A DIY chainsaw motorcycle is a solution for those men who don’t want to spend money on a car and its subsequent maintenance and who don’t like pedaling a bicycle. In this case, an excellent way out of the situation would be a moped from a chainsaw and a bicycle, which you can assemble with your own hands in the garage, having purchased some of the necessary, missing parts and spare parts. The remodeling process itself is not particularly difficult.
Before starting assembly or if you have questions, you can always refer to the drawings and numerous video reviews available on the Internet.
The principle of a homemade moped from a chainsaw
As the basis for a future moped, you can choose an old bicycle that you want to breathe new life into. You will also need a chainsaw to install the motor on the bike. Thus, you will get a motorbike that you can upgrade: repaint it, install wider wheels, change the handlebars and do other procedures that will make your homemade bike more like a motorcycle.
Moped from a chainsaw Ural
Electric bike
Factory models are reliable and quite comfortable, but their main disadvantage is their high cost. Its reduction occurs due to the use of cheap components, which does not have the best effect on the quality of the bike. A two-wheeler with an engine, as a rule, weighs at least 20 kg, so if it breaks down, moving long distances while pedaling can be very problematic. An engine installed on the bike yourself avoids this problem. In addition, modern stores offer enough ready-made solutions that allow you to make an electric bike yourself and turn an ordinary bicycle into an engineering miracle. Such alteration does not require deep technical knowledge and can be done by anyone.
What does it take to make a moped from a chainsaw and a bike?
For the most part, converting a bicycle into a moped with your own hands by attaching a chainsaw motor to it does not require any special skills of a mechanic or engineer. If you are new to this business, then numerous drawings of a moped made from a chainsaw, as well as educational video reviews, will help you. Also, not every man has everything he needs in his garage to make a motorbike from a chainsaw with his own hands. Therefore, before assembly, it is recommended to study the list of necessary parts, fasteners and spare parts and buy the missing elements.
Moped
In specialty stores you can find entire kits that include a ready-to-install engine, fasteners and other parts that are necessary to transform a bicycle into a moped. This kit will greatly facilitate the process of assembling a motorcycle, since there is no need to select an engine, suitable power, fasteners, battery, transmission belt, cable, etc.
Speaking of tools, you will really need all the popular types of auto mechanic kit components: screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, wire cutters, etc.
Assembly instructions and drawings of a homemade moped
Firstly, we will first look at the simplest and most affordable option for how to make a moped from a chainsaw from the photo above. During assembly, the question often arises of how to install a chainsaw motor on a bicycle. It is important that it is securely attached and does not move while riding. For this type of homemade motorcycle, you need to secure the following parts with clamps in certain places:
- the battery is installed on the top tube;
- the chainsaw bicycle motor itself is mounted at the intersection of the lower front and seat tubes;
- fuel tank - near the engine.
The next step in the conversion is to create and install the pulleys on the bike. They are needed so that engine operation provokes rotation of the rear wheel. Typically, pulleys use external barrier wheels, which are about the size of CDs.
DIY moped
When selecting wheels, take into account the strength and reliability of both the material itself and the fasteners. To install the pulleys, the front wheel is attached to the motor shaft, and the second pulley is attached to the rear wheel hub. Next you need to put the belt on the pulleys. Sometimes men use a chain instead of a belt. In this case, the pulleys are replaced with a chain, and the principle of its installation is no different.
All that's left to do is connect the engine. First, the motor is connected to the battery, and then the ignition is assembled. To do this, you need to install the brake lever on the steering wheel and connect it with a cable to the engine.
If we talk about a more complex option, then as a result you will get a homemade vehicle that is most similar to a real motorcycle. The main differences from the previous design are a more reliable and durable frame, wider wheels that can be removed from an old moped, the presence of shock absorption and the installation of an engine from a chainsaw.
The most convenient place for the engine will be a separate platform welded at the bottom of the frame. You can also place a fuel tank there. An exhaust pipe is also attached to the engine. As for the battery, owners of homemade mopeds recommend placing it closer to the steering wheel. The next step will also be the transmission and connecting the engine. You can watch all the nuances of how to properly make a motorcycle from a chainsaw with your own hands in the video.
snow blower
If in the previous design you replace the shaft with plowshares or harrow spokes with an auger mechanism, add a casing, an intake device and a pipe for throwing out snow, the cultivator will turn out to be quite a decent snow blower. Many home craftsmen design their homemade products with replaceable attachments for different seasons. Motor from a Shtil saw with a power of 3-5 hp. It will cope quite well with cultivating the garden in spring and autumn, and with removing loose snow from a summer cottage in winter. The most important unit is the screw mechanism.
If you are not a professional designer, then it is better to download ready-made drawings from the Internet. The auger blades are made of thick rubber, for example, from a conveyor belt. The intake device is made of galvanized steel. A plastic sewer pipe is suitable for the snow disposal pipe.
Tips and tricks
Many users insist on paying attention to how the belt is held on the wheels. The degree of its fastening affects the transmission of force from the engine, and, consequently, the driving process. The chain is a more reliable and durable part, but do not forget that when using a chain on a homemade moped, gears are used instead of pulleys.
The engine that you removed from the chainsaw should be in full working order. Otherwise, spend a little more time assembling the moped yourself and rebuilding the engine. Try to fix failed parts or completely replace them with new ones.
Legal subtleties
By the way, adding a bicycle motor dramatically complicates the rider’s life from a legal point of view. Of course, even on a regular bicycle we are full participants in the road traffic and are responsible for our behavior on the road. With the acquisition of a source of work additional to muscular strength, the bicycle becomes a vehicle. Do you need a license to drive a vehicle? Yes, we do. This is a 2014 innovation.
Rights category "M" are quite accessible. At a minimum, all those who passed category “B” have them “by default.” Driving motorcycles, mopeds and scooters are rarely taught separately, although access to exams for this category is available 2 years earlier. In practice, the majority simply ignores this letter of the law and does not have any special problems. Traffic police officers rarely get involved with maneuvering purposes, only if the driver is a very young driver.
Consequences of various violations:
- For driving without a license – 800 rubles. fine and prohibition by management (the practice of application is not entirely clear - either the bike is taken away, or non-existent numbers are removed).
- If you are involved in an accident, you are personally liable, since compulsory motor liability insurance was clearly not issued for the bicycle.
Connecting individual parts to the frame
To create a motorbike, you can use any bicycle: old, rusty, folding. A motorbike requires only a strong frame as a base. If one is not available, you can make it yourself. To do this you will need several pieces of metal pipe.
The motor is attached to the frame at the junction of the lower and seat tube. This is the most optimal, but not the only option. Sometimes you can see a motor mounted on the trunk. The main thing is that the fastening is reliable. During operation, vibration will be felt, due to which the motor may fall if it is poorly secured. It is recommended to use metal clamps for fastening. A set for a motorbike may include special perforated mounts. But their use is not at all necessary.
In addition to the engine, it is necessary to attach the battery and fuel container to the frame.
Types of engines
When getting started, you need to decide which motor is best for your bicycle. They come in two types:
- Electric, which with the advent of compact but capacious batteries are becoming increasingly popular.
- Internal combustion engines, which are the traditional option.
To create homemade motorbikes, gasoline engines can be used from a lawn mower, chainsaw and other tools and units.
Brake system
Instructions
First of all, draw a picture of your future masterpiece. You don't need to have the skills of an artist to do this. A sketch of the future moped helps the master decide on the design and technical features of the creation. Then create a technical sketch to determine the parts that will be needed. Then purchase all the necessary parts. At this stage you will have to spend money, since many parts cannot be made: engine, gearbox, wheels, frame pipes.
Assembly of a moped begins with the frame. It’s easier to take ready-made parts and elements from the frames of other mopeds and mini-motorcycles. Your entire frame will have to be made on a special one from pipes. However, do not use seamed water pipes - they are not strong enough. It is better to use pipe elements from motorcycles. Use a blowtorch to bend them, and a welding machine to weld them. Don't forget to reinforce the frame with spacers and brackets.
Weld the front fork to the frame through the bushing. You can also bend it yourself from pipes or remake a ready-made one to your liking. For a simple moped, a bicycle fork will do. For a chopper, you will have to work on the fork yourself.
It is better not to take a rear fork from a bicycle, since a moped has higher speeds and greater mass, therefore the loads will be high. Ready-made ones from mopeds or motorcycles are recommended. When making a swingarm rear suspension, try to install the swingarm as firmly as possible on the frame and cylinder. When using a classic suspension with two shock absorbers, the latter can be taken from any domestic light-class motorcycle.
The next step is installing the engine and gearbox into the frame. Think about its mounting in advance and cut the brackets from a steel sheet. Screw the brackets with bolts and nuts to the engine and tie the engine to the frame with wire. Then “tack” the brackets by welding, remove the engine and finally weld the brackets.
The final step is to install the wheels. If the rear wheel is a bicycle one, it will have to be modified by welding a new sprocket. Install the fuel tank and power system onto the frame. The fuel tank is up to the owner's taste, and the power system must match the engine, although it can be upgraded.
Electrical equipment must be moped or motorcycle type and include all lighting devices required by law: headlight, tail light, turn signals. After this, small parts will remain: the saddle, controls, additional equipment.
DIY motorbike
The domestic market offers buyers a motorbike with a D-type engine. However, such devices have some disadvantages, the most significant of which is the presence of only one gear, due to which the capabilities of the device are significantly reduced. However, their cost is not too high, so as they say, you get what you pay for.
But you can make homemade units with your own hands. For this you need all the necessary materials. Until recently, motorbikes were every boy’s cherished dream. Yes, in childhood such homemade products aroused a lot of admiration. The difference from a regular bicycle was that such a device was equipped with a gasoline engine. And the current in the circuit could be created using a regular hair trimmer. Although the use of a trimmer is not mandatory, since it can be replaced with any other suitable device.
Results
If you want to install an engine on a bicycle, you need to carefully plan your actions, prepare all the necessary elements and materials and follow the work algorithm. You can assemble a moped from scrap materials; only some elements will have to be purchased separately.
A moped assembled on the basis of a bicycle is a budget option. The work does not involve major changes in the design of the bike, so all experiments have the option of reverse motion: if necessary, the moped can be turned back into a bike by dismantling the equipment.
Motor types
Only a few types of motors are suitable for such miniature and fragile equipment, so it won’t be possible to talk about them for a long time.
You can hang the engine on the frame or put it on the trunk - this is not so important, the main thing is what fuel the new “heart” of the bicycle will run on
Petrol
Until recently, a gasoline engine was the first thing you should think about when powering your bike. As already mentioned, the history of the use of gasoline engines on bicycles goes back more than half a century. Not only serial engines for bicycles were used, but also various exotic ones, for example, engines from trimmers and chainsaws.
To move the bike, there is enough minimal force, by the standards of gasoline engines. Usually it is 1-2 hp. Accordingly, engine volume starts at 50 cubic centimeters. There are single-cylinder (most Soviet models, retired engines) and two-cylinder engines. With a difference in power of 1.5-2 times, the latter are usually installed when motorization is taken seriously. Usually, of course, these are imported engines, for example, Honda.
Typically, a gasoline engine is as simple as possible, and two-stroke mechanisms are used, which are fueled with a mixture of gasoline and oil and do not require special care. Comet, D-5 and D-6 and their Chinese clones F50 and F80 are two-stroke. In addition, they are easier to start and can be removable. A 4-stroke engine is a rarity on a bike; a more complex mechanism is more economical, but its “grip” is lower, and repairs, weight and cost are much more expensive.
Electric
Electric bikes have dramatically overtaken gas bikes in recent years. Several factors came into play here:
- Reduced cost of electric motors due to unification of production in China.
- Inventions in the field of batteries, which have become much lighter and more spacious.
- Increasing the complexity of bike designs to the point where an electric motor becomes an acceptable accessory.
An electric motor on a bicycle is easier to install and maintain, but engineers went further than just the first step of replacing a gasoline engine with an electric one. Nowadays, wheel motors have become very popular, when an electric motor for a bicycle is installed on the wheel hub in an integral way. This increases both ease of installation (just attach the wheel and battery) and service life. The absence of an additional chain drive and switching mechanisms makes the design simpler and more reliable.
How to make an electric bike
If you don’t want to bother with a gasoline engine, there is another option - install an electric motor. It can be purchased or installed from another device. The first option for creating electric mopeds is preferable, since the engines already provide the necessary power.
Options for installing an electric drive on a bicycle are a wheel motor and a separate engine on a chain or belt drive.
The wheel motor differs from the usual one by the presence of a drive mechanism in the central part. It is connected to the control unit using wires. A significant advantage is the ability to make the bike front-wheel drive without making changes to the classic transmission. And if you wish, you can even install two motor wheels. Installation is quite simple, provided that the bike itself allows it. However, it’s a stretch to classify a bike with such wheels as a moped.
An electric moped, that is, an analogue of the one discussed above, is a completely different matter. Of course, an exhaust pipe will not be needed here - this is a plus both in terms of reliability and overall weight.
Assembling an engine from scratch at home will be problematic, so let’s look at how to install a ready-made shaft motor.
Progress:
- Install a new sprocket and belt pulley onto the carriage axle.
- A shaft with a drive pulley is attached to the seat tube.
- The pulleys are connected by a belt.
- The shaft is connected to a power source through wires.
- Route the wires from the battery to the switch on the steering wheel.
The location of the battery is on the lower front tube of the frame or trunk. Electric motor operation diagram:
- When the electric motor is turned on, the rotating roller engages the rear tire tire, pushing it.
- The pulleys and front sprocket transmit torque to the transmission.
- Changing gear causes a change in torque output. At the same time, the rotation speed of the roller remains constant.
DIY electric bicycle:
Additionally, you can connect a second shaft to the front wheel by connecting it to the driven pulley of the main drive.
The engine allows you to reach the optimal speed faster and maintain it longer. A bicycle-based moped is a budget option to become the owner of a faster and more powerful vehicle. Transforming a bicycle into a moped in most cases does not make irreversible changes to the design, so it is possible to return everything to its place.
