The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Hydrostatic 2WD Motorcycle – Raccoon – Update

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The Hydrostatic 2WD Raccoon is on the road, … um, make that on the trail. Jeff Parker finished the bike and took it out for a test ride which lasted for about 2 hours, it must work! The video even shows a few short moves in reverse. This looks like a fun and extremely practical project. Jeff plans to sell a video showing how it was built with a list of part numbers so you can build one yourself, most everything is off the shelf with a little modification. The video should be available in a couple of months.

Hydrostatic drive is looking very interesting and until I saw his first bike, I never gave it much thought. This is really cool!

Here’s what Jeff had to say:

Here are the basic specs,
8hp Honda
Transmission -(CVT) Variable displacement piston pump
Fixed displacement hydraulic motors (1 in each wheel)
Wet Weight approx 270 pounds
Top speed 30mph
Wheels – 12 inch Geo Metro rims with front 4×4 ATV type tires.

When I first got it done, I think I drove it for about 2 hours. I couldn’t get off. It’s drives like nothing else I’ve ever driven. I expected the front wheel to feel like it’s pulling me around a little more but I really only feel it in the deep snow and climbing hills. The custom designed hydraulic manifold works perfectly. It gives me full time 2 wheel drive without bucking or binding ever. It’s so smooth. It took a little to get used to the high seat height but it is ergonomically perfect for me in the riding position. Being a hydraulic guy, I felt this was the only way to build this type of machine. The reliability of hydraulics is unmatchable. There are no chains, sprockets, jack-shafts, wheel or jack-shaft bearings, mechanical transmission, belts, pulleys, drive-shafts, u-joints, clutches, torque converter, external drum or disc brakes, and I’m sure I’m missing a few other things. This thing is so simple its amazing.

Nice job Jeff!

Comments

  2. that thing looks effortless going up the snow banks.

    looks like a good replacement for the standard ATV

  4. Pretty cool little bike, but there’s nothing it can do that a good dirtbike can’t do better. Excellent proof of concept though, looks like it turned out great! I’d probably put a couple pannier boxes/hardbags on it so I could haul my fishin’ gear and stuff 😛 I’ll probably end up buying the instructional video…

  6. I definitely like the simplicity, this bike has it in spades.

    Did he have to disable the tilt sensor on the motor (shuts down if oil level moves away from pickup)?

    What I’m really amazed at is what looks like a public elementary school without a perimeter fence. If I tried driving around on school grounds I would have the cops surrounding the place in five minutes.

    -todd

  7. Great engineering, this bike looks so simple and clean …
    (at least not the gas turbine look of the previous diesel cruiser from the same guys)

    I’d like to see it in impossible climbing like trails, now … 😉

    Great job !

  9. Todd, I haven’t felt the low oil/tilt switch kill the ignition yet and it is still hooked up. I haven’t taken it to any really good places to test it’s limits yet though.
    Jeff

  11. Very smart. I want one in a tilting all wheel drive 3 wheeler! Now that is go anywhere any time.
    John

  12. Interesting concept. A realitively simple iprovement would be to drive the weels via sprague clutches. As it is now, if you we trucking along at 30 and the engine died, you may have a surpise. That being said, he’d have to add brakes then….

    Pretty cool

  14. Hi guys
    good job. I am an engineer myself in a former life and I want to know how efficient the drive is compared to chain or shaft. How efficent is it compared to shaft of chain and whats the maintainance like
    regards
    Mike