Cyclotricity 36v 250w front hub information?

[racereadyfreddy]

I'm wondering if I can build my existing Cyclotricity 36v 250w front hub (built into a 26" wheel and bought in Sep 2018) into a 20" rim.

A) Cyclotricity's literature states that their 36v 250w hubs are geared, but I understood that mine was direct drive. Can anyone confirm this change, or have the hubs always been one way or the other?

B) Is there any difference between the hubs Cyclotricity build into 20" and 26" wheels? If the hubs used to be direct drive, does this make a difference?

C) Vague question - is there any reason why I shouldn't be able to build my existing hub into a 20" rim?

Yes, I've tried contacting the company's technical department.

It's for a cargo bike, if that's relevant. I've already installed another ebike front wheel (bought secondhand off ebay) but although this has a julet 9 pin connector and works 'ok' with the controller, LCD display, and battery, the speed displayed is wrong (inspite of having updated the wheel size). I'm thinking the pin configuration is a little different to the Cyclotricity gear.

Many thanks ...

 

[sjpt]

I don't know about the Cyclotricity hubs, but I'm sure somebody will answer your first questions.

It should be fine in a 20" wheel. You won't get full speeds, but you will get more torque and run more efficiently at low speeds, which is probably what you want for a cargo bike.
If it's direct drive it will probably be quite large, you may need unusual spoke pattern in a 20" wheel.

 

[Woosh]

A) Cyclotricity's literature states that their 36v 250w hubs are geared, but I understood that mine was direct drive.

they used to supply both.
It's easy to tell if you post some pictures.

 

[Nealh]

No reason why one can't do so, for a cargo bike one supects speed may not be a primary factor so motor speed in 20" rim will be slower though torque should be good. How fast the wheel runs depends on its rated rpm.

As an example a 260rpm wound hub will have a road speed of approx. 19/20mph in 26" rim. In a 20" rim one can expect 15mph though torque should be very good.

 

[Sturmey]

It should be easy to tell a geared from a direct drive motor. Just lift the wheel off the ground and spin in the forward direction. If its a geared motor, it usually spins freely in the forward direction but not in the reverse direction.
I have a front 700c 250w cyclotricity motor supplied by Ebikes Direct in early 2018. The wheel spins very freely in the forward direction (about 90 seconds or more). The motor is an unbranded mxus xf07 geared front hub. It gives some noticeable assistance at 30 km/hr when battery is fully charged but diminishes to about 26 km/hr or less when battery is discharged. I would presume that these speeds would reduce proportionally if 20 inch wheel was fitted.
Incidentally, my wheel came fitted with thick 2.6mm 12g spokes and the holes in the hub are big, so you need to check if this in your case, as small washers are needed if you are fitting standard 2mm 14g spokes if this is the case with your wheel.

 

[racereadyfreddy]

A lot if useful information here. Many thanks all.

The motor is an unbranded mxus xf07 geared front hub.

My hub is also unmarked, so how can you identify the type please?

 

[Nealh]

Show us picture and as mentioned by sturmey one can tell by rotation if it is a geared or Direct drive hub. As to manufacturer it will be a china hub. Sometimes a pic can help with a brand.

A brand though really matters not if it works, working out it's approx. rpm simply down to some figures one can provide such as how fast can the bike go unassisted to cut out.

 

[racereadyfreddy]

Ah, it would appear I lied when I said my hub was unmarked. And the rotation test suggests geared.

Anyway here it is ...

(fumble, fumble)

No it isn't. Yet. Hold the phone ...

 

[racereadyfreddy]

Bingo.

Ct1.jpg

drive.google.com

Ct2.jpg

drive.google.com

Ct3.jpg

drive.google.com

 

[Nealh]

XF07 Mxus hub.

As for motor speed who knows ?
One will have to run it to find it's max no load speed with the speed limit removed.

 

[racereadyfreddy]

OK. But is the gearing specific to the 26" rim it was built into?

 

[Nealh]

No. The motor gearing is std thru the range and most are 4:4:1 or something close.
The Rpm of the motor winding can vary depending on the bike or market it is for.
For 26" wheels it can be anything from 201rpm,15/16 mph to 260/270rpm, 20 mph and some 300rpm for 24/25mph.

Though usaully for smaller rims the winding is higher like 328rpm so that the on road speed is kept to at least 15/16mph.
As mentioned fitting the same hub tfrom a 26" rim to a 20" rim will mean an overall on the road assisted speed though torque esp for towing will be good.

 

[racereadyfreddy]

Understood. Many thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

And finally, the scores:-
Cyclotricity technical support - zero.
Ebikes forum - zilch.
Pedelec forum - loads.