A
Atomic Lemon
Guest
My mate wants to know if there is a way to attach a lawnmower engine to his bike? is it possible?
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M
Mad Jack
Guest
First, you can't use a lawnmower engine for this. A lawnmower engine is a vertical shaft engine. This means that the crankshaft is in an up and down configuration. You can not turn one of these engines on its side and expect it to run. The internal moving parts would starve for oil and the engine would quickly fail.
It would take a complicated set of gears to change the power to come from a vertical shaft. You would need this to have the power sprocket align with the wheel sprocket.
For this project, you would be better off using an engine from a small snow blower or rototiller. This would have the crankshaft in the correct configuration.
You would also need to come up with a clutch system. With out this you would not be able to start the engine.
I hope your metal working fabrication skills are up to the task. Motor mounts will need to be fabricated and welded to the frame. You will also need to fabricate some sort of throttle system.
More than likely, this contraption will not be street legal. Some places will allow them, but you are limited on the size engine you can use. These limits would make it no faster than a 50cc scooter. Where I live in Wisconsin, a contraption like this would be limited to 130cc. You would also need a driver's license to operate in on the street.
With all the effort ad money required, you would be far better off finding an used 50cc scooter that is in decent condition.
It would take a complicated set of gears to change the power to come from a vertical shaft. You would need this to have the power sprocket align with the wheel sprocket.
For this project, you would be better off using an engine from a small snow blower or rototiller. This would have the crankshaft in the correct configuration.
You would also need to come up with a clutch system. With out this you would not be able to start the engine.
I hope your metal working fabrication skills are up to the task. Motor mounts will need to be fabricated and welded to the frame. You will also need to fabricate some sort of throttle system.
More than likely, this contraption will not be street legal. Some places will allow them, but you are limited on the size engine you can use. These limits would make it no faster than a 50cc scooter. Where I live in Wisconsin, a contraption like this would be limited to 130cc. You would also need a driver's license to operate in on the street.
With all the effort ad money required, you would be far better off finding an used 50cc scooter that is in decent condition.
J
Jimbo
Guest
I don't know about that, but I have seen on TV a grass cutter or weed whacker or what ever you call it, being used on a bicycle to propel it.
2
20/20
Guest
Sure is, many of backyard mechanics from yesteryear did this.
S
ShuggieMac
Guest
Mad Jack is indeed well named as not all lawnmower engines are of that configuration.
That said however he is correct in that it would be quite a task but if it was one with a centrifugal clutch on it then it could be achievable as an interesting if not practically rather pointless project.
That said however he is correct in that it would be quite a task but if it was one with a centrifugal clutch on it then it could be achievable as an interesting if not practically rather pointless project.
X
Xiao Xiong
Guest
I've seen it done before but it's not a good fit because the drive shaft is perpendicular to the ground, you'd have to make a lot of difficult modifications. You need one with a sideways drive, like on a roto-tiller.
C
Cheerful Chap !
Guest
Yes it is possible ! So long as the modification to the Push Bike frame is carried out by an Expert & it conforms to the appropriate & relevant 'Construction & Use' Regulations that are in force at the time !
W
winkie 692
Guest
This brings back memories, we once fixed a lawnmower engine on to a home made trolley , worked great .
J
Johnny C
Guest
The chain wouldnt be strong enough, and the frame probably wouldn't be able to take the strain. There's a reason motorbikes (even small ones) have much bigger frames.