So...how hard is it to put a hub motor on a 29-inch wheel.

[MikeFairbanks]

My hub is on a 26-inch rim, and I want to go up to 29.

Is this something I can do myself? Can the local bike shops do it? Or should I send it in to ebikekit.com to have them do it? That's where I bought it.

Thanks for any advice.

Mike

 

[marty]

Wheelbuilding how to:
http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

I used this spoke calculator:
http://sheldonbrown.com/rinard/spocalc.htm
Works with Excel

Buy this tool!
Holy Driver
For quick and easy wheel building, the Holy Driver sets spoke nipples to the same depth. Simply cut a spoke and fix its length with the set screw.
http://problemsolversbike.com/products/holy_driver/

I got Professional Wheel Truing Stand
http://www.parktool.com/product/professional-wheel-truing-stand-ts-2-2
Lots of other ways to hold the wheel without spending money.

Forget local bike shops. Hub motors scare them.

 

[newb]

imo, all this work is only worth it if you feel it’s likely you will need/want to build another in the future.

if you decide to do it yourself i would suggest reading this page from ebikes.ca and use their spoke calculator.

http://ebike.ca/SpokeCalc.shtml

be sure to take pictures of your existing wheels to as a reference when rebuilding your new wheel. you will also need to verify if you have an older motor that requires dishing in which case you will need offset spoke lengths by 1mm; spoke calculator say all spokes are “Xmm”, then the length you need is “X+1” & “X-1” giving you a 2mm difference in spoke length. also, if it requires dishing spoke heads out on the disk side and spoke heads in on the freewheel side should give roughly a 1mm off center vs 5+.



you can also spend big money on an official truing stand or you can make one out of pvc for about $5 in parts. then use zip ties synched to the uprights to measure wobble and hop of your build. and if you are unable to completely true the new wheel your LBS can true it for a fraction of the price of building a completely new wheel.



would also suggest one of these (in correct size), don’t waste your money on those multi sized spoke wrenches.

http://www.parktool.com/product/spoke-wrench-sw-1

custom length spokes can be gotten here

ES member’s:

http://holmeshobbies.com/product.php?productid=406&cat=0&page=1
http://ebikessf.com/catalog/41

guy off of ebay which I can also recommend:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/childhood_dreams/m.html?item=280741828186&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562

Good Luck

 

[Alan B]

One trick that I read about is to position the new rim next to the old wheel and do one spoke at a time. So you take one out and put a new one in with the wheels together so you get the lacing the same. This is just to make the lacing easier, not sure how easy it is to do with a hubmotor.

If you do the lacing and have a bike shop do the truing it will save a lot of the cost and let the experts do the skilled part.

 

[Gordo]

Mike,
Here is a link to the wheel wiz,
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35442&p=522637&hilit=wheel+building#p522637

Other links in this thread.

My hub is on a 26-inch rim, and I want to go up to 29.

Is this something I can do myself? Can the local bike shops do it? Or should I send it in to ebikekit.com to have them do it? That's where I bought it.

Thanks for any advice.

Mike

 

[amberwolf]

and if you're still uncertain about it, talk to johnrobholmes here on es; he can do it for you probably better than an lbs.

 

[dogman dan]

First thing I'd do, is ask EBK if they have any defect motors in 29 er for sale. If you can get one cheap, all you do is swap the stator out of one rotor, and into the rotor laced for 29er. Easy as pie, takes about 5 min, and you still have the option of switching back to 26" just as easy later.

Second thing I'd do, is screw that 29er bike, or if already bought, pedal it. We tried to tell ya.

 

[mabman]

Keep in mind what you are talking about is a 700c rim. The 29" term just relates to the size of tire mounted on it.

 

[joe tomten]

Mike,

that's a 32 spoke rim, so you'll be needing a 36spoke rim.

 

[rjoe]

One trick that I read about is to position the new rim next to the old wheel and do one spoke at a time. So you take one out and put a new one in with the wheels together so you get the lacing the same. This is just to make the lacing easier, not sure how easy it is to do with a hubmotor.

If you do the lacing and have a bike shop do the truing it will save a lot of the cost and let the experts do the skilled part.

I wonder if that still works with differently sized rims

 

[MikeFairbanks]

Well....I'm on the 26 side of the fence now. Sounds like a pain in the saddle.

So right now I'm scouring the net for single-speed mtb frames.

I don't need gears. This thing goes 28 mph, which is faster than I want to go. I stay about 20-24 and occasionally pedal on steep hills.

So....off to the races looking for a twenty-six inch single speed.

I'm trying to go minimalist as possible.

I already have a good gear bike.

 

[marty]

Well....I'm on the 26 side of the fence now. Sounds like a pain in the saddle.

So right now I'm scouring the net for single-speed mtb frames.

I don't need gears. This thing goes 28 mph, which is faster than I want to go. I stay about 20-24 and occasionally pedal on steep hills.

So....off to the races looking for a twenty-six inch single speed.

I'm trying to go minimalist as possible.

I already have a good gear bike.

Brakes are important. If you cant Stop? Don't Go.

 

[Alan B]

Minimalist as possible == road bike, no motor.

 

[Ykick]

Good luck finding any single speed mtn frame. I run single speed but just use a 7 gear freewheel cluster and leave the chain on smallest sprocket. I tried it with no rear derailer and chain to length but it hopped off a few times so I eventually went back to the derailer locked into position for smallest cog. Kinda acts as a tensioner.

I've been thinking of a 29/26'er. 29 front, 26 rear - could be a good match for something different?

I've laced 5 motors into wheels since jumping into this eBike thing with good results. I can't praise high quality SS spokes enough. The difference between real spokes and the Chinese junk is night/day. Most recent wheel build used 13/14ga Stainless steel butted style.

You can always practice with any old bike wheel until you feel confident enough to do it for real. Main difference lacing hub motors is the number of crosses the spokes will make compared to normal bicycle hub. Getting a legit feel for truing, dishing and tensioning requires a little practice but well worth the effort.