well, i'm looking at maybe replacing the motor on my kids' doodlebug & was thinking of slapping the old one on an electric schwinn s350 i have just sitting around the shop. i have no interest in replacing the dead batteries & seeing as how i'll already have a spare motor this seems like a good project. doesn't seem like it should be too difficult. probably the hardest part will be finding a way to mount the right sprocket on the rear wheel. i guess what i'm asking is has anybody done this? if so maybe you could give me some pointers. i know i've seen something similar on craigslist that i almost bought a while back.
stock doodlebug motor on schwinn s350?
The pics show how it is done using the China 49cc or 66cc 2-stroke bicycle motors. There are two pads of rubber that sandwich the spokes on the rear wheel. All I an say is that it works if a person carefully centers the sprocket. The big hub, in this case, is a Sturmy-Archer three speed but all model rear hubs are set-up with the sprocket the same way. These parts are available...look up motorized bicycles on the net.
I believe putting a DB motor on a bike is a neat idea. Under 50cc is legal to ride on the street if it has no gearbox. It's a mo-ped. No one will know that your motor exceeds the displacement limit. My bike is 66cc.
The reason a stock DB motor is so hated is that a minibike does not roll as easily as a bicycle and lots of folks think a DB should operate well on a soft lawn with a 150 lb rider...it won't. But a 50cc hauls a 250 lb person on a bicycle on a hard [nearly flat] road very nicely. The complication I see is that the China type bicycle motors have a built-in gear reduction in the engine case. That certainly means you will have to provide a jack shaft or an absolutely huge rear sprocket.
I believe putting a DB motor on a bike is a neat idea. Under 50cc is legal to ride on the street if it has no gearbox. It's a mo-ped. No one will know that your motor exceeds the displacement limit. My bike is 66cc.
The reason a stock DB motor is so hated is that a minibike does not roll as easily as a bicycle and lots of folks think a DB should operate well on a soft lawn with a 150 lb rider...it won't. But a 50cc hauls a 250 lb person on a bicycle on a hard [nearly flat] road very nicely. The complication I see is that the China type bicycle motors have a built-in gear reduction in the engine case. That certainly means you will have to provide a jack shaft or an absolutely huge rear sprocket.
well, i know it's not a great motor but if i put a predator on my db then the stock will just be sitting around. much like the s350 is just sitting around. put them both together & my kids can get some use out of them. i found threads about putting a motor on a bicycle frame but the s350 is an electric scooter not really built like a bike.
ut:
ive done what your thinking about ,i use a schwin stealth 1000 & doodlebug 2.8 motor.get the gearing right & the kids & you will be very happy ,heres pics of mine, first time I tried a swap I used a 6.5 clone which was way to strong for the electric scooter frame, the 2.8 is perfect match for scooter.
birddog1148 - let me know how it comes along & i'll do the same. don't know exactly when i'll get around to it though. i'm waiting until at least the 8th before i buy a predator for the doodlebug. then i've got to get a clutch & see about making my own mounting plate. might be a little bit.
kruger - that's exactly what i was looking for. the one i saw on craigslist had the motor mounted on the footboard. got any tips for me (i.e. did you use the sprocket that's already on the rear wheel or a different one & if so how did you mount it?)? seeing as how the schwinn without batteries probably doesn't weigh any more than the doodlebug i think it should do fine. the doodlebug actually pulls my kids around pretty decently.
TomH - it's all good. i figured you thought it was a bike.
kruger - that's exactly what i was looking for. the one i saw on craigslist had the motor mounted on the footboard. got any tips for me (i.e. did you use the sprocket that's already on the rear wheel or a different one & if so how did you mount it?)? seeing as how the schwinn without batteries probably doesn't weigh any more than the doodlebug i think it should do fine. the doodlebug actually pulls my kids around pretty decently.
TomH - it's all good. i figured you thought it was a bike.
yes you must change rear sprocket to #35 chain,i went with 50t rear ,i weld the sprocket to a gear out of the currie direct drive unit then assembled it on rear axle because the schwin 1000 uses live rear axle the s350 doesnt. so take old sprocket of wheel line it.up with you blank #35 sprocket and drill it out,as for motor mount I attached mine to seat pole and also used bolt hole thats used to hold rear plastics down, use 1/4 plate & youll be good to go. good luck.