Coming together nicely!
Swingrat
- Thread starter Wildcat
- Start date
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I'm rethinking the pin in the head tube. It's easy enough, so why didn't the original swing bikes do it that way? I suspect the weight of the cranks and all might be too much to hold at that spot. Then add the force of pedaling and it seems like that spot where the pin would go through would take too much stress and something would give out or crack.
A brace like the swing bikes used looks like the best way to go. I'll go through my scrap and see what I can come up with.
A brace like the swing bikes used looks like the best way to go. I'll go through my scrap and see what I can come up with.
I have a section of bar left over that is just long enough to work. I'll bend it into a U shape. It will bolt to the braces and then get pinned to the lower frame bar. The pin will have to be inserted from the bottom. It should give more strength like this.
Doing good Wildcat!
Did I miss why you want two chainrings up front?
Did I miss why you want two chainrings up front?
The lucky 7 chain rings are 36 and 42 teeth. When I'm in swing mode, I think a lower gear ratio will be needed. Once I'm locked in, I can probably go faster and the higher gear will be good, but still lower geared than a regular one speed.
I'll have a 46 and 53 gear index with this setup, a 16 tooth cog. A tensioner will take up the chain slack when I'm in low gear. Shifting is manual.
I had this type of setup on another build way back when but I think it was a coaster brake, so it wouldn't work. I've been wanting to try it out ever since.
I'll have a 46 and 53 gear index with this setup, a 16 tooth cog. A tensioner will take up the chain slack when I'm in low gear. Shifting is manual.
I had this type of setup on another build way back when but I think it was a coaster brake, so it wouldn't work. I've been wanting to try it out ever since.
The drivetrain was easy and works well. Pics of low and high gear:
The shiny chrome faces of the chainwheels are facing each other, but that's the only way it will work.
The band brake needs a larger bracket to attach to the rear fork. It is made for a chain stay. I'll have to fabricate something.
The shiny chrome faces of the chainwheels are facing each other, but that's the only way it will work.
The band brake needs a larger bracket to attach to the rear fork. It is made for a chain stay. I'll have to fabricate something.
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As I’m building a 24” frame Raleigh…. This thing looks FINE!
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2019
- Messages
- 2,104
- Reaction score
- 6,235
Not a lot of safety gear, that’s for sure!Interesting to see that people weld on the ground instead on a table.
Progress looking solid!
Oh btw: I saw a similar bike like yours (shapewise) in a book my daughter was reading:
View attachment 233768
Schwing!
- Joined
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This build is incredible! I do like the look of the return spring on the original…. I had no idea what they did but figured it was some sort of stabilization.
if you don’t need it, don’t add it!
this is going to be just a super cool build.
if you don’t need it, don’t add it!
this is going to be just a super cool build.
I did some bar bending and drilling. I have no specialized tools for this, so it was the vise and elbow grease. I looked at some old fenders but they weren't right, I need some Stingray type fenders like the originals.
The bracket is in there, but isn't going to hold the cranks solidly, there's a little sway. That is okay because I will mostly ride it in swing mode. The locked in mode will be needed for parking and transport on the bike rack. The pin is 6mm and can be stored in the rear fork brake hole (where I have an extra pin). I need to trim the ends and paint the bracket. I haven't made a final decision on which seat I will use.
The bracket is in there, but isn't going to hold the cranks solidly, there's a little sway. That is okay because I will mostly ride it in swing mode. The locked in mode will be needed for parking and transport on the bike rack. The pin is 6mm and can be stored in the rear fork brake hole (where I have an extra pin). I need to trim the ends and paint the bracket. I haven't made a final decision on which seat I will use.
One month in, and it's ready for a test ride. I got the brake hooked up and everything tightened up. By pure luck, the riding position is perfect for me, like sitting in an easy chair. I'll ride this whether I learn to swing or not.
Just be brave and try to swing it. It will put a big smile in your face and the faces of the people you pass by with it!
It took me about half an hour to learn to basically handle it. From there on it's just pushing the limits bit by bit.
I was hoping for a ride, but the brakes won't give enough stopping power and the chain is skipping.
I can't figure out why it has a skip. The chain is in alignment and doesn't skip unless I am pedaling.
I have one more disc brake conversion kit that I may use, or add a second caliper brake.
I can't figure out why it has a skip. The chain is in alignment and doesn't skip unless I am pedaling.
I have one more disc brake conversion kit that I may use, or add a second caliper brake.
I would guess that the chain starts to skip probably due to some flex just behind the BB, as it "hangs" on a single tube only. Maybe another set of brackets going from the BB to your diagonal or to the rear fork could do the trick?
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SG has a good point
The chain skips somewhere near the tensioner and cog. I don't see any flex with the chain stays, I had reinforcement plates welded on top and bottom to the BB and chain stays. I'll try it without the tensioner and see if I get the same thing.
I did some research and found a bunch of info on the same thing. Chain wrap was insufficient, there wasn't enough chain on the cog. But I don't need two low gears anyway so I solved it by just using the 42 tooth lucky 7 chain wheel. I was able to ride it in circles in the shop! It will turn even sharper in swing mode later.
Then on to the disc brake, I can't find the bracket that attaches it to the fork leg, so it's on order with another kit.
Then on to the disc brake, I can't find the bracket that attaches it to the fork leg, so it's on order with another kit.
While waiting for the disc brake kit to arrive, I used the hub adapter that will unscrew itself if you brake while rolling backwards, but I can live with it. I mounted the last rotor I had and now just need the adapter that attaches the caliper to the fork. I had to add a spacer to the axle for the rotor to clear the wide fork leg.
I don't like the previously modified center stand so I ordered a new one, only a different style. This pic shows the plate I had welded to reinforce the BB. It has the same on the bottom so it is solid.
I don't like the previously modified center stand so I ordered a new one, only a different style. This pic shows the plate I had welded to reinforce the BB. It has the same on the bottom so it is solid.
Trying out dual headlights.
