The SB Cruiser : Amberwolf's 2WD Heavy Cargo Trike & Dog Carrier

[amberwolf]

Is this QR skewer bent a bit (meaning it doesn't have consistent clamping force)?

Yes, it is, see the text in the post with the images (quoted below):

In the pics you can see the skewer itself is slightly bent at the threaded end. The nut still threads on normally all the way from the outer end down to the end of the threaded area, isn't loose but it rolls on easily for teh whole length.

It's possible the bend itself could cause the issue, but I would expect it to be like a spoke--wehn tensioned, it wouldn't matter...but it would take a lot of tension to straighten something this thick, so...dunno. Still gonna check everything else too.

I don't know what caused the bend; it shouldn't be possible for wheel loading to do that since the axle takes that along the dropouts. Maybe it's always been bent and I just never noticed before.

 

[caleb7]

Yes, it is, see the text in the post with the images (quoted below):

I just edited my previous post to mention: Maybe fork legs have a "play" between them a bit too much? Just guessing.

 

[amberwolf]

Edit: I'd check for why it's bent, rather than believing this loosening is caused by the bent. Maybe fork legs are "wandering" around?

I don't know what "wandering around" means.

It's a solid (non-suspension) fork, despite appearances, with two layers of nested cromoly tubing inserted into the "lowers" and all of it welded together, and securely clamped to the steerer above and below the headtube.

 

[caleb7]

I meant "lowers" and dropouts not staying parallel under load, for some reason. My former fork did that I suppose, because whenever I brake or lean the bike, there was some brake disk rubbing. It had axle nuts though, not QR so I don't know how it would affect a QR system.

 

[bananu7]

Yeah, the threaded end of the skewer is visibly bent.

EDIT: for some reason posts above didn't load when I wrote this.

but I would expect it to be like a spoke--wehn tensioned, it wouldn't matter...but it would take a lot of tension to straighten something this thick, so...dunno

Not a chance. It's far thicker than a spoke, and far shorter relative to OD. It won't straighten on such a short section just from the clamp pressure. Trash the skewer and get a straight one. It's a far too important component for safety to risk anything like that (including trying to straighten) here.

 

[amberwolf]

It's been so hot I keep putting off digging out the other two or three QR wheels I have from the back of the shed; isn't going to cool off much, if at all, for the forseeable future so I guess I'll just go ahead and do it tomorrow to replace the bent skewer on the one on the trike now.


In the meantime I've been poking around at battery modules again, since GreenTecAuto posted this thread

Enerdel High Current 48V 32Ah 1.4kWh Used Battery Module 95% SoH $150 Free Shipping to Lower 48 States

We have these Enerdel modules that can handle some serious current. Each module has terminals under two side covers that can be unscrewed. It is possible to completely remove the ribbon cable and install your own voltage harness with ring terminals to make wiring a BMS easier. Battery is built...

endless-sphere.com

and added some test data showing these would probably be good enough for my purposes (not sure they're quite as good as the EIG cells I have, for consistency / matching of properties, but can probably deliver current better given the age of what I have now).


and am considering one of them, linked and data below,

Enerdel 12s2p 48V 32Ah battery module 1.4kWh | Greentec Auto

Enerdel Moxie+ battery module. Each module is 1.4kWh. Perfect for all of your DIY and energy storage needs.

www.greentecauto.com

Enerdel NMC 48V 32Ah 1.4kWh Used Battery Module​

$250.00 Original price was: $250.00.$150.00
48V 1.4kWh Enerdel Moxie+ battery energy module that removed from a hybrid bus.
Price per kWh: $178/kWh $107/kWh!!
Year: 2020
Shipping: Free Ground
Warranty: 6 Months, Extendable
Each module has terminals under two side covers that can be unscrewed. It is possible to completely remove the ribbon cable and install your own voltage harness with ring terminals to make wiring a BMS easier. Battery is built in a 12s2p configuration. You can also break the module down and rearrange it to whatever voltage you would prefer with little modification. These modules are used, they were removed from hybrid busses. Battery terminals are on top and very easy to connect to, fins are on the opposite side of the terminals and are for heat dissipation, if the modules get warm, you can blow air over them for accelerated cooling.
We have cycle tested several modules and have found they come back as 30-31Ah, nearly full health.

Module Specifications:​

1.4kWh
Length: 7.85 inches
Width: 6.7 Inches
Height:10.6 inches
Weight: 33lb
Max Cont. Discharge: 160A
Max Pulse Discharge: 480A 10 seconds
Max Charge: 160A
Max Regen Charge: 320A 10 seconds

CELL SPECIFICATIONS​

Cell Configuration:12s2p
Max Voltage: 49.2V
Nom Voltage: 43.2V
Min Voltage: 30V

Cell Voltage spec:
– Max: 4.1V
– Nom: 3.6V
– Min: 2.5V

or one of these

Volvo XC90 60V 32Ah Lithium Battery Module

2016-2022 Volvo XC90 60V 32Ah 2kWh 16S lithium battery module for sale at only $65/kWh. Comes with 3 month extendable warranty plus free ground shipping.

www.greentecauto.com

$170.00 Original price was: $170.00.$130.00
Price per kWh: $85/kWh $65/kWh
Years: 2016-2022
Shipping: Free Ground
Warranty: 6 Months, Extendable
Volvo XC90 battery module that has been on the road for a few years. This module is very similar to the Chrysler Pacifica module, with a few significant changes.
Liquid cooling is integrated into the module, no need for a cooling plate or heat sink. The cooling fins connect to the coolant ports along the bottom of the battery module. They are designed to connect with the next module in the chain. If you decide to use the cooling system, you would need to figure out how to hook up a coolant hose to one side, and block the other side so the coolant travels through the actual cell. The module is already compressed which helps with handling and moving it around. The module is 16S1P, the voltage taps can be seen on top leading into the center plug. The connector that fits into the middle is mounted to a BMS board, im afraid It wont be available because it is not a working BMS. You can solder your BMS connections right onto the tabs leading into the center of the battery for 15 of the connections, and use ring terminals for the C0 and C16 voltage tap. The solder points are circled in the last picture. Please verify polarity before you begin soldering your connections, the modules look very similar from both point of views. The battery module will come with a cover for the terminals, and you can see there are two temperature sensors, we have not done any testing on them to determine what kind they are.

Specifications:​

Nominal Module Energy: 2kWh
Nominal Cell Capacity: 32 Ah
Module Configuration: 1p16s
Max Module Voltage: 67.2V
Nominal Module Voltage: 59.2V
Min Module Voltage: 52.8V
Max Cell Voltage: 4.2V
Nominal Cell Voltage: 3.7V
Min Cell Voltage: 3V
Length: 6 7/8″
Length with Wide Base: 7 1/2″
Width: 5 3/4″
Width with Cooling: 6 3/4″
Height: 11 1/4″
Height with Studs: 12″
Weight: 26.45 lbs.
Peak Discharge Current: 240A
Nominal Discharge Current: 100A
Nominal Charge Current: 13A

Both modules can work, but I need 14s / 52v nominal, so to use the enerdel option I have to reconfigure it as 1p instead of 2p, halving it's current capability and capacity, and doubling it's voltage sag, so I can move two of the cells into series. I can then use the rest for lighting and/or spare cells, but...I'd realistically probably have to order two modules, one first to verify they'll do what I need, the other later to improve performance.

The second option, from the Volvo, is more than enough voltage to start with, though it would not be easy to reconfigure if I did have to; looks like welded tabs instead of bolted together. It's 16s, a couple cells higher than what I use now, and AFAICR the Phaserunners can handle that fine, and my wallwart-DC-DC can, but my charger does not go tthat high (58.8v max I think), so either I'd never be charging the pack to full, or I'd have to reconfigure it down to 14s, or I'd have to series another meanwell with the one I have on there, assuming the 12v one I have and the 58v one can be adjusted down to do the right voltage.