An introduction and a question on torque arms

[Courtney]

Hello,

I've been commuting by bike everyday, or almost everyday, wether snow or rain, for 2 years now. Actually, car-train-bike commuting. Depending on weather and workload, I would bike between 4 and 14 miles a day on my faithfull bianchi. Now that witer's here, i've switched to my self-assembled hybrid MTB (brand x frame, LX groupset and rock shox fork). I'm changing the fork to Surly 1x1, as the way the actual RS fork is made, it seems I can't had a torque arm, and it's alumium.

The problem with my commute is the car part. I've switched to the bike for economical and ecological reasons, but a change in my working hours has made have to use my car to get to the train station: as I'm a bit lazy, i really don't feel like doing this road twice a day, especially at 5:00 AM....

That's why I decided to move to electricalyl assisted bike, to get rid of the car part. I haven't received the motor yet, but I think it's a nine continent. It's 250W, 24V 10A kit. The french regulations limit me to these settings (could use a higher battery though).
Hopefully, that'll be enough to keep me in shape and give up using the car, even maybe use only the bike instead of bike and train (on thiskind of track - using remote roads, as the traffic is huge on the main roads)

So this is the background, and now for the question....

Though I have found many intersting discussions on this forum about torque arms, none have clearly answered my question about the positionning of the TA (or maybe I didn't understand,as I'm more francophone than anglophone): I don't have any regen, so should the arm be positionned on the front of the fork, or on the back ? As I'll have the TA custom made, might as well have it best positionned

Thank you all for your patience reading this and for your support.

Wishing you a nice day

 

[mwkeefer]

At your power levels with no regen - it doesn't matter which orientation you choose, just as long as it's properly mounted!

My Rock Shox Tora RS is aluminum and I use a normal torque arm from e-bikekit.com (the stainless steel type with the HD clamp). The difference between us, my setup is running 63v @ 35A for 2205 watts of power, 10X what you plan to run (practically) with no issues.

You can always up the current (if you received an infineon) and you can probably run a higher voltage battery to get more power but it won't be legal (I don't think).

Does france have a pedal first law?

Hope this helps!

-Mike

 

[dogman dan]

I'm told on the back, by Jason at E-BikeKit. He also says that they work good enough the other way, if it won't fit towards the back. So put it to the back if you can, and if not, just put it the way it fits good. At your wattage, just a tight nut and good fit would be plenty anyway.

 

[Courtney]

Thanks for the quick answers.

Seems it'll be in the back then.

The problem with the dart 2 is that the whatchanightcallit where the bolt or quick release goes is shaped with a small shoulder so only round with a psecific diameter objects will fit tightly. Anymway, better safe than sorry, and I've already ordered the fork

and mwkeefer, yes, the assistance can be provided only during pedaling. Thumb accelaretors are not legal

 

[USAEBIKECO]

Its insane to think people ride ebikes with no torque arms.

You absolutely must have it. Just one would be ok. Amped Bikes makes the best one. Its in the shape of an L. It is bolted to the motor axle and it is fastened to the fork with a hose clamp. Makes a world of difference in safety. It SHOULD be a law in USA.

 

[dogman dan]

Fit of the washers is more important than tourqe arms, but if you are really insane, use a front hub on an alloy fork.

Most of the issues with front hub axle spinout are caused by a small cup or such on the fork being smaller than the oversize washers that come with a motor.
Even with steel forks, the dropout can deform and cause the nut to loosen, or spit the axle out of the dropout. Tourqe arms don't prevent this, but if you stupidly install the motor wrong, a tourqe arm can save your teeth.

With moderate powered motors on good steel forks, I have 5000 miles with no tourqe arms.

Justin of Ebikes-ca is currently testing the twisting resistance of various forks, tourqe arms, and nut tightness. Amazingly, just properly tight nuts do pretty well. Even with the tourqe arm added, the crucial factor is still having the nut tight. Having the nut stay tight is dependent on the proper fit. So all this discussion of tourqe arms is less important than filling that little gap on the forks, instead of spanning it with a washer the wrong size.

Ebikes-ca sells a c shaped washer just for solving this problem.

 

[spinningmagnets]

Here's a torque arm thread with some pics...

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11570

 

[pwrbkr31]

These little washers do some help and could be filed down to fit in the front fork axle recess (lawyer lip) if they are a little too big to fit snug. I believe they require some filing internally anyway before fitting which is not a bad thing as it ensures a snug fit around the axle flats, dependent on the users ability to use a file in a precise way.

Just putting an oversize washer on and leaving the recess hollow appals me but I am sure that expedience and lack of experience rules in some cases, alas.

A torque arm outside this washer would complete the job.

Alan

 

[Courtney]

Here's a torque arm thread with some pics...

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11570

Hadn't seen that one, thanks

These little washers do some help and could be filed down to fit in the front fork axle recess (lawyer lip) if they are a little too big to fit snug. I believe they require some filing internally anyway before fitting which is not a bad thing as it ensures a snug fit around the axle flats, dependent on the users ability to use a file in a precise way.

Just putting an oversize washer on and leaving the recess hollow appals me but I am sure that expedience and lack of experience rules in some cases, alas.

A torque arm outside this washer would complete the job.

Alan

I was planning on using those too, thanks for confirming

thank you all fo ryour great help. I'll kee p you informed as the project advances.

Have a merry end of year season