Schwinn chopper ebike buildup questions

[itchynackers]

I worked at Riverside for years as a greens mower. I hear you may need that maglite for stray lizards too.

[RallySTX]

Nah, he got pinched for licking peoples windows, now he taste tests plates for the DMV upstate!

RallySTX wrote:
Gotta love a guy that can do stuff like this for a bicycle!



I'm gonna see if JRH can give me two of these, and two in 24 inch for the fronts.
I just hope it is available and fits my dropouts. FYI HolmesHobbies is the builder of this masterpiece in chrome and rubber.
I wonder if I can get the hub side covers chromed!
Brian L.

[oldpiper]

Cool rear wheel, Brian!

If you want another, there are plenty listed on eBay, under "Schwinn [chopper or OCC or stingray]". Some pretty cheap, too. Do I understand you're eventually planning an AWD cruiser? Real kewl!

BTW, I finally got a chance to put a couple of pics of mine up under the "Photos and video" folder, looks better this way. You know, it seems like if the XLs were sold at Sam's Clubs (that's where I got mine a few years back), there must be a bunch gathering dust in garages everywhere. Perhaps a classified ad in the local paper (or one of those freebee "Thrifty whatever"s that you can find at groceries) might be able to flush one out. I can't believe that Sam's Club ever sold anything they thought they couldn't sell a gazillion of, and Sam Walton (when he was still in charge) wasn't wrong too often.

Best on your build, keep us posted.

Cameron

[RallySTX]

Well said Oldpiper. Nobody ever accused Sam of being low wattage! They only made the XL choppers for one year though. Just 2000 were made. The Spoiler was made for two years but saw the same number built.

[drewjet]

Good luck on your chopper build. Here are a few pics of mine. It is a factory electric rear hub motor stingray. It is a blast to dive around on. It does about 24 MPH on 48 volts.

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2010-11-15 14.32.19.jpg (66.85 KiB) Viewed 745 times

[RallySTX]

Hello Drewjett nice factory mod bike. I saw an original on Ebay for $350 plus Shipping just yesterday. I like the idea of filling the engine cases with lipo! Plant that puppy where the sun can get at it and show us some more chopper porn man!
Brian L.

[johnrobholmes]

I think going with a wider hub like the aotema may be a better plan than the 9c type hub, mostly because of the flange width.

[RallySTX]

Hello JRH, that flange width thingy threw me for a bit. What ever else happens I gotta think about upgrading from the stock rim brakes on the Runt. I like the Maxi but I haven't got the scratch to pick it up yet.

[Pedalex]

the rim brake is crap. i bought the conhismtor with the disc brake + mounting bracket for the caliper but it´s not much better than before. or maybe it´s just the crappy brake lever - i´ll try another one




took the chopper out for a test ride last weekend but i´m not so happy with the conshismotor kit. it´s the 500W 48V version - i should have bought another 1000w kit but my 1000W motor on my MTB drags 31 Amps and my smaller 10 Ah lifepo4 pack is only good for a constant 12A - that´s why i thought i could use the small pack on this low power bike and the big pack only on the two other bikes

testet the 500w motor and it drags 33,7 amps . no way to use it on my small pack as it cuts off as soon as i hit full load.i´m running it with my bigger but heavier pack now but although it drags 1.585 watts from the battery it´s not really fast - only 22mph using the throttle and a max. of 27mph with pedaling. the 1000w version on my MTB drags similar power and runs ~ 36mph with pedaling
i´ve already ordered some other 48V controllers from bms battery - 350w, 450w, 500w and 1000w. the low power versions should sort the Amps-problem and for use in town 25mph should be enough.

[RallySTX]

Looks like a 160mm rear rotor there Pedalex. Man thats close. Take the chopper for a medium length ride and then go over the entire wireing with your hand feeling for warm spots. These would indicate resistance. Redo these weak areas with larger wire, or higher amp connectors and make sure the tires are pumped up to the max tire pressure. If that doesn't help, I feel you will need more battery power. These choppers are a heavy lot, and with an adult on top of that, you will need all the help you can get. Also, I read that Conhismotors aren't the most efficient out there. They appear to be quite power hungry, from what I read. Remember, the larger wheel on the GT will translate to higher ground speed with everything else being equal. I figured 22 mph was good speed for a 20 inch wheel. The high amp draw was the flag for me.
Upgrade that motor to a 1000 watt unit, and hit that with 30AH of LIPO and tell us what you get!
Hit Choppers US for brake cables and handles.

http://www.choppersus.com/store/product ... r-Blk-Slv/

I would go for a larger rotor first though. I have the stock 180 mm. Tektro setup on the Spoiler, and all I need is one finger to stop it.
Brian L.

[Pedalex]

hi!

i measured it when the wheel was out and it was ~175mm.i think i measured a bit more than180 when the original wheel was in. but i guess now with the nuts tightened it has narrowed to about 160 maybe even less than that - just depends on how many washers i put in between the dropout and the brake caliper bracket which sits on the axle too. on the other side i have a 6 or 7 speed freewheel but only using the smallest one to get the chain in line. so the ~210mm axle is far more than i need with loads of thread left on both sides.

maybe i´ll go to my parents tomorrow and try to measure it again and get you some better pics - don´t have all the bikes here in town and most of my pics here are shot with an iphone so i´d better take a camera and get you some high-res pics.

[johnrobholmes]

Flange width- the distance between the two spoke flanges.


A forwarning for you, lacing a small wheel onto the rim will require you to use 48 or 66v for decent speed. The maxi mite from Terry would be a good choice if it fits IMO.

[RallySTX]

The axle length is very close there, but I haven't given up on Ypedal yet.

[johnrobholmes]

I don't have anything in stock that would fit your needs, I would suggest either something from Terry or a 400 series crystalyte (expensive!).

[Pedalex]

hey Brian!

got you some more pics to show you there´s plenty of thread left on both sides of the ~210mm long axle

[RallySTX]

Nice chain tensioner Pedalex! I gotta hold out for a good 180 mm rotor fit there. I really feel blessed when someone puts forth the effort to post so many pics for my benefit. Pedalex, you really are a trooper.

[Pedalex]

right it´s a 160mm disc. i wanted to upgrade to 203mm but the conhismotor disc adapter (i PM´d you the link) only matches their 160mm discs. standard discs don´t fit although they have 6 bolts- the distance betwwen the holes is a few mm bigger on the conhismotor discs.

[RallySTX]

Mabye Valy can machine you an adapter to fit a standard ISO rotor to the motor hub?

[RallySTX]

I was thinking of using these to construct a battery pack.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... duct=14617

[Pedalex]

do you really want to buy 8 of these? that´s 782$ + 95 shipping so that´s ~ 875$ and 44V is a bit low


why not one of these?

http://www.evassemble.com/index.php?mai ... ucts_id=60

costs 747$ ( 619 +128 shipping to US) but is much easier to charge and safer than Lipos

[RallySTX]

Thanks Pedalex, I like the output, but I think I can beat the weight factor. Plus I would have to wait for months to get the cash together. With a lipo setup I can build a pack I can run on sooner. The rub is having to make it myself, and having short range until I add enough cells to get the power needed.

[johnrobholmes]

There are some lower discharge packs that would be cheaper from HC. Get some 20c stuff, or 15c packs if you will be making a 20ah pack. It would be half the size and weight of the EV assemble pack, and cost about $400.

[RallySTX]

You mean these?
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... oduct=9965

[johnrobholmes]

Something just like that, yes. I have not had good luck with that particular pack, the flightmax.

[drewjet]

I just put together a pack with these, http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... duct=15008 It was while they were giving free shipping. I paid $827 for 20 packs and ended up with an 80 volt 25 amp hour pack for my motorcycle. Awesome power and 500 amp continiuos power available.