To get rid of weeds in your garden, you can make the job a bit easier with some lo-fi tech. You could buy a ready-made motorized bike or a weed eater machine yet they can be expensive.
If you already have a push bike, a motorbike, or even a scooter then you can mount a motor to banish those weeds. Not only is it cost-effective but it can be a project well worth taking on, especially if you are keen to learn how to weld.
In this guide, we will detail how to put a sprocket on a weedeater to create a powered-up bike.
This will include finding the right motor, preparing the bike, mounting the engine, fixing the bike chain on, and finally getting the bike ready to ride.
Finding The Motor
If you are looking to replace your current weed-eating machine then examine the motor before getting rid of it.
Perhaps everything else has spoiled yet with a bit of tender loving care you can keep the motor going for a while longer. If the motor is beyond repair, try to source a 32CC weed whacker online or locally.
The smaller, the better, especially if it has a clutch and comes with mounting holes which will make the job of attaching it even easier.
Preparing The Bike
Once you have sourced the motor, you can get started preparing the bike. If there is an existing motor on the bike, remove it by unscrewing the bolts and taking it off the frame.
Be careful not to be too forceful with it as the old motors can break up quite easily.
There are two places that you can place the motor, either on the front or the rear of the bike. For the front, remove the handlebars to make room for the motor.
Screw your replacement motor onto the frame and ensure that you torque those bolts so that the motor is correctly attached to the bike. The last thing you want is for it to fall off while shredding those weeds.
If you prefer to have the motor at the back, remove the rear tire and then install a fairly large sprocket on the left-hand side and make sure that it is facing outward.
Ensure that you bolt the sprocket on with a washer from the outside to securely fasten it on. This is when you will need to get some welding done to fix on a small sprocket with between ten and 12 teeth.
This should be centered and attached to the bell housing of your engine’s clutch.
Where there is room to place your weed trimmer’s engine, weld a couple of metal straps either under the center bar or rear to the seat.
Should the straps come with holes, this can make it relatively straightforward to bolt each one to the frame. Do make sure that enough distance is left between the straps to securely hold the engine box.
Mounting The Engine
The next step is mounting the engine onto the bike. For this, you will need to ensure that the engine will fit and can be mounted between those metal straps and then secured with metal bolts.
You do not need to use metal straps, you can just carefully drill holes for the motor to be bolted to a plate. All you need to do then is weld the plate to the frame which may prove to be an easier job.
Fixing The Bike Chain On
Once the wheel sprocket has been correctly applied, wrap your bike chain around it.
This will keep the bike functional, even though it has a weed-trimming motor attached to it. Use a tensioner to tighten up the sprocket ring.
Getting The Bike Ready To Ride
With the weed-trimming motor attached, you need to make sure that the bike is ready to ride. That’s easy to do once you detach the brake cable and then fix it to the carb throttle of your motor.
You can use a metal end stop to secure it on though you may need to add a couple of feet of bike brake cable to the throttle cable of your weed eater, this comes with the end stop simply to make it long enough.
As long as it is long enough and mobile, you are all set to ride.
Final Thoughts
If you do not want to use your bike for a weedeater then you can use a scooter. Be aware that the motor will be closer to the ground and you may need it to be a little lighter to remain balanced.
Securing a sprocket onto a bike should be easier, simply because there is more room once you either remove the handlebars or the rear tire.
Make sure that you get the right motor too as you do not want to remove it once the welding has been completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Look Out For When Putting A Sprocket On A Weedeater?
There are a couple of things to look out for before putting a sprocket on a weedeater and the most obvious is which way the engine is spinning.
Ensure that you do not put the engine on backwards as it can be quite a job turning it around once it is welded on.
Pair up the clutch with the gears as if the gear ratio is insufficient you may end up burning the clutch.
Why Is The Size Of The Sprocket Important?
Put bluntly, the size of the sprocket will have a direct impact on the speed. Look out for the relationship between the size of the sprocket and the wheel.
For a 20-inch wheel, consider a 17.5 to 1 gear ratio though with a 16-inch wheel, you only need a 14 to 1 gear ratio.
