Making my own ebike if....

[sc00ter]

I got my old Fairdale Taj 26" bmx bike back. I gave it to a friend and he rode the crap out of it but he locked it outside. He recently gave it back to me. As I tear into this stupid idea I have discovered the seat post is stuck in the frame and the bottom bracket (mid-drive) has a stuck arm shaft. I bought some Free All or something that's supposed to break loose rusted/stuck stuff. I know this much, the spray stinks! I'll look the name up later. I've been soaking the seat post with PB Blaster and Releasall for over a week now. I pulled the forks so I can soak the inside of the bottom bracket and the seat post thru the inner frame tubes. Eventually the spray came out of the weep holes at the end of the seat/chain stay junction. I hope this idea works as these 2 parts are super stuck and have stopped me in my tracks.

My plan is to get a lower powered front hub motor like a over-priced SWYTCH and run a coaster brake rear wheel, or get a powerful front or rear hub and have disc tabs welded to the rear frame. This frame and fork can handle any torque arm and the related parts and equally as bulletproof. If I do a rear wheel motor I'll get some nice suspension forks with disc tabs as well. I love this bicycle so much that I know it'll be a fun project. So if I get everything out I'll start my hunt for motor options.

 

[sc00ter]

The frame in question. Anodized aluminum post in 4130 steel frame and mid bottom bracket. Also, assorted weapons.

 

[6zfshdb]

Try Kroil:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kroil+original+penetrating+oil&hvadid=558556438984&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9058761&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8070634709244379170&hvtargid=kwd-1457736945571&hydadcr=1008_9642245&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_5j8mc66bc1_e

Pricey, but it's the best penetrating oil I've found.

 

[sc00ter]

I think I saw that Kroil, at NAPA I think, but passed because i never heard of it. Will give it a try! That Releasall is good stuff but im almost out. I might bring the frame to work this Friday. We have a heatwave coming our way and work has a massive vice in an air-conditioned lab!

 

[PCeBiker]

Try Kroil:
Pricey, but it's the best penetrating oil I've found.

Ouch !!!
That stuff is expensive in Canada.

 

[6zfshdb]

It's cheaper per ounce if you buy it in bulk:

Amazon.com

 

[PCeBiker]

It's cheaper per ounce if you buy it in bulk:

Amazon.com

View attachment 177720

So is that 5 grand USD or CAD?

 

[sc00ter]

Success! The vice that made it happen. That gold seat post was a bear! My co-worker helped me wrestle the seat post and the bottom bracket.

 

[PCeBiker]

Success! The vice that made it happen. That gold seat post was a bear!

When I had a rusted seatpost, I stood over the bike facing backwards and pinched the bike between my legs.
(like a vise. )

Then I pounded on the seat sideways to break it free.
Then I'd pound and pull on the seat ¼" at a time to Zig Zag it's way up and out.


I don't know what you've got going on with the vise, but I couldn't get my seatpost out of the frame.
I'd have to clamp my whole e-bike in the vise to pull on the seatpost.

Removing the seat from the seatpost is easy.
Just stand over the bike and pound on the seat.

If your seatpost is free to move in the frame, then lower it as far as it will go before you start pounding on it so you're less likely to bend the seatpost.

 

[il Munduato]

Success! The vice that made it happen. That gold seat post was a bear! My co-worker helped me wrestle the seat post and the bottom bracket.

I've had good results even with WD40 if you are patient and give it some time... then the next step is a heat gun. Expansion is your friend and it doesn't need to get hot enough to peel paint.

 

[sc00ter]

The Fairdale Taj 26" bmx is going back together! I still gotta breakdown the hubs and re-grease them. So, here's my dilemma. I can rebuild it back to stock and enjoy a 26" bmx bike. Plus, if I don't like it as much as I hope I can always pass it forward. Or, I can make it a fun ebike. I need to find a 110 spacing ebike rear wheel with single speed. The rear dropouts are very short and cramped because the Taj runs a 13 tooth freewheel. I can also go front hub at normal 100 spacing. Much easier. I actually tried to buy a SWYTCH kit but what a PITA to purchase! SWYTCH refers you to their ebay store for "buy it now" but the ebay store doesn't have options for any upgrades. I could try the GO! kit on my wife's Townie first and if she hated it swap it to my Fairdale.

 

[sc00ter]

So I pull the front hub apart, it's a loose ball, and one side was good and the other side was roached out? The bearings, cone and cup are starting to pit, the other side looks new. I ordered a new sealed front wheel. At this point I'm putting it back to stock(ish) for now. I have a coaster brake rear wheel to go with the new front wheel, that way I don't have to replace the trashed U-brakes yet. Got $150 into bringing it back to life, paid $650 for it new. I recall my only gripe with it was the cheap wheels. Double wall aluminum with loose ball hubs. I should have replaced the bearings with ceramic when I first got it. Live and learn.

 

[kevinmccune]

try atf mixed with acetone,these commercial penetrats are way too expensive you can buy wd40 in bulk at hobo freight,one of the most useless things i ever tried was liquid wrench good luck on the refit,ever consider a "rubee" for the drive unit things are rather flat where you reside.

 

[Chargeride]

Isnt it just kerosene?

 

[kevinmccune]

Isnt it just kerosene?

probably contains kerosene.

 

[sc00ter]

You'd swear I was a prepper for the end of the world! I have around 70 gallons of kerosene in my garage from my building motorcycles days. I had a kerosene heater that fit under the lift table. My garage is not heated and it was cold the last few winters we were in there building. The lift would get hot enough to warm you hands and keep the tools toasty! I've since sold the lift but still have the heater and all the extra fuel we purchased. I need another motorcycle project so I can use all that kerosene! Maybe another early 90's CBR900RR again? Or a more sensible Ducati 748. Or another shifty Vespa 2-stroke!

 

[Ken Shopken]

I got my old Fairdale Taj 26" bmx bike back. I gave it to a friend and he rode the crap out of it but he locked it outside. He recently gave it back to me. As I tear into this stupid idea I have discovered the seat post is stuck in the frame and the bottom bracket (mid-drive) has a stuck arm shaft. I bought some Free All or something that's supposed to break loose rusted/stuck stuff. I know this much, the spray stinks! I'll look the name up later. I've been soaking the seat post with PB Blaster and Releasall for over a week now. I pulled the forks so I can soak the inside of the bottom bracket and the seat post thru the inner frame tubes. Eventually the spray came out of the weep holes at the end of the seat/chain stay junction. I hope this idea works as these 2 parts are super stuck and have stopped me in my tracks.

My plan is to get a lower powered front hub motor like a over-priced SWYTCH and run a coaster brake rear wheel, or get a powerful front or rear hub and have disc tabs welded to the rear frame. This frame and fork can handle any torque arm and the related parts and equally as bulletproof. If I do a rear wheel motor I'll get some nice suspension forks with disc tabs as well. I love this bicycle so much that I know it'll be a fun project. So if I get everything out I'll start my hunt for motor options.

Heat the frame with a heat gun or carefully with a torch, then apply a mix of ATF and Acetone, letting it wick into the rapidly cooling joint. (or a good penetrating lube) Repeat several times as needed. The thermocycling will pull the fluid into the tubes and attack the rust bond.

 

[sc00ter]

So I decided to donate this Fairdale Taj 26" bmx bike. I've reached out to 3 different bicycle charities so far that re-purpose bicycles and none of them got back to me. I don't want to just give it to a complete stranger because I don't want them to flip it or, almost worst, expect me to fix it should something go wrong. I'm done doing "charity" work. The "charity" grievance is when someone expects you to work on a dirty, neglected vehicle and not even offer to pick up lunch, or even bring a 6 pack of beer. Most of the time I waste half of my day minimum and the dummies expect miracles.

If I donate it I don't have to worry about any of the above nonsense. I completely went thru the whole bike so its ready to roll. I reached out to one more bicycle charity tonight so we'll see if they respond. It's a Jesus Mall (Mega-church) that supports local homeless people getting back on their feet. The website says "We provide a hand up, not a hand out. Bicycle support requires proof of employment to receive a free bicycle or free bicycle repair services." I also have a pile of good parts that will go with the Fairdale. Quality beach cruiser wheel sets, a bunch of new grips, new pedals, new baskets, new seats, new tires and a lot of new smalls.
The building my own ebike was very tempting but I can buy a whole new ebike for the same price as just the wheel/motor and battery. Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser anyone? Under $1300 shipped. Or a Portola. Or even a Lectric XP Lite.

 

[kevinmccune]

[welcome to the family of god,jean val jean] so you finally figured that out,actually good for you,i still do a bit of charity,oth i learned long ago that its easier to just give things away and be shut of them one of my favorite charities is a guy ( preachers husband,old navy man) who repairs homes for the disadvantaged some pretty nice bikes are coming on the market now after weighing my next to the bottom ebike(66 lbs) have my sights set on a propella v1 or v2, thinks thats the model number.

 

[sc00ter]

The re-purpose charity got back to me this morning. Off to the Jesus mall this coming Tuesday or Thursday. Gonna load the little pick-up truck with everything I don't need, let them dig thru it all.