Homemade electric bicycle

[MIgardener]

   This is an electric bike that I built last summer. I don't ride bicycle a lot, this was just a project I did for fun.  It is powered by an old starter motor that I found in a pile of scrape metal. I modified it a little, I took the gear off the shaft, and mounted a pully to it. I also made up a little fan to put on the shaft, and drilled holes in the bottom plate. The third wheel is to gear it down, and the sproket on the wheel drives the chain. There is no speed control, just on/off. In the picture you see a hinge that I used for a switch, since then I replaced it with a solenoid.

     The battery is a 40Ah gel battery. The bike has a top speed of about 25mph.

   This is by no means efficient, but it sure is fun 



 

[john8750]

Now that does look like fun.....
Thanks for showing. Gives me some ideas.
How long will the battery last, and how is it on hills?

John Smith

[electrondady1]

it looks dangerous and scary but congratulations .

[Frank S]

The center of gravity may be a bit on the high side but mounting the 3rd wheel in reverse as he has done allows the coaster action of the hub to function the same as the pedals. with a 3 or a 5 sprocket set and a derailer shift he could have  more or less speed reduction.
 All and all a pretty good use of recyclables

[dbcollen]

Unfortunately starter motors usually pull 100+ amps with no load., cool bike though

[CraigM]

Looks fun!!! Keep your shirt tails tucked in!

[MIgardener]

Unfortunately starter motors usually pull 100+ amps with no load., cool bike though

   Ya, That's the biggist problem, it doesn't draw nearly as much as when actually starting a car, but it still uses a lot.