Using bicycle parts to build something?

[Tlag]

Has anyone seen or heard of using the components of a multi-speed bike chain drive for something other than an bike?

I'm just curious. Seems like a pretty solid technology that is readily available for next to nothing in the form of used bikes.

The older steel frame 10 speed bikes are pretty cheap, even in good condition.

How about other non-bike uses for other bike components?

 

[kbs2244]

I cannot recall anything other than a battery charger or other such “green” stuff.
It is fancy stuff but not really very heavy duty.
Even a Lance Armstrong type is not putting out that much horsepower.

 

[Tlag]

That is probably it. I read that a typical rider is generating about 1/8 hp. So I guess that would eliminate the drive train from many applications.

Maybe the thread should have been "stuff you shouldn't try to build using bicycle parts".

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Maybe, but when I stand on the pedals, I am sure I put about 150 foot pounds on that chain at slow speeds.

At least. I am not small.

 

[slowmo5o]

I saw on some other board a guy was using the sprockets on the rear wheel to together with two motors to get different speed on a horizontal bandsaw.

 

[lilredex]

Here are a few.....


Once welded on the hollowed out large front cog to a snowblower chute so it could be rotated with a formed metal coil. Was a huge improvement over the sissy "V" belt arrangement installed by the factory (1961 vintage)

 

[Burgerkong]

http://www.gizmag.com/mow-cycle-human-powered-riding-mower/14491/

 

[MScott]

This was on another forum. Guy build an Electraton electric racer using a lot of bicycle parts including forks, wheels, gears, etc.
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41183&page=12

 

[Tlag]

"I saw on some other board a guy was using the sprockets on the rear wheel to together with two motors to get different speed on a horizontal bandsaw. "

Thanks,

That's the kind of thing I was thinking of.

I found lots of stuff about using a bicycle to power various things, for the sake of not using other power sources. But I'm more interested in projects that reuse the gears, fork bearing and crank bearings without regard to "green".

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

I wanna build a 4 wheel, 2 seater bike on air ride, and was planning on incorporating one into it.. It's ab ike so it doesn't count, but still.

 

[Tlag]

http://www.gizmag.com/mow-cycle-human-powered-riding-mower/14491/

Not exactly what I was thinking, but interesting. Looks like a lot of chassis, and not much cutting. More for exersize and entertainment than for cutting grass.

I use to work on a golf course as a kid, and I've always wanted to build a miniature gang-mower out of three push reel mowers. Something that could be pulled behind a standard lawn tractor.

I don't know if golf courses even still use gang-mowers, but the ones my course used were a bunch of staggered, overlapping reels pulled behind a tractor and used to cut fairways. These units had 7 or more reels "ganged" together.

 

[Tlag]

What about building some pliers from the brakes?

Just noticed this thread on the General Tool page.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67305

 

[d33pt]

i remember seeing a thread on another forum about a guy that used a brake lever as a hand throttle on his truck. ran an extra throttle cable.

 

[rodnok1]

I have used the axles and wheels to build canoe/boat carriers, turn great and are usually free for the taking. Thought about using handle bars on push around weed wacker so I'd be easier on the hands.

 

[arkangel06]

Hey whaddya know, it's the Miley Cyrus ******* photo!

Yeah and whats that little pink thing sticking out?

 

[MarcSeattle]

Ya mean like this?

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/dude-builds-the-worlds-slowest-porsche.html

 

[spongerich]

How about something like this?

 

[A_Pmech]

Now you're thinking...

How about something like this?

 

[Tlag]

Ya mean like this?

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/dude-builds-the-worlds-slowest-porsche.html

That's more than I ever dreamed of. Wow.
If I had a list of the most interesting one-off uses of a few hundred dollars worth of materials, that would be on it.

 

[crashbumper]

I saw a hotrod that used a small set of gears and a chain to relocate the window hand crank to a more convenient location.

I think it was in Deluxe or Ol Skool Rodz.

If I can find it I'll scan it.

 

[Bull]

That sounds pretty sweet.

I wish I had paid more attention to geometry in junior high school.

 

[FANTASY FACTORY]

I cut up the chrome moly frames to make wind chimes..

 

[InPrimer]

Not parts per se, but I had to replace a hood release cable for my stude, after not wanting to pay a lot for a replacement cable, went to Wally world got a bike brake cable kit ( bunch of wire cables and covers) and made a replacement release, better yet the cable will not freeze up like a solid wire one.

 

[T1320T]

I've used the wheels/tires on a portable deer stand.... I'm not a hunter but I do like to build/weld stuff!

 

[Colin-Roberts]

If you can find an engine for cheap or free you can make a go kart or trike. Even using the old bike frame cut up and rewelded

 

[Okie Pete]

I used the fork stem and neck off a bicycle for the pivot on a yard windmill.

 

[gahrajmahal]

How about a few sources for new bike parts. Specifically, gear sets, disc brakes, levers cables etc.
Thanks

 

[cheap bastard]

New bike parts? The best part of using bike parts is they're are so often free for the taking. Lots of bikes in the trash, the free section of CL and yearly police auctions.
They provide good tubing, often aluminium or chromalloy.
For a bike parts idea... A 5 to seven speed shop fan using an offset motor driving through the chain with a rear chain wheel set on a long fan axle. Use the same bike's derailure and selector to change speeds. Probably dangerous but it would be fun.

 

[pro-rallye]

Here ya go, quick disconnect battery clamps using seat clamp skewers. Works like a charm!

 

[beelsr]

That folks, is about as good a first post as you're going to get. Outstanding idea!

Here ya go, quick disconnect battery clamps using seat clamp skewers. Works like a charm!