How would you do it?
looking for a roller starter
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61 - 80 of 122 Posts
I am not sure. I have seen starters using the rubber rollers on steel axles but have never seen how the rollers were attached.
That is the reason I decided to use steel pipe and make my rollers. East to weld 5/8 inch axles to them.
I always thought the only way to attach rubber to steel was to use long screws through steel plates on the end of the rollers, but I have seen no evidence of anyone doing that.
That is the reason I decided to use steel pipe and make my rollers. East to weld 5/8 inch axles to them.
I always thought the only way to attach rubber to steel was to use long screws through steel plates on the end of the rollers, but I have seen no evidence of anyone doing that.
That's what I'd be doing - a couple of large "washers" on each end, screw them to the rubber roller and tack weld to the shaft.I always thought the only way to attach rubber to steel was to use long screws through steel plates on the end of the rollers, but I have seen no evidence of anyone doing that.
Spring pins may work to hold the rollers on the shafts.
I dunno. No method so far seems like something I would use.
Myself, I make the rollers out of DOM structural tube and Tig weld end caps on the tubes.
Then they get bored with a 5/8 inch drill in the centers and a 5/8 inch steel axle with a keyway gets Tig welded in place.
It leaves me with rollers that I never have to be concerned with.
Believe me, the rollers are subjected to a lot of stress and you better have done it right or your project is in big trouble.
pg
Myself, I make the rollers out of DOM structural tube and Tig weld end caps on the tubes.
Then they get bored with a 5/8 inch drill in the centers and a 5/8 inch steel axle with a keyway gets Tig welded in place.
It leaves me with rollers that I never have to be concerned with.
Believe me, the rollers are subjected to a lot of stress and you better have done it right or your project is in big trouble.
pg
Figure out how to build And power it off an old coaster bicycle, and you might have something there 
The thing about the rollers is the wheel sits "in" it and doesn't move. With a belt like this you have the added drama of it trying to roll the bike backwards onto itself.Have you guys ever heard of a thing called a V-belt
…. sit your back wheel on top of those belts and I bet she spins.![]()
My half a go kart roller starter that I made is on the back cover of Motorcyclist post this month.
Hillsey is correct!
Using a belt set up like is shown in the pic will have one immediate result....... The bike is going to shoot backwards off the rollers and belt as soon as it starts moving.
Been there done that with my very first roller starter I made. That is the prime reason I have elevated the rear roller on the starters I now make and sell.
pg
Using a belt set up like is shown in the pic will have one immediate result....... The bike is going to shoot backwards off the rollers and belt as soon as it starts moving.
Been there done that with my very first roller starter I made. That is the prime reason I have elevated the rear roller on the starters I now make and sell.
pg
Why will I need 13-13-1/2" between rollers when no body else's unit has spacing that wide? The rest look like between 10"-12"It is looking good.
You will want 13 to 13-1/2 inches between the roller center lines.
I am interested in how you attach the rollers to the axles too.
pg
at the most.
01marc,
I have made my 38 different starters using 13-1/2 inch between roller centers and the wheel fits nicely, dropping down between the rollers. Please note that my rear roller is higher than most others.
Recently I have shortened my frame size by 7/8 inches so my starters fit better in an 18 inch shipping box.
I tried starting my bike with the new center line to center line distance of 12-5/8 inches and the wheel now almost wants to roll forward onto the ramp. Almost, but not quite.
So that was my reason for suggesting 13 to 13-1/2 inches.
Since it all depends on where you locate your rollers, you need to consider this when you choose a center line dimension, as well as the elevation of the rollers.
Just something I learned the hard way.
pg
I have made my 38 different starters using 13-1/2 inch between roller centers and the wheel fits nicely, dropping down between the rollers. Please note that my rear roller is higher than most others.
Recently I have shortened my frame size by 7/8 inches so my starters fit better in an 18 inch shipping box.
I tried starting my bike with the new center line to center line distance of 12-5/8 inches and the wheel now almost wants to roll forward onto the ramp. Almost, but not quite.
So that was my reason for suggesting 13 to 13-1/2 inches.
Since it all depends on where you locate your rollers, you need to consider this when you choose a center line dimension, as well as the elevation of the rollers.
Just something I learned the hard way.
pg
Hillsey is correct!
Using a belt set up like is shown in the pic will have one immediate result....... The bike is going to shoot backwards off the rollers and belt as soon as it starts moving.
Been there done that with my very first roller starter I made. That is the prime reason I have elevated the rear roller on the starters I now make and sell.
pg
Not if the belts are left loose. Then it's just like 2 roller wheels that don't need a chain drive.
! You've made 38 different roller starters ? … what is that, a hobby or an obsession
No, not 38.
Actually I have made 41 starters since August 2014.
I made the first one using an outboard motor starter on each roller.
That did not have the power needed to turn over the engine if I sat down on the bike. So it went into the trash can.
The second starter I made using a Hi Torque starter motor found on a Ford diesel tractor and some other models. That did the trick!
But I made that starter out of 1/4 inch steel plate and the thing weighed 65 lbs. without the battery. Much too heavy for my taste.
I sold that starter to a local rider for $360 which was about the costs of parts.
My third starter I made out of 1/4 inch aluminum plate and fixed some problems found on the steel model.
This worked perfectly, and I kept it as my own with no intention of making another one. The aluminum starter weighs 45 lbs without the battery.
Well, someone saw my starter and wanted me to make them one. I did and sold it to them.
Then I began getting more requests for the starters so I soon found myself working 6 to 7 days a week.
Starter #1 was the second aluminum starter I made and sold last November and I shipped starter #38 to the buyer in Australia last Friday.
I am currently building starters #39 and #40.
I have sold every starter I have made (outside the outboard model) and about half of those were sold as I was building them.
I have yet to have 2 complete starters sitting in the shop unsold.
I like machine shop work, being a machinist, and what started as a need for an easy way to fire up my Bultaco Astro flat track bike became a bit more of a serious endeavor.
38 customers with not a single complaint makes me happy.
I would sell more if I had a way to get the word out. But the way things are I can barely keep ahead of the demand for these things, so it works out fine for me.
And I built the first one only because I could not find anyone outside Australia who made and sold them.
So, being a machinist, what was the next step to take? Make my own.
Another part of this activity is to find better or time saving ways to work without raising the price or degrading the quality level I have set for myself building these starters.
Quality comes first with me, followed by the lowest cost possible to the buyer.
pg
Actually I have made 41 starters since August 2014.
I made the first one using an outboard motor starter on each roller.
That did not have the power needed to turn over the engine if I sat down on the bike. So it went into the trash can.
The second starter I made using a Hi Torque starter motor found on a Ford diesel tractor and some other models. That did the trick!
But I made that starter out of 1/4 inch steel plate and the thing weighed 65 lbs. without the battery. Much too heavy for my taste.
I sold that starter to a local rider for $360 which was about the costs of parts.
My third starter I made out of 1/4 inch aluminum plate and fixed some problems found on the steel model.
This worked perfectly, and I kept it as my own with no intention of making another one. The aluminum starter weighs 45 lbs without the battery.
Well, someone saw my starter and wanted me to make them one. I did and sold it to them.
Then I began getting more requests for the starters so I soon found myself working 6 to 7 days a week.
Starter #1 was the second aluminum starter I made and sold last November and I shipped starter #38 to the buyer in Australia last Friday.
I am currently building starters #39 and #40.
I have sold every starter I have made (outside the outboard model) and about half of those were sold as I was building them.
I have yet to have 2 complete starters sitting in the shop unsold.
I like machine shop work, being a machinist, and what started as a need for an easy way to fire up my Bultaco Astro flat track bike became a bit more of a serious endeavor.
38 customers with not a single complaint makes me happy.
I would sell more if I had a way to get the word out. But the way things are I can barely keep ahead of the demand for these things, so it works out fine for me.
And I built the first one only because I could not find anyone outside Australia who made and sold them.
So, being a machinist, what was the next step to take? Make my own.
Another part of this activity is to find better or time saving ways to work without raising the price or degrading the quality level I have set for myself building these starters.
Quality comes first with me, followed by the lowest cost possible to the buyer.
pg
Ah Ha! It's an income Business venture.
… needs a catchy product name and a big ass sticker on the side of it to give it some brand recognition.
… needs a catchy product name and a big ass sticker on the side of it to give it some brand recognition.
Nope, not a business at all. If it becomes a business I will stop building the starters.
I do this because I like machining work and providing riders (a lot of them are older folks) a way to get their kick start only bikes fired up.
As one customer told me.......'Your starter has added years to my ability to be able to ride my Husky MX bike.'
It takes me many hours to build a starter and I am not getting any wealth from it. Just pleasure as it is one of my many hobbies.
pg
I do this because I like machining work and providing riders (a lot of them are older folks) a way to get their kick start only bikes fired up.
As one customer told me.......'Your starter has added years to my ability to be able to ride my Husky MX bike.'
It takes me many hours to build a starter and I am not getting any wealth from it. Just pleasure as it is one of my many hobbies.
pg
01marc,
We have not heard much lately about the progress on your starter. So how is it going?
Update for me.......Today I finished my 45th starter, having sold 4 last week within 4 days time.
Home
It has put me under some pressure to get them completed and it feels like just work rather than something I like doing.
Once it calms down things will be back to normal around here.
pg.
We have not heard much lately about the progress on your starter. So how is it going?
Update for me.......Today I finished my 45th starter, having sold 4 last week within 4 days time.
Home
It has put me under some pressure to get them completed and it feels like just work rather than something I like doing.
Once it calms down things will be back to normal around here.
pg.
Marc, want me to make a starter for you?
Don'y know if I can afford you're quality of work. But go ahead and give it a shot.Marc, want me to make a starter for you?
Just a thought...If you (or anyone) can put together a reasonable parts list with instructions, that alone could be valuable. People may pay meagerly for this. If you purchase said parts list (in bulk) and offer to sell a kit with instructions I think you could at least make cycling money. Maybe one kit with all the heavy stuff at a higher price and higher shipping, and one kit with the heavy, non-machining stuff left out (to be purchased locally)?Nope, not a business at all. If it becomes a business I will stop building the starters.
Your time IS worth something and you can charge for it.
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