. This has gotten him interested in making one for tooling around town on. But everyone seems to think it should work after taking a good look at it. But that should be a good run down on everything. You all have a great day and let me know what you think. I just look at it and see pure fun screaming back at me I cant wait. haha byes