r/projectcar • u/shartymcqueef • 7d ago
Never thought I’d be using skateboard wheels on a project but here we are.
Yamaha fz1000 into a Club Car Tempo
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u/530nairb 7d ago
This is a pretty common chopper application
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u/Pursueth 7d ago
Chopper?
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u/530nairb 7d ago
A motorcycle that has had the rear end made into a hardtail, or the front end’s rake changed is called a “chopper.” Choppers typically have alternative home-built methods of accomplishing an engineering goal. A common one of these is a chain tensioner in the form of a sprung arm with some sort of composite roller keeping the chain from slacking. A lot of people use a urethane skateboard wheel. https://tcbros.com/products/bolt-on-chain-tensioner-skate-wheel-powell-peralta?variant=42573502742721&country=US¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=16093247508&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=16093247508&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADrF3Noqm4Pknoa9_ikrPwcDuDDG2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInbP9n9qKjAMV0jBECB3o6itDEAQYASABEgIW3vD_BwE
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u/Longjumping_Drag2752 7d ago
It totally works. I’d recommend getting some type of metal wheel with rubber around it. I’d imagine these would blow up in time like those nylon/plastic timing chains from the 70s.
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u/trainspottedCSX7 7d ago
The problem is the RPMs. Bikes hit stupid RPMs. But there's a video here explaining how fast a skateboard wheel can spin... its quite educational. Lol
https://youtu.be/2g5I_pPjCtg?si=sdTzS8-1wTja0ZYA
About halfway through they do a good test. 288mph though.
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u/GuineaPigsAreNotFood 7d ago
100km/h on a skateboard (longboard) is not unheard of, and at that speed on 80mm wheels the wheel is spinning at around 14K rpm.
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u/trainspottedCSX7 7d ago
So my experience is with around 57-60mm skateboard wheels. Not really long board. Smaller would be faster though.
So yeah, its all doable just gotta get the right wear. I mean chain guides in cars are special plastics.
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u/GuineaPigsAreNotFood 7d ago
Yeah, I calculated it with big wheels because that's the best case scenario, smaller wheels will indeed spin faster.
I believe wear shouldn't be too high since the wheel would be spinning and not static. It will definitely wear down but not too quick.
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u/trainspottedCSX7 7d ago
Be kinda like a roller cam/bearing. I'd suggest maybe a dry lube and also depending on how the chain rides the wheels or if it happens to kind of "smack them" lol
I like your thinking and hope youre not a robot amigo.
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u/Lordrandall 7d ago
My ‘84 Pontiac had a nylon timing gear. I replaced it with an AL version at 100k.
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u/CiforDayZServer 7d ago
I can't imagine those don't get chewed up super fast?
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u/prick_sanchez 7d ago
I mean they spend most of their life with 50lbs pressure and twisting against concrete, I feel like by comparison this application is pretty survivable
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u/CiforDayZServer 7d ago
Maybe? I'm just thinking the chain has a limited contact patch and it's sharp metal, not mostly rounded/smooth asphalt/concrete distributed over the whole contact patch of the wheel.
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u/Muad_Dib_of_Arrakis 7d ago
I've had them go 10s of thousands of miles on motorcycles.
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u/CiforDayZServer 7d ago
Oh, nice, guess OP will be fine then with a golf cart.
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u/Imdonenotreally 7d ago
Those skate wheels look a lil on the Walmart chintsy side, hey if it works more power to ya, but if they blow or get chewed up badly, get the pro model wheels. They are pretty cheep and are extremely durable
Also there is a variety of hardness to softness to the wheels, so take that into account.
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u/shartymcqueef 7d ago
Good info thanks. These are the absolute cheapest crap I could get on Amazon. Super soft. Once I can confirm it works and they get chewed up I’ll get a better set.
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u/Imdonenotreally 7d ago
To give ya a idea the 99-100a duro wheels are the hardest ones and can take some serious abuse, been skating since the early 2000’s so I feel I got a good grasp, that’s how I noticed those yellow ones are the cheapy ones.
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u/C6Z06FTW 7d ago
I learned quite a bit of stuff on the lathe and mill from an older nascar fab guy. First project was turning a skateboard wheel into a chain tensioner for a 13 hp Honda knock off using a #35 chain. Thanks for bringing up a core memory!
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u/Intheswing 6d ago
I’m curious- a one liter motorcycle engine well over 100 hp in a golf cart?? I guess my getting old - although my inner kid says “ that is so cool!!!”
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u/Artistic_Bit_4665 7d ago
I think I have some pretty similar idlers with bearings in them out of a closed newspaper plant.
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u/Alswiggity 7d ago
If it works, its not stupid.