Method for mounting an automobile rim on a motorcycle

A method and assembly for mounting an auto rim and either motorcycle or auto tire as a motorcycle rear wheel. The assembly allows tires of different widths and diameters to be used on the rear of motorcycles that have single side swing arms and standard swing arms. The method and assembly allows a left side or right side drive which can be a belt or chain. A hub with bearings and spacers are mounted with a brake rotor disk and a drive pulley in tandem to produce a hub assembly.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of motorcycles and more particularly to a method and assembly for mounting an automobile rim with a motorcycle or auto tire on a motorcycle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known in the art of motorcycles to mount various rims and tires on motorcycles. Several attempts to mount auto rims and tires have been reported. Car tires and motorcycle tires have been mounted on car rims which were then mounted on motorcycles. However, it is particularly difficult to mount a wide car tire on the rear of a motorcycle and still retain a disk brake and a drive chain or belt. It is particularly difficult to mount such a tire on the rear of a motorcycle where the result can be a left side drive or can be flipped to create a right side drive as well as use different sized tires and a standard swing arm and a single side swing arm.

It would be advantageous to have a method of mounting automobile rims with a motorcycle or auto tires of various sizes (both width and diameters) on a motorcycle while preserving the capability to incorporate a disk brake, either a drive chain or belt, and use either a single side or standard swing arm in a left side or right side drive. In particular, it would be advantageous to be able to mount a TT-2 American Racing wheel on a motorcycle. The diameter could be 17 or 18 inches with a width of around 11 inches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for assembling a motorcycle rear hub so that the hub can mount an auto rim with a motorcycle or auto tire. The steps in the method of the present invention are generally placing an outside bearing in a wheel mount hub; inserting a bearing spacer tube into the hub and outside bearing; inserting a plurality of wheel mounting screws into the hub; attaching a brake rotor to the hub using a plurality of brake rotor mounting screws; placing a brake disk to drive pulley spacer in contact with the brake disk; inserting a plurality of inner bearings into the brake disk to drive pulley spacer; attaching the brake disk to drive pulley spacer to the hub using a plurality of spacer mounting screws so that the brake rotor is between the brake disk to drive pulley spacer and the hub; mounting a drive pulley to the brake disk to drive pulley spacer using a plurality of drive pulley mounting screws.

Several illustrations have been presented to better aid in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of mounting an auto rim and either motorcycle or auto tire of various sizes on a motorcycle retaining the capability to have a disk brake, a chain or belt drive and/or a single side swing or standard swing arm.

FIG. 1shows a view of a motorcycle belt drive with a car rim and motorcycle tire on the rear wheel. A drive belt1can be seen on the right side. The drive belt1engages a drive pulley2. The motorcycle inFIG. 1can use a single side swing or standard arm (not shown). A disk brake3can be seen with a caliper4. A shaft6passes through a bearing5to form a rotating wheel. The entire assembly of a hub, brake disk3and drive pulley2are mounted in tandem to form the basis for the rear wheel. The present invention relates to a method of assembling this tandem wheel so that different rims, tires, belts or chains and swing arms may be used.

FIG. 2shows a particular sequence of assembly of the present invention. In this embodiment, one or two 52 mm OD×25 mm ID bearings7and17are inserted in wheel mount drive hub8and drive pulley spacer11. Drive hub8contains a flange10, and a bearing spacer tube15of 1.250×0.120 wall steel or aluminum or other metal is inserted in the hub8. Five wheel mounting screws9of ½ 20×2 inch allen head (grade 9) are screwed into the hub flange10for mounting the wheel. A brake rotor3which is a brake disk that can have a generally increased center ID is inserted over the end of the hub8flange covering the heads of the allen screws9. The brake rotor3can have several screw holes on a smaller circle than the wheel mounting allen screws9(a preferred number is five). A brake disk to drive pulley spacer11with holes14that match the holes in the brake rotor3can be mounted on the hub flange8holding the brake rotor3in place. One or two 52 mm OD×25 mm ID bearings can be inserted into the drive pulley spacer11. Five mounting screws127/16 14×1.75 inches (grade9) with ARP PN 200-8681 or similar washers18can be inserted through the brake disk to drive pulley spacer11to hold the assembly together. Finally, a drive pulley2can be mounted on the brake disk to drive pulley spacer11with pulley mounting screws13. These can be socket head 7/16 14×1.25 inch, (grade 9) screws. The threaded holes14for these screws can be indexed or clocked half-way between the mounting screws12. In this manner, and in this order, the entire assembly can be put together. It should be noted that the drive pulley2can could be a chain sprocket for a chain drive system. The embodiment herein described is to illustrate the present invention and aid in its understanding. Certain dimensions have been given and figures have been presented. The scope of the present invention covers numerous other embodiments with different sized parts and different hole arrangements. Bolts and screws can have US or metric threads and/or dimensions. It is preferred that the brake disk to drive pulley spacer mounting screws and the drive pulley mounting screws have socket heads and be grade 9 or better.

FIG. 3is a rear view of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-2. The mounting screws9, shaft6, brake rotor3, drive pulley2and brake rotor to drive pulley spacer11can be clearly seen. The brake caliper if not shown inFIG. 3.

FIGS. 4-5show the embodiment ofFIG. 1from the left and right sides with the brake caliper4.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to explain and aid in understanding the present invention. On of skill in the art will realize that numerous changes and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variations are within the scope of the present invention.