Originally Posted by
tfahrner
Lots of things are possible if you have access to a machine shop and can shape metal as you please, know enough electronics to get the controller not to resist back-driving, get it to turn the right direction etc. But I guarantee that as long as you value your time more than a couple dollars an hour, it will cost you more to roll your own Stokemonkey than to wait for mine, at least for a similar level of function. I don't mean to sound unhelpful, but my patent attorney says that if I assist with petty infringement of the design, it will weaken my case in the event of large-scale commercial infringement.
Well, i've been considering at least attempting to convert the hub motor from front to rear wheel drive. From what I understand, changing the axle is going to be the only complicated part, i'm wondering if it can really even be done. They're press fit according to Justin from Renaissance, so I would imagine its not that easy.
Its more of a passing thought though. Initially, I bought this e-bike kit to help out, but the first battery crushed my rack.. twice..
Then I discovered that at 37v, the 408 just isn't gutsy enough for cargo work.. And I got sick of the prospect of having my front dropouts spread, dealing with battery recharging, constantly packing/unpacking the pack off the bike, but the really big thing was dealing with the fact that these kinds of systems add rolling resistance and just *aren't* fun to simply "bike" around with, without the motor.. Once its on there, it makes you really dependant on it.
So eventually I just took it all off and its collecting dust in the corner. Its great for some people, but it was a poor waste of money for me. The possibility of having a system which doesn't add any resistance and provides greater torque input would just be great though, if I could afford your stokemonkey, which on my student budget, I can't.