It’ll get better
or worse:wave4:
or worse:wave4:
Stratoliner
- Thread starter Rickus Dickus
- Start date
doesnt seem the clip coming out would break a belt.unless the rear locked up;. you mention tires couldnt spin at different speed... if it was a spool not a diff... it would not put more stress on the belt only the tires an axle when one tire skid on the pavement
thinking out loud
thinking out loud
- Thread starter
- #33
Thought
I've been going over this with my last functioning brain cell and that's all I could come up with. No engineer nor detective, just a carport mechanic. But I do see where you are going. Thanks
I've been going over this with my last functioning brain cell and that's all I could come up with. No engineer nor detective, just a carport mechanic. But I do see where you are going. Thanks
- Thread starter
- #34
Exhaust
Finished the new exhaust. Took a Thrush Glass pack muffler, cut it in half, and welded the two pieces together with on at an angle to fit under the fiberglass body. The first "can" is a heat shield since the exhaust passes near the air shock line. Sandblasting and BBQ pit paint cleans it up. Sounds so much better now. The second picture is the switch to turn power on for the reverse. I put a brake/turn signal LED light on it to blind me while it's on. Pretty much won't forget to turn it off.
Finished the new exhaust. Took a Thrush Glass pack muffler, cut it in half, and welded the two pieces together with on at an angle to fit under the fiberglass body. The first "can" is a heat shield since the exhaust passes near the air shock line. Sandblasting and BBQ pit paint cleans it up. Sounds so much better now. The second picture is the switch to turn power on for the reverse. I put a brake/turn signal LED light on it to blind me while it's on. Pretty much won't forget to turn it off.
- Thread starter
- #35
Re-do
Our last ride to Arkansas we had to go through Lafayette, La TWICE. La Hwy 90 through that city is horrendous! Huge cracks in the pavement that WILL push/pull the bike side to side and the slabs drop at least one to two inches at every seam. While the Stratoliner remained mechanically sound, I can't say the same for the body. I had the trunk fiber-glassed to the body and that highway did a number on my back and cracked the body. On the return trip, I had to pull over in Lafayette to bungee cord the body together and hold the trunk on. Horrible, horrible, horrible, Dropped the speed down to 30 mph so I could physically keep riding while cars sped past us at 60+ mph. Not fun. Well now for today. Still have the issue with my wife's Roadstar starter/charging system which I'll work on tomorrow, but the Stratoliner is positioned for repairs. Pics and information will follow as I progress. Yes the handlebars I welded together some time back broke clean in two. Thankfully I was able to keep riding and get home. Ordered new ones today.
Our last ride to Arkansas we had to go through Lafayette, La TWICE. La Hwy 90 through that city is horrendous! Huge cracks in the pavement that WILL push/pull the bike side to side and the slabs drop at least one to two inches at every seam. While the Stratoliner remained mechanically sound, I can't say the same for the body. I had the trunk fiber-glassed to the body and that highway did a number on my back and cracked the body. On the return trip, I had to pull over in Lafayette to bungee cord the body together and hold the trunk on. Horrible, horrible, horrible, Dropped the speed down to 30 mph so I could physically keep riding while cars sped past us at 60+ mph. Not fun. Well now for today. Still have the issue with my wife's Roadstar starter/charging system which I'll work on tomorrow, but the Stratoliner is positioned for repairs. Pics and information will follow as I progress. Yes the handlebars I welded together some time back broke clean in two. Thankfully I was able to keep riding and get home. Ordered new ones today.
- Thread starter
- #36
Belt Issues AGAIN
Been quite a long time since last post. We have been riding our tails off during the COVID pandemic. Mostly local rides of 200 to 300 miles but a few weekenders included. Today's ride ended after only 20 miles with ANOTHER broken belt. Just like before, the belt ripped straight across. After the second belt broke I checked and rechecked the pulley alignment and found them true to each other. Checking the sides of the belt for glazing shows black rubber and nothing unusual. Can't find any spots if a rock or debris got caught up in it either. One thing I have been going over is the deletion of the Cush drive. The trike conversion I designed didn't include it due to space issues. These belts are expensive and require removing the swing arm to install. Not an option on the side of the highway even if I did have and extra belt. So I am considering going with a chain drive. Should that break, I can repair or replace it on site far easier than a belt. Not worried about fitting the toothed sprockets as I will machine adapters for them. To lower my RPM's at highway speeds I looking towards 27 tooth drive and 54 tooth driven. I am aware chains require a cleaning and oiling every 1000 miles (max), but I can accept it. Any thoughts or advice on a belt to chain swap?
Been quite a long time since last post. We have been riding our tails off during the COVID pandemic. Mostly local rides of 200 to 300 miles but a few weekenders included. Today's ride ended after only 20 miles with ANOTHER broken belt. Just like before, the belt ripped straight across. After the second belt broke I checked and rechecked the pulley alignment and found them true to each other. Checking the sides of the belt for glazing shows black rubber and nothing unusual. Can't find any spots if a rock or debris got caught up in it either. One thing I have been going over is the deletion of the Cush drive. The trike conversion I designed didn't include it due to space issues. These belts are expensive and require removing the swing arm to install. Not an option on the side of the highway even if I did have and extra belt. So I am considering going with a chain drive. Should that break, I can repair or replace it on site far easier than a belt. Not worried about fitting the toothed sprockets as I will machine adapters for them. To lower my RPM's at highway speeds I looking towards 27 tooth drive and 54 tooth driven. I am aware chains require a cleaning and oiling every 1000 miles (max), but I can accept it. Any thoughts or advice on a belt to chain swap?
Belt vs chain
The O Ring chains need NO oiling. But I would think a chain tensioner, similar to a 10 speed bikecycle would be needed to compensate for swing arm movement :Shrug:
The O Ring chains need NO oiling. But I would think a chain tensioner, similar to a 10 speed bikecycle would be needed to compensate for swing arm movement :Shrug:
i hate chains.. belt or shaft for me for me if things are lined right a belt should go quite a while.. like anything else have to keep an eye on it
a little taller tire can make quite a difference in rpm
- Thread starter
- #40
Chain
Everyone is right. I can't find any reference to chains on bikes above 1100cc and a chain tensioner is a great idea. But replacing a $400 belt every other year and possibly sprockets every other belt change is too expensive for us. That and being stranded somewhere bothers me. As I mentioned earlier, tossing and extra chain in the trunk gives me a piece of mind a belt doesn't. Chain drive also allows me to set both my wife's RoadStar AND my Stratoliner up the same making highway repairs simple. I could swap out the chain AND sprockets for less than half the price every two years for new ones too. From what I have read, manufacturers have gone to belts for less weight, less maintenance issues, and noise reduction. Well anyway, I ordered a new belt for $400 which I consider myself lucky to have found it so cheap just to get back on the road. However I will order sprockets and chain around May/June to begin the swap over. Going to look into the 27/54 tooth gear and chain to fit. Not set in stone on that since I have to consider pitch in there, but going for 2.0 ratio.
Everyone is right. I can't find any reference to chains on bikes above 1100cc and a chain tensioner is a great idea. But replacing a $400 belt every other year and possibly sprockets every other belt change is too expensive for us. That and being stranded somewhere bothers me. As I mentioned earlier, tossing and extra chain in the trunk gives me a piece of mind a belt doesn't. Chain drive also allows me to set both my wife's RoadStar AND my Stratoliner up the same making highway repairs simple. I could swap out the chain AND sprockets for less than half the price every two years for new ones too. From what I have read, manufacturers have gone to belts for less weight, less maintenance issues, and noise reduction. Well anyway, I ordered a new belt for $400 which I consider myself lucky to have found it so cheap just to get back on the road. However I will order sprockets and chain around May/June to begin the swap over. Going to look into the 27/54 tooth gear and chain to fit. Not set in stone on that since I have to consider pitch in there, but going for 2.0 ratio.
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