Re: resistance unit for rollers

On Tue, 14 May 2024 20:54:29 -0400,
  Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

 On 5/14/2024 6:26 PM, Ted Heise wrote:

On Tue, 14 May 2024 17:08:11 -0500,
   AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

 
  Fans are very effective resistance and cheap, but loud,
  which many riders find annoying. OTOH some fans include a
  shroud to direct a fresh breeze toward the meat machine
  (you).

 
I generally take out my hearing aids when riding (when they
start buzzing from the sweat I get concerned!) so the noise
prolly isn't disqualifying.  On the other hand, I sometimes
want to listen to podcasts or watch old racing videos, so I do
need to be able to hear that stuff.  I also often run a box
fan, so am used to a fair bit of noise.

 
 For simplicity, I'd stick with the mag unit if I wanted more
 resistance than the rollers themselves. (I seldom wanted more.)

Yeah, I agree, and amazingly it seems the glueing I did may
actually hold up.  We'll see.  And the Kreitler rollers turn so
smoothly that I don't get much of a workout without some added
resistance.  I suppose I could deflate my tires for sessions.  heh

 Cooling is important, though. If I were doing what you're
 doing, I'd shop for a quiet pedestal fan, which is (literally)
 plug and play, plus useful for other purposes. Like keeping
 mosquitoes away when sitting on our patio.

Interesting thought.  I suppose it would be possible to get a
quieter fan, though when it's warm my Bb box fan gives barely
enough cooling even on full blast.

  Mag units are quieter and offer a wide range of resistance
  levels as you report.  Polymer degradation after 25 years
  is not at all unusual. I'd consider just making a new
  mount- YMMV.

 
Ironically, the mount I cobbled together (includes a section of
old rim to fill a gap) is still workable.  Rather, the plastic
piece that broke off was about a third of the circumference of
one side of the pulley that the v-belt rides in.  I tried gluing
it back on, but it's not going to hold up.

 
 Can you link to a photo of the broken pulley?

Here is the repaired pulley...

http://panix.com/~theise/kludge-2.jpg


And here's a shot that shows the rim section in the gap...

http://panix.com/~theise/kludge-1.jpg

     ...Do you know what type of plastic it is?

I don't.  I'm tempted to say Bakelite, but am not a polymer
scientist so don't really know.  WHatever it is, it's quite hard.

        ...Gluing plastic is problematic, but I've had good
 results from welding various types of plastic. And I wonder if
 it's possible to find or make a replacement pulley, or
 otherwise reinforce the existing one.

Don't know about a replacement, but it's a good thought.  In this
case I first tried a gel super glue and there was ~zero adherence
between the parts.  Then I used JB Weld and it didn't seem to set
up at all.  But I left it in place overnight and the parts now
seem to be pretty firmly attached.  I'm not sure how well it will
hold up over time, but if i don't put lateral stress on it (like
from riding off the edge of the rollers) am guessing it may be
good for some time.  It doesn't seem as if the pulley flange is
really loaded to the side much.

And yes, I see that one side of the belt fabric is quite frayed. 
I suppose I should look for a replacement, but may put that off as
long as this implementation works.  I suspect the pulley may give
out before the belt anyway.

--
Ted Heise      <theise@panix.com>       West Lafayette, IN, USA