Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Step 19Ongoing Tweaks and Project Development
After 6 months of use, I decided I needed to make a few tweaks.
The tires were Carlisle Turf Tamers, which had regularly spaced square knobbies. I had purchased the tires, on the rims, on Craigslist for cheap and threw them on, after the initial blue, square tires turned out to be, well, too square. The tires ended up being too tame for the soft sand at the beach and the tires would spin at times and always when pulling the cart (in the soft sand).
With winter approaching, I decided it was time to install a new tire that might work better in the sand and possibly snow. I just purchased and installed a Maxxis 4-Snow tire and, while I haven't tried it at the beach, I did try it on a nearby sand volleyball court and it works well, although the sand was not super soft at the time. The reviews on the tire performance were excellent (for an ATV) and it ended up being super-light compared to other ATV tires. Hopefully snow performance will be OK.
I also ended up changing the sprocket on the jack shaft from a 17 tooth to a 28 tooth. The 17 tooth reduced the gearing too low. I was never getting into the granny gear (smallest on the triple crank). I just welded the 28 tooth onto the 17 tooth (this was a sprocket from a freewheel cluster). Now I will also have a higher top end when cruising around town.
One issue that arose with the new sprocket was that the chain length was too long for the chain tensioner, so I had to add a leg onto the chain tensioner to extend it and take up the extra slack. No big problem, but things were getting pretty close to scraping on the frame. Oh well, it's all just a big experiment anyway.
link to Video of test ride on sand volleyball court
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/mscarani/FAT%20BASTARD%20BIKE/?action=view¤t=004.flv
The tires were Carlisle Turf Tamers, which had regularly spaced square knobbies. I had purchased the tires, on the rims, on Craigslist for cheap and threw them on, after the initial blue, square tires turned out to be, well, too square. The tires ended up being too tame for the soft sand at the beach and the tires would spin at times and always when pulling the cart (in the soft sand).
With winter approaching, I decided it was time to install a new tire that might work better in the sand and possibly snow. I just purchased and installed a Maxxis 4-Snow tire and, while I haven't tried it at the beach, I did try it on a nearby sand volleyball court and it works well, although the sand was not super soft at the time. The reviews on the tire performance were excellent (for an ATV) and it ended up being super-light compared to other ATV tires. Hopefully snow performance will be OK.
I also ended up changing the sprocket on the jack shaft from a 17 tooth to a 28 tooth. The 17 tooth reduced the gearing too low. I was never getting into the granny gear (smallest on the triple crank). I just welded the 28 tooth onto the 17 tooth (this was a sprocket from a freewheel cluster). Now I will also have a higher top end when cruising around town.
One issue that arose with the new sprocket was that the chain length was too long for the chain tensioner, so I had to add a leg onto the chain tensioner to extend it and take up the extra slack. No big problem, but things were getting pretty close to scraping on the frame. Oh well, it's all just a big experiment anyway.
link to Video of test ride on sand volleyball court
http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/mscarani/FAT%20BASTARD%20BIKE/?action=view¤t=004.flv
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
Without it you would have to set the distance between rear axle and jackshaft precisely.
Also, this allows me to try different size chainrings/sprockets to optimize the gearing.
I sure hope you are 1.9m, not 1.9 cm.
I equate that to about 6'-3" tall.
I am 6'-1" tall.
I think this is a good match.
I happened to use a bike frame that is a large or 19" or about 43cm (bottom bracket to top tube center to center)
So I guess I'll just have to get a 19" frame and I´ll be good to go. Once again: thanks.
How much does it weigh with the "snow tires"? Are you mainly riding it in level "beach" areas, or have you also gone in dunes?
I'd like to build a lighter one out of aluminum, but don't have the money yet and can't weld aluminum.
I've got some ideas on saving weight for the next one though.
I've mainly ridden it on level sand areas. No dune nearby or where they do exit, they're typically off limits.
100 pounds!!!!
Standard mountain bike gearing on the right side drive train, except I went with the Shimano mega-drive freewheel with 34 tooth at the large cog.
On the left side, the jack shaft has a 17 tooth freewheel cog and the sprocket on the rear tire is a 30-tooth chainring. This gives you a big gear reduction.
As an example of how low this gearing is, the top speed was around 10-12 mph in the highest gear. Low speed was probably around 2 mph while pedaling fast.
Send a picture when you're done