<$1k DIY Neighborhood Electric Motorcycle

[captainslug]

This treadmill motor unfortunately is complete garbage and started smoking under initial load testing.

Here's a ton of photos of the currently non-functional sculpture that is this project.

[racer_x124]

I only have one question, what's the advantage of running a tensioner vs. having slotted mount hols for the motor? Seems to me like 1 more thing to break or fall off.

Amazing bike by the way!

[captainslug]

Originally Posted by racer_x124

I only have one question, what's the advantage of running a tensioner vs. having slotted mount hols for the motor?

With a heavier motor you don't want to have the mounting of it to have any potential for play that might result in misalignment.
I'm using base-mount motors, which you can't adjust the distance of while maintaining good drive alignment.
Having a tensioner also makes replacing the belt or chain much easier.

[Russ]

It is gorgeous.
I suppose you'll be looking for another treadmill motor?

Or are you going to look elsewhere for something of similar size and different engineering?

[captainslug]

Well, looks like I'll take one last stab at this. I've ordered the motor I ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO USE. A MY1020 rated for 60-volts.

TNC Scooters (Scooter Sales and Service)
The only problem I had with the first motor was that it wasn't able to handle the higher RPMs that resulted from over-volting. It never had any issues with the loads placed on it otherwise.

I also have a plan for mounting it so that I can get rid of the belt tensioner.

[captainslug]

Motor is installed. In order to get the pulley on the drive shaft of the motor I had to tap and bore opposite ends of its ID. The thread isn't a perfect match, but its good enough to keep it locked on tight.

The self-retracting extension cord reel fit nicely when wedged into the bottom of the frame. Which I'm very pleased about.

I made a replacement idler sprocket using a cheap freewheel, and an aluminum freewheel adapter from recumpence, which I lathed down a bit and then stuck a sleeve bearing inside of it.

And that's all I could get done today.

[captainslug]

This project seems to hate me. I now have one dead battery and the DC converter no longer seems to be working.

If anyone wants to buy this project it's yours for $1000 + shipping.

[bennelson]

This project is too nice! Somebody has to pick up the torch on this one!

[I B RACIN]

Don't give up you have done a great job with this.

With any new prototype/experimental project there will be set backs, learn from them and get-r-done.

[ShadeTreeMech]

That is a sick looking bike. I like the tidyness of having the buss bars vs the cabling on the pack. Are you planning on insulating them somehow? Would hate to see the sparking for an ill placed screwdriver.

I assume you hard wired in a charger? the dangling 3 prong cord might get in the way I think though. Would think a male 3 pronged receptacle would be ideal, but then again you may be wanting to take advantage of plugging in to a wall outlet no matter where you are and not having to hunt down a cord.