Bicycle wheel/brake advice needed

[richy_B]

I am having a go at building a hand powered tricycle. My problem is the front wheel has to be fitted with a coaster brake. I have searched online, but can't find a wheel and brake ready assembled. This would be easiest for me, so if anyone can find one,you will be my newest, bestest friend.
I have found seperate rims (36 hole) and coaster brakes (36 hole) and a You Tube video on how to "lace" a wheel. It looks straight forward enough, I am sure it is harder than it looks though.
I know there are some experienced bike builders on the forum, so I am keen to hear your advice, tips, tricks and warnings!
Question 1 are all coaster brakes a standard width to fit in the forks?
Never underestimate my ability to b@lls things up, so if you think this is a bad idea tell me.
Thanks in advance
Rich

 

[breezer]

Building a wheel is easy enough if you have the right tools.

A stand to make sure the wheel is round and true, and a dishing tool to make sure the rim is central compared to the hub.

You also need to be able to calculate the correct length of the spokes.

Jim

 

[GrahamGKD]

Question 1 are all coaster brakes a standard width to fit in the forks?

I would have though you would need a reasonably wide hub because with a trike there will be sideways stresses on the wheel, unlike with a two wheeled bike where the main stresses are all within the plane of the rim? Do you have a choice of hub width and are you building the forks the hub will fit in to? Is the hub you will be buying already targeted to be used in a trike?

Also, with a hub brake you should have quite a strong 'cross' ratio in the way the spokes are laced - as would be the case with a rear wheel driven from the hub. I mention this because some front wheels are radially spoked (spokes running directly out from the hub to the rim without crossing any other spokes) but that arrangement would be hopeless for a wheel braked from the hub.

Tips for building a wheel - I have always done it by meticulously following step by step instructions and taking my time. It takes a little patience but my (bicycle) wheels have always come out OK.

I hope that makes some sense?

Graham.

 

[richy_B]

Thanks for the replies.
This is the rim I thought about using. Looking at it now I don't think it will work. The holes are in line centrally, not offset, so may have to choose another type.

The coaster brake Only one I could find


The video
The chap in the video gets on your wick a bit, but at least he looks like he is on this planet compared to some others I have seen.

The forks according to the build plans can come from any old donor bike. I know what is coming next

Edit: Alternative rim
or these, is it my eyes, are the holes in line or offset?

 

[GrahamGKD]

Not a huge amount of detail on those products on the site as far as I can see - you could try an email to Chain Reaction Cycles - I have always found them to be very helpful?

I think you could do with talking to someone who has some experience with Trikes really.

Graham.

 

[richy_B]

That seems like a good idea,
I've emailed them now, so someone should have a good chorkle in the morning.
Thanks again
Rich

 

[Nimbus]

Best book around for learning wheelbuilding is 'The bicycle wheel' by Jobst Brandt, tells you how to do it and why. There's some science if you want to know but you don't really need it. There are several sites on tinternet which will calculate spoke length, but you will need to know rim type, hub diameter, number of spokes and how many crosses. As mentioned earlier some wheels are radially spoked (usually fronts), 4 cross copes with the torque best, but you need at least 36 spokes to do this. If you're going to do it yourself, use stainless spokes and buy a decent spoke wrench (eg Park)to fit the nipples. Most European kids and commuter bikes use coaster hubs so you could scrounge something... PM me if you get stuck.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Best book around for learning wheelbuilding is 'The bicycle wheel' by Jobst Brandt

Agree - great book - thats the one I use. G.

 

[chunkolini]

Hand cranked trikes?

I saw a hand cranked bicycle hacking along the A40 recently, mixing it with the traffic, fantastic and he was not hanging round.

Controls? I have seen a few where they use normal gear and brake levers mounted on grips on the pedals (are the called pedald when hand powered) the cable seemed to flap about a bit but presumably not causing any problems. See link below.

http://abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pa...19327&productid=189456&trail=0&discontinued=0

Chunko'.

 

[richy_B]

Well, i have gone for a coaster brake off ebay. It is new, no gears. I emailed the shop and they say it will fit 99% of all bike wheels except 12" ones. So I just have to wait and see how I go.
I have also bought that book about wheels.
Chunkolini, that looks a very complicated trike, it probably would have been cheaper to have bought one of those, where is the fun in that though? The one I am trying to make is very simple, but i will admit not having any engineering or bike knowledge it is slow going. I am really enjoying using parts of my brain I never knew existed to work the build out. I'm taking photos so one day all will be revealed, or it might become a wood burner.
Many thanks again for all your help.
Rich