Electric Cycle Truck

[jd56]

Found this 1940 Cycle Truck recently. Look at this og painted placard.
People's Drug Store was my 1st job in the 1970s

Wanted to revive this to all orginal.
But, with the need to ride my first bike since my recent leg amputation in September, I wanted some pedal assistance.

The vision to complete this was priority.

Replaced the incorrect front S7 wheel with the Hilltopper "Sprinter" electric hub. Its a Pedal assist kit.
Cost of the kit was $600.

Added the needed parts to complete the project.
Replaced the OG front fork with a donor Schwinn front Fork and a Schwinn donor dropstand. To accommodate the Sprinter oversized front hub motor.


So excited for this recent build. Mobility is no issue now.

 

[wes holliday]

Are you selling the cycle truck ? Let me know Thanks.

 

[Andrew Gorman]

With a hub motor, be sure to keep the axle nuts super tight- the axle can spin and chew up the dropouts. Worst case scenario the axle can spin, tear the wires and fry something internal. Happened to me on a Wilderness Energy commuter. I'd recommend a torque arm, but the hilltopper motors are pretty low power. The unused threads on the axle nut make me worry....

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

With a hub motor, be sure to keep the axle nuts super tight- the axle can spin and chew up the dropouts. Worst case scenario the axle can spin, tear the wires and fry something internal. Happened to me on a Wilderness Energy commuter. I'd recommend a torque arm, but the hilltopper motors are pretty low power. The unused threads on the axle nut make me worry....

All good points. I'm surprised it does not have a torque arm or some kind of a "fixing plate" to transfer the axle torque.

John

 

[jd56]

The Hilltopper Sprinter axle is a two sided stud. After modification to a donor fork with slotted tangs the axle fits snuggly and no room fir spinning.
I agree that the nuts need to be checked for lightness.
As for speed and my leg issue, I don't need to go fast. However it is rated at 21mph

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

The Hilltopper Sprinter axle is a two sided stud. After modification to a donor fork with slotted tangs the axle fits snuggly and no room fir spinning.
I agree that the nuts need to be checked for lightness.
As for speed and my leg issue, I don't need to go fast. However it is rated at 21mph

In this "special application" it might help your axle length problem to remove the "Pre-War" (axle pivot) kickstand and replace it with a "Post War" (fork bung pivot) style stand. It would not be very difficult to fabricate two threaded bungs and weld them to the fork legs to mount the later style stand. It would still work exactly the same way but be a better fit with the existing motor drive axle.

Does this motor installation have anything that "keys the axle" to the fork? Anything like Sturmey Archer did with their flat sided axles and "non-turn" washers? All the internal planetary geared hubs had some means of controlling the axle torque rotation.

John

 

[jd56]

Ww had to modify the dropstand with a prewar stand to accommodate the length of the axle. We also had to weld bb bearing races to access the end axle nut.
The stand works as it is designed. Fortunately.
Alot of work was put in to this project.
At ML it was my only way to get around.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

Ww had to modify the dropstand with a prewar stand to accommodate the length of the axle. We also had to weld bb bearing races to access the end axle nut.
The stand works as it is designed. Fortunately.
Alot of work was put in to this project.
At ML it was my only way to get around.

Great, I'm glad it all works out for you. I totally get dealing with Mobility Issues. My daughter is in a chair, but still rides a recumbent trike on the Challenged Athletes rides. My wife and I are heavily into Vintage Camper Trailers, and she requires special safety steps I custom fabricate with handrails. There's no reason for life to slow you down. Keep on Trucking!

John

 

[Centurion]

That's a great application for a hub motor.

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Hi JD,

Please give a performance report after the time you logged a Memory Lane and since you have gotten back home. Very nice build, I love the Peoples Drug Store sign you installed. This will be a consideration for my CWC cycle truck that hasn't sold and I previously haven't been inspired to build.