Endless Sphere

Here's a thread about cheaply using Propane and Oxygen in a MAPP-gas torch to braze your own bike rames (Oxy-Acetylene torches have a different air/fuel mix, and acetylene is hotter than propane, but MUCH more expensive). Anyone with brazing experience have any advice for "braze-newbies"? ...

I've seen pics like this before on E-S, but I don't recall this particular one (I apologize if its already in the archive). There's a deployable outrigger on the right (with a tiny wheel) as a kickstand. All thats missing is a cup-holder and a long-straw for some coffee... 0.25 Cd, 70 lbs, here's th...

Here's one more. This is from the "atomic zombie" website. They sell plans to cut and weld your own frame for bikes of many different configurations. Notice the rear suspension arm, this model is named the "Cycle Bully"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU2i6fn4Dp4

Thanks for the atomiczombie link, Mitch. Here's the long-tail bike thread, they dont have to be ugly or goofy, its basically just taking 2 or 3 trash bikes and making something new: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9673&start=15 I don't like this particular frame, but this will give you the idea. http://...

I've used NiCDs in a variety of appliances, and I always liked them. I may upgrade the ebike pack to NiCDs instead of lithium. If I do end up doing that, I want two small full-voltage packs on the bike. When one pack starts to get low, I'd switch to the other. That way I can drain each pack to whate...

I don't know how big a town you live in, but try to find a metals recycling yard that saves and sells useable metals. Youcan get angle and rectangular tubing much cheaper than a hardware store, and there will be a better selection of types and sizes. Yesterday I went by a fabrication shop, they make...

Here's one more made from a Currie-Drive unit:

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewto ... f=2&t=4699

I like that a lot! In my description, I was thinking of the motor being mounted just above the standard V-brake position, just like Grinhills mount. Still an option, but... The Ypedal two-stage is a work of art, but the way you've made this one in this pic, its much simpler and cheaper. Also easy to...

I'd recommend finding a local community college/trade tech welding class. make sure they know you want to learn MIG. I "think" TIG is often used for aluminum, and is good to have under your belt. (or is it "heli-arc"?) You can learn brazing by just buying the equipment and playin...

"my eyes were watering"?...put on some sunglasses, get back out there, and GET US THAT DATA! All joking aside, this is a great build. I have been contemplating using an RC motor on the rear of a full-suspension bike, and your build has given me some ideas. I may still end up copying Grinhi...

I don't think it so much the coal-burners that cant be quickly throttled, as it is the steam half of the plant is best to be kept hot. few new coal plants are built, so they are often used for base-loads as far as I know (plus coal is cheap). Often, many cities use natural gas burned in gas turbines...

gasoline engines have a horsepower "bell curve", and you know how manufacturers are...they advertise PEAK HP. Gasoline engines really dont have a continuous RPM/load "setting" and then a peak temporary load. Motors are like that. You normally buy the smallest cheapest e-motor tha...

Yes! please post a close-up pic of the pulleys and the way they are mounted (with measurements as Miles asked) I think this is a clever arrangement. By mounting the machine to the V-brake attachment points, you've created a form that is easily and affordably "kit-made" for those who are un...

As a child we used to make fun of the Japanese during flu season. On TV we would see that many of them were wearing what looked like surgical masks. I don't know if it was sick people who wore them, or people who didn't want to get sick. Now I think its a pretty good idea. I was in Japanese shipyard...

Dear Miles, I apologize if it sounded like I was disparaging all small wheels. After your comment, I Googled Moulton and found this: http://www.bikeaccess.net/bikeaccess/Articles_db.cfm?Search=Folding%2CFriday%2CMontague%2CMoulton&Article=Moulton I like your bike. I was merely pointing out that ...

Grinhill, I want to thank you for posting all of this information! "...Top speed is 44 km/h (27 MPH) on the flat, and if I pedal as well I can maintain 35 km/h (21 MPH) up a 10% grade, pulling 45A at 22V (990 Watts!)..." Most RC builds are focusing on an upscale high-performance set-up, bu...

16" wheels are normally found on childrens bikes, so they are cheap and weak. Due to the popularity of BMX bikes, its possible to find 20" wheels that are heavy duty (keeping in mind that you can still find cheap and weak 20" wheels. Here's a 20" BMX wheel with 7 gears http://www...

try this one: http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/470MPG ... 0Main.html Its just a link about the Vetter competitions, and what the winners did. Not much of the techniques apply to real world driving, but the aerodynamics info is good for anyone. They show pics of what university-study and competition ...

I understand both (or all three) sides to the argument. Nickel mining for NiMH batteries in the Prius is horribly bad for the environment near the mine (as one issue rarely mentioned) In Home Power magazine recently, a retiree purchased a solar PV system large enough to run the home, and ALSO charge...

I like the idea of a series hybrid trailer too. I only mentioned the Idaho Taurus because the sizing info may be useful.

Whether its on-board or on a trailer, here's a discussion about them, may have a few useful links in there.

http://visforvoltage.org/forum-topic/hy ... -generator

Then why are typical mopeds and scooters getting less than 100mpg? It seems that if efficiencies were closer that we would see more 200mpg scooters. When gas was $4/gal, there was a bunch of scooters bought in my town. I talked to quite a few of the owners. The 50cc scoots got 100-MPG, and the 150c...

Methods, If you are really looking at an Etek for a bicycle, look at the Agni-reinforced, its smaller and lighter. There was a post a while back about a light motorcycle, and in an effort to get max range he had a X5 hub motor that was only used when accellerating. He had a second cylindrical motor ...

And what goes better with turn-of-the-century Italian/French bicycle racing than...SMOKING !!

PeterJ, Thank you for posting the links about the Stanton hub and left-side freewheel. Its one thing to surf the net and think I found something that "might" work, its a completely different thing for me to read "This is what I bought, and this is how it worked for me".

For some situations, a plastic pistol box would work well, they come in many sizes (one pistol, 2 pistols 3...) http://i37.tinypic.com/payjl.jpg Plastic tool boxes com in many sizes and shapes http://im.edirectory.co.uk/p/3707/i/52769x.jpg And whether it for the front or back, these plastic boxes th...