Attaching magnets to wheel

[bbd_san]

In people's experience, what is the best way to attach the magnets to the bike wheel? I've seen nylon cable straps used. I suppose people have used some kind of glue or epoxy as well. I'm thinking something not permanent as I might want to reuse the wheel and/or magnets for something else. Also, does the spacing have to be perfect or just close?

Thanks,
Brandon

[Tom C]

In people's experience, what is the best way to attach the magnets to the bike wheel? I've seen nylon cable straps used. I suppose people have used some kind of glue or epoxy as well. I'm thinking something not permanent as I might want to reuse the wheel and/or magnets for something else. Also, does the spacing have to be perfect or just close?

Thanks,
Brandon

epoxy is the easitest way I have done. also yes the better the spacing the better the charging, the coil goes into resonance the wheel is the trigger.

Tom C

[Marcia Stockton]

The strapping tape or nylon cable straps are only a security measure in case the glue fails.

The beginner SSG can be built using Krazy Glue to attach the magnets to the bike wheel rim. An advantage of Krazy Glue is that it sets fast. There is not much surface area for the magnet to contact the rim but it's enough. You can actually hold the magnet in place for about 1-3 minutes by hand until the glue sets. Epoxy is a much better adhesive IMO, but may take about 5 minutes for quick-setting epoxy to set, and if you mix up a batch of it, you will set one magnet and then the mixed batch will also set and can't be used for additional magnets.

Initially I tried several other adhesives we had around the ranch but none were satisfactory. I tried silicone caulk and hot-melt glue.

KrazyGlue was what John B recommended to me and like most everything he says, his advice was practical, grounded in experience, and it was right on.

The strapping tape is just a precaution for your safety. It has saved my bacon a couple of times when a magnet came loose.

Another advantage of Krazy Glue is that such a small mass of glue is used for each magnet that it does not affect the wheel's balance very much. If you use epoxy, it will be difficult to apply a uniform amount of epoxy on each magnet. Epoxy sort of drips and it is difficult to place on the bike rim. It would be a great adhesive for a wheel with machined slots ... assuming you do not intend to ever remove the magnets.

Marcia

[MrRonsen]

here i post my version of fastening magnets to the wheel,...
in this case, without glue, without tape around the whole rim..
so i can adjust position if i want, reuse the wheel, reuse the magnets,
interchange magnets with other magnet sizes
(in its dimensions, for more bigger magnets it would need new expanded wood stripes)

i used wood, brass screws, brass washers, magnet.. and tape..
and rubber strip between lower wood strip and inner wheel side..
against slipping under forces

[Jet-A]

I had much better luck with Krazy glue than epoxy. Using Epoxy I would have magnets come loose during my runs. After re-epoxying many magnets I went to the instant glue. Not a single loose magnet since.

Alex

[Forrest]

Hi, I have assembled my SSG bike wheels and disassembled them many times. I did not use glue! I used black electricians tape to go around the magnet and the wheel rim once. This was done for each magnet and allows you to go back and undo if you have made a mistake or need to make a fine adjustment. I then wrapped 2" wide fiberglass reinforced tape around the perifery of the magnets two layers. I have done two wheels this way and there is no way on earth you have to worry about the tape coming loose. Even @ 180 RPM. I have already decided to change after assembly and simply undid the fiberglass tape and respaced the magnets and then reused the tape. It is very simple and not destructive to the wheel or magnets. The tape also makes the air flo resistance somewhat better in my opinion.

Bud

[bbd_san]

Thanks all! I like Bud's technique with the black electrical tape. I'll try it that way & post results.

[Victor Lyew]

Krazy glue can be made more tenacious almost impossible to break unless something is broken while taking it apart. If you look at the plastic tube the glue comes in, you see at one end there is deposit of material called casein. You will have cut the the other end to access it You will have to pound it to get it in a powder form Do not mix this powder with the glue. Dust this powder where you want to put the magnet and apply the glue to the magnet. At the instant you put the magnet on, it immediately adheres....no waiting. Just make sure this is where you want the magnet to set.

[kingstingtin]

For the first set SSG, I invented this method of attachment of the magnets (photo). Hold well, but does not allow to establish a small gap between the core and the magnets. So, then I redid the mounting epoxy.