Friction-driven "motor" unit (Australian)

[103Alex1]

I remember not so long ago someone posting info about a device which uses friction to increase wheel rotation that is very lightweight and could be fitted to a road bike.

I can't for the life of me remember which thread it was on (one of the long ones I think) and having tried for nearly an hour to get the search function to locate it am still no further forward.

Does anyone (original poster of same or otherwise) remember this ? I'd like to investigate further

Thx !

 

[Geebee]

Maybe this Endless-sphere.com &bull; View topic - Commuter Booster - <1kg Friction Drive
Bear in mind they don't like water.

 

[103Alex1]

Maybe this Endless-sphere.com &bull; View topic - Commuter Booster - <1kg Friction Drive
Bear in mind they don't like water.

That's the one = thanks ! . I hadn't twigged they didn't like water but it makes sense ... bit of a wet towel for the UK as it's wet most of the year here especially in the SW where it rains all the blooming time (especially all Summer long when you're most able to get out and enjoy a road bike - no point kidding oneself it's ever going to change to any significant extent !!!).

Really thought I'd cracked my dream toy there for a minute. Hey ho - if I ever moved to the Balearics this is exactly what I'd get. Then the only worry you have left is staying alive on the road and not ending up under someone's car (.. or quad .. or scooter !!)

 

[Jeremy]

It wouldn't be hard to waterproof the motor used on Adrian's Commuter Booster. The main problem is that the motor bearings aren't sealed, but these could perhaps be replaced with sealed types.

I had a friction drive petrol engine bike power assist unit when I was a teenager, an Italian unit of around 38cc, IIRC (Mosquito? Something like that, it fitted under the bottom bracket). The friction drive worked OK in the wet, the only problem being that it would be more prone to slip when starting the engine, even with the decompressor engaged. When actually driving the bike in wet tyre seemed to make no difference at all.

The main problem with Adrian's Commuter Booster is that it's hard to fit a mudguard, because the unit has to be fitted fairly high up on the frame.