Super Wide Tires and Hubs

[EVBiker2000]

auraslip has got me excited about the CST Cyclops tire. 2.4" wide. I love it already.

I plan on taking a threaded hub and attaching a threaded freewheel to it, then mounting a 55 tooth sprocket to the freewheel. I'm worried that the tire is so wide it will be too close to the chain running on the sprocket. Can you guys tell me if I can get an extra wide hub so that the chain is not so close to the tire?





Here's sort of what I'm referring to. This is Eric Peltzer's bicycle...you can see how close his "normal" tire is to the chain on the left side of the picture...and that is even with his sprocket mounted on the spokes. You can imagine how close a 2.4 wide tire would be mounted on the right side where I plan to have my freewheel and sprocket. I think the chain will rub.

 

[Drunkskunk]

you might have to make a spacer to bolt between the freewheel and the sprocket.

Or use something like this http://www.choppersus.com/store/product/820/Wide-Hub---Freewheel-Disc-BLK/

 

[gestalt]

http://www.choppersus.com/store/product/876/Wide-Hub---Freewheel-Disc-CP/

 

[EVBiker2000]

Simply amazing!! Having you guys is like having a magic lantern! :lol:

Thanks guys!

 

[AussieJester]

You should also get a more heavy duty freewheel White Industries ENO available from Sickbike parts is what you need yet to see a broken one, seen many of those cheapo freewheels busted.

Best of luck

KiM

 

[EVBiker2000]

ok, I order the extra wide hubs from choppersus.com

I'll need to buy some spokes and a rim. Because the hub is wider, it changes the spoke lengths, how do I know what size spokes to order? I searched on the choppersus.com website and they don't say anything about this.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Great links! Thanks! Choppersus especially! Gonna get me some of that good stuff on there
SS

 

[EVBiker2000]

Hey, when you guys get new hubs, are they hard to turn? I received my super wide hubs and I expected the hubs to roll smoothly. These things are stiff and require resistance to turn. Any ideas?

 

[mdd0127]

Usually, there's a sleeve between the bearings to prevent too much axle nut torque from distorting the bearings when tightened. Sometimes when the bearings are pressed up against the inner sleeve on the inner race, they will feel really chunky when turned not on the bike. When you mount the hub on the bike, the compression of the axle nuts slightly compresses the inner sleeve and puts the bearings back into alignment so they will pin smoothly again. This puts a slight interference fit in there so there's no slop. I've seen a few motorcycle hubs that were this way. I've never held one of those ChoppersUS hubs in my hand but they look a little light duty to me. I used a rear hub from a Montessa trials bike. It's plenty wide, light, strong, and will take a big axle and bearings.

 

[EVBiker2000]

Yeah, really chunky. That's how it feels when I turn the axle. So I guess when I get it mounted it will smooth out.

As far as the hubs, I really don't have much to compare it to since I'm new at this. But yeah, when I got the hubs, I was expecting something more heavy duty. They are only about 1.5 lbs each. Not as heavy as I was expecting but this is all I got for now. I'll see how they work out for me. Still trying to figure out the spoke length I need.

 

[AussieJester]

Yeah, really chunky. That's how it feels when I turn the axle. So I guess when I get it mounted it will smooth out.

No you get a cone spanner and loosen the nuts off slightly and it will roll extremely freely, my extra wide was exactly like you described
i can no spin it when on the bike and it runs for a good 2-3 minutes with a hard spin by hand. I also
re-greased my races with molybdenum grease.

KiM

 

[EVBiker2000]

Cool! Thanks AussieJester! I was getting worried that I got defective hubs. :lol:

 

[auraslip]

Once you get it done you should do some pictures of the build so we can copy you