Dropouts space of 131 mm on rear wheel

[Lightning P38]

Is there a motor for a 26” wheel that will fit into a 131mm dropout on my recumbent bike? It is a 20 year old Vision, with full suspension. I just got it, and Inreally like the full suspension. I will have the wheel custom laced as the Vision brand centers their wheel over the hub instead of over the outer nuts....

I have a ebikekit.com kit, but need a 500 watt motor to fit...I called them and they can do a motor down to 133 mm wide by taking the disc brake adapter off.but that still won‘t fit 131.

Their motor has double flats on the axle to fit the dropouts, plus a torque arm. Isn’t the torque arm doing the same thing as the axle flats, to hold the axle from turning? They have tabbed washers to fit into the dropouts to help avoid the axle from rounding out the dropout slots.....are they really needed?

I have their kit with a 700c wheel mounted on another bike, but want to move it to my bent with the 131” dropouts. I will be taking it off soon, and taking a closer look at it, and can take pics then To post.

Thanks,
1999 Vision R42 full suspension
Ken

 

[harryS]

The last time things got tight fitting a motor into a 135mm dropout. I put in a 6 speed freewheel instead of the 7 speed. Thar saved me around 3 -4mm. I also put in a 6 speed shifter instead of the 7 speed.

Not supposed to bend alloy, but some people will force a frame 1-3 mm. Makes it hard to change a tire in the field w/o whatever you used to hold the chainstays aprart. In my case, it was a 20' alloy frame with integrated rear luggage rack, which made it too stiff to force the wheel in.

 

[Nova Haibike]

It is steel tubing, yes? Why not just cold set the dropouts to 135mm? It is not a problem for steel.

 

[Lightning P38]

The last time things got tight fitting a motor into a 135mm dropout. I put in a 6 speed freewheel instead of the 7 speed. Thar saved me around 3 -4mm. I also put in a 6 speed shifter instead of the 7 speed.

Not supposed to bend alloy, but some people will force a frame 1-3 mm. Makes it hard to change a tire in the field w/o whatever you used to hold the chainstays aprart. In my case, it was a 20' alloy frame with integrated rear luggage rack, which made it too stiff to force the wheel in.

I thought about going from 8 to 7 speeds, but I forgot to ask ebikekit.com about how much that would save for space. Good idea. I don’t need the faster gear anyway.
Now, the problem of Vision not centering their rim on the outer nuts, but center on the hubs instead....I think a lbs could lace it up for.

I have a 9 speed 700c wheel with a 500 watt motor I no longer need. Maybe the lbs could lace it up to a 26” rim and center it over the hubs for me....I think I will go to the lbs and see what they can do.

 

[Lightning P38]

It is steel tubing, yes? Why not just cold set the dropouts to 135mm? It is not a problem for steel.

it is steel tubing.
This recumbent has rear suspension and has just two hefty tubes going to the axle from the small triangle around the suspension...it is super stiff...I don’t think it is safe to spread it. If it was a triangle setup, I would.

 

[Lightning P38]

It is steel tubing, yes? Why not just cold set the dropouts to 135mm? It is not a problem for steel.

My bike shop guy says I am a wimp...he will spread the rear stays to make the wheel fit!
That made my day....now I can order the wheel and in 3 or 4 weeks have my dream bike to ride!

 

[harryS]

You can't beat the voice of experience, plus he's got the insurance if the frame breaks and you crash. Cold setting steel frames is often donw.

I squeezed my 26" steel fat tire down from about 185 to 175, and goosed my steel Trek Antelope from 170 to 175. But I ain't touching my wife's alloy bike. Hence the 6 speed.

 

[Lightning P38]

I thought about going from 8 to 7 speeds, but I forgot to ask ebikekit.com about how much that would save for space. Good idea. I don’t need the faster gear anyway.
Now, the problem of Vision not centering their rim on the outer nuts, but center on the hubs instead....I think a lbs could lace it up for.

I have a 9 speed 700c wheel with a 500 watt motor I no longer need. Maybe the lbs could lace it up to a 26” rim and center it over the hubs for me....I think I will go to the lbs and see what they can do.

I found out that 7 and 8 speed have the same width cogset, so no space saving to be had there! But my local bike shop guy will get it mounted for me!