Up-to-date options for geared motors with metal gears?

[yaemes]

I was on the E-bike-kit site again today, looking for geared motors. I saw they use nylon gears. The user Knuckles showed pics of some mushed up nylon gears in another thread so I know I want some darn metal gears in my motor. What are my options?

In return for your help I will compile the most up-to-date info here for the top most interesting motors for everyone else.

 

[yaemes]

[reserved for future post]

 

[neptronix]

You'd be shocked at how well nylon gears hold up to abuse nowadays.
MAC and BMC motors also include strong composite gears ( which are easily replaced ).

Rarely are gears the problem; usually it is the clutch that goes out under high power levels ( > 2000w )

If you want something durable and capable of good power, i would steer clear of the ebikekit geared motors. They are not designed to be opened up and serviced like the MAC/BMC motors. I haven't heard many instances of the gears on those being ruined but... once the power bug bites ya ( and it will!! ).. you will either ruin the motor or find the need to upgrade to something more powerful.

 

[neptronix]

ps... you don't want metal gears. They are loud and will gradually deteriorate from high rpm metal to metal contact when the internal grease gets 'spent'.. the end result could be a dark sparkly grease with tiny metal particulates in it. Much like changing the fluid on a transmission or differential after 100k+ miles..

 

[spinningmagnets]

cell_man and BMC have both advertised that they have optional gears (some type of composite) that are stronger and more heat resistant than the stock gears. The drive to have the lowest possible price keeps the stock gears being the default option, and if you keep the bike on light hills with the stock voltage/amps, the stockers are actually fine.

The people who sounded the most interested in metal gears only used one of them, and kept two of the stock units. When the motor gets very hot, the plastic gears get a little softer, and thats when they are weak and on the verge of shredding.

I recommend starting with the upgraded stronger plastic gears. If they work, fine, they act as a mechanical fuse to keep the sun gear from being damaged. The plastic planets are fairly cheap and reasonably easy to swap in if you push the hub too far.

Add only one metal planet-gear if you have some trouble (plus, of course, two replacement plastic gears). You WANT the planets to absorb all the wear. You WANT the sun and ring gears to last a lifetime.

 

[cassschr1]

there's been 3 revisions of the gears lately,so there on the fourth version. say the last 2 years

 

[yaemes]

This is much more interesting than it sounds at first. I see now there is a reason for the nylon gears.

Heh, about that speed bug...that's why whatever I do, it will be dual drive, front and back motors. I considered a DD double motor setup. That would give me fast acceleration and fast top speed whereas the geared dual drive would just give me fast acceleration. Maybe two magic pies. I'll be working with a 1kw 36v 27aH NiMH battery probably.

I'm hearing BMC and cell_man so I'll start there. Thanks guys.

 

[neptronix]

erm, geared motors can be as fast as DD motors. The common wind of MAC does 25mph on 36v lifepo4 or up to about 28mph on 38v 10s RC Lipo.

Now okay, you want to go over 40mph? then a DD hub will be what you want, particularly the large and in charge 5xxx crystalytes.. because there are no geared motors that can handle that kind of power right now.