pepep
1 mW
Hi Everybody!
Long time lurker here so first, thank you to every contributor to this site. It helped me tremendously with my first build: a cooler go kart which I am currently writing up the build thread for - [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XJTyHLPJzo[/youtube]
This project sort of fell into my lap. I met a guy who was into rebuilding vintage Honda Express, Urban Express, and Yamaha QT50 scooters. I asked him if he ever thought about making an electric moped and stated I had a little experience from my electric go kart. He was really interested and a short while later, he messaged me saying there were two Honda Expresses for sale about an hour away for $500 total so we went in together and purchased them. Here's mine ( the gas an oil was all drained before I brought it inside):
View attachment 7
Disassembly:
View attachment 6
The original electric system is 6V but wanted to change everything over to 12V so it would be easier and cheaper to find a DC-DC converter and finding LED lights would be easier. The battery had also died which blew many of the existing lights out. The keys to the scooter were lost at some point (and later re-found) so it was hotwired, some cables were cut/frayed, many connectors were corroded, covered in oil or in otherwise poor condition, and a lot of wiring layout needed to be changed anyway so I decided to rip out and rebuild the wiring harness.
I want to try to change the sealed beam headlight over to an LED headlight. I bought a cheap H4 style LED headlight on ebay which I will attempt to retrofit in the sealed beam carcass. I will only use this if I can focus the headlight beam properly so I don't blind everyone.
View attachment 5
I needed to fix both brake switches.
I am currently trying to find a way to use the original Honda Express throttle grip on a hall effect throttle. It doesn't look like it's going to fit on this cheap twist throttle I bought. Does anybody have any suggestions for hall twist throttles which easily interchangeable grips?
Engine disassembly.
Here is where I an currently stuck. My current plan is to use the original "transmission" which is a single speed reduction of 14.22:1. I need to change this ratio to something like 6:1 if I want to use the Revolt RV-100-PRO motor and bump the top speed to 35ish MPH. The chain in the transmission is extremely unusual DID270H chain so I will have to machine a new motor sprocket and modify the housing. I was hoping the motor would fit in the existing crankcase which some modification but it is now clear it will take more than SOME modification..half of the crankcase will have to chopped off to fit the 100mm diameter motor and then restrengthened. I'll take some pictures later. I am not a huge fan of the friction that's going to be going on in the "transmission" but it will maintain the original look of the scooter.
My other option is to build a new swingarm and find a 14" wheel hubmotor which sounds like an equally exhausting process.
Let me know what you think!
Long time lurker here so first, thank you to every contributor to this site. It helped me tremendously with my first build: a cooler go kart which I am currently writing up the build thread for - [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XJTyHLPJzo[/youtube]
This project sort of fell into my lap. I met a guy who was into rebuilding vintage Honda Express, Urban Express, and Yamaha QT50 scooters. I asked him if he ever thought about making an electric moped and stated I had a little experience from my electric go kart. He was really interested and a short while later, he messaged me saying there were two Honda Expresses for sale about an hour away for $500 total so we went in together and purchased them. Here's mine ( the gas an oil was all drained before I brought it inside):
View attachment 7
Disassembly:
View attachment 6
The original electric system is 6V but wanted to change everything over to 12V so it would be easier and cheaper to find a DC-DC converter and finding LED lights would be easier. The battery had also died which blew many of the existing lights out. The keys to the scooter were lost at some point (and later re-found) so it was hotwired, some cables were cut/frayed, many connectors were corroded, covered in oil or in otherwise poor condition, and a lot of wiring layout needed to be changed anyway so I decided to rip out and rebuild the wiring harness.
I want to try to change the sealed beam headlight over to an LED headlight. I bought a cheap H4 style LED headlight on ebay which I will attempt to retrofit in the sealed beam carcass. I will only use this if I can focus the headlight beam properly so I don't blind everyone.
View attachment 5
I needed to fix both brake switches.
I am currently trying to find a way to use the original Honda Express throttle grip on a hall effect throttle. It doesn't look like it's going to fit on this cheap twist throttle I bought. Does anybody have any suggestions for hall twist throttles which easily interchangeable grips?
Engine disassembly.
Here is where I an currently stuck. My current plan is to use the original "transmission" which is a single speed reduction of 14.22:1. I need to change this ratio to something like 6:1 if I want to use the Revolt RV-100-PRO motor and bump the top speed to 35ish MPH. The chain in the transmission is extremely unusual DID270H chain so I will have to machine a new motor sprocket and modify the housing. I was hoping the motor would fit in the existing crankcase which some modification but it is now clear it will take more than SOME modification..half of the crankcase will have to chopped off to fit the 100mm diameter motor and then restrengthened. I'll take some pictures later. I am not a huge fan of the friction that's going to be going on in the "transmission" but it will maintain the original look of the scooter.
My other option is to build a new swingarm and find a 14" wheel hubmotor which sounds like an equally exhausting process.
Let me know what you think!