Bicycle powered washing machine

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I've searched and searched and I can't seem to find plans for a washing machine powered by a bicycle. It would seem this would be practical. Any ideas? Web sites would be appreciated.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), January 01, 2001

Answers

If you find one, Amanda, please tell me about it!! Sounds cool to me!

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 01, 2001.

Hey Guys! Why not build your own? Start with a wringer washer and remove the electric motor/gasoline engine and run a belt or chain to the bicycle rear wheel. A driveshaft would work fine but would be a little more difficult to fabricate than a belt or chain. It could be as elaborate or as simple as you can imagine. Now, if'n ya'll wanna BUY some maybe ole jeep and the hootster kin commence build'n'm! har har. hoot. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), January 01, 2001.

Now you tell me! I've got my wringer washer in the shop and they just put a new motor on it for $125! I didn't realize that would work. Hoot where exactly should the belt or chain be hooked to? My wringer washer has a large heavy casing over the gears and such. It also seems to have lube oil in it too....that's one reason I didn't attempt to take off the casing.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), January 01, 2001.

I dont know about plans,,,but didnt Gilligans Island have one? Just watch the old reruns SMILES

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 01, 2001.

Have you read any stuff by Thomas Jefferson? He probobly had it somewhere! Did you guys know that he was a serious inventor? He even rigged it that people stepping on the entrance playe inside his door caused one cup of water to be moved to a container in the attic, where the movement back down ran all of his electric lights? That isn't all, either! Check out a book about his life or invention at the library, and learn to make use of the kids running in and out the door!!! I'm NOT KIDDING! (He was also quite a gardener)

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), January 01, 2001.


thats one reason i want a windmill it would be so easy to power a washing machine also charge your batts.and who knows what else. Bob in se.ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), January 01, 2001.

Mandy! All the machines that i've ever seen has an electric motor or gasoline engine runnin a belt to a larger shiv [[pulley] that turns the transmission of the washer. The shiv on the motor was a small one while the machine one was about 10" in diameter. You would hook the belt to the large one on the machine gearbox and the other end to the rear wheel of the bike--however--the shiv on the bike wouldn't have to be as small as the original motor one. Depending upon how much "power" the old human bod could generate would determine how large or small the driver would have to be. Clear as mud? The $225 for a new motor sounds rather expensive to me! New 1/4 single phase 120 volt ac motors are about 40 bucks or so. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot--tightwad, gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), January 01, 2001.

Hook it up to a bicycle built for two and your husband can help with the "spin cycle".

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 01, 2001.

Hoot, it was $125 not $225. The $125 is bad enough! My tightwad self just couldn't shell out over 200. Thanks for the information. I'll definately get up under it and do some looking/planning when I get it back.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), January 02, 2001.

http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/pedgen.html

Scroll down; he mentions what else might be pedal powered:

Pedal powered washing machine (this would be a tremendous workout, especially with the spin/sprint at the end!)

Pedal powered clothes dryer (when combined with a simple solar hot-air collector, the pedals would tumble the clothes and move the air)

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 02, 2001.



First I think some are getting how a wringer washer and an automatic work confused. A wringer washer has no spin cycle. The wringer is used to remove water from the clothes.

Second, although it could be done and has been done. (I ran across a thread on some alternate energy forum way back when) it probably is not particularly efficient and extremely tiring(thats what people who tried it said). I suspect modifying a JamesWasher or James style washer for bicycle would be better and less work. Then use a hand wringer. Just think about pedaling a wringer washer while trying to use the wringer at same time. Wringer and dolly are powered throught the gearbox.

Third, like hoot, I also cringed at mention of $125 for new motor installation. I see lot used motors sell for buck or two at farm and junk auctions. Some are junk, but if shaft turns easily by hand and they dont have a burned smell to them, I'll gamble a buck. Sometimes if power is available, you can plug them in before auction starts. Then you can also salvage motors off automatic washers and dryers although most of these are multispeed so you'd have to figure which electric leads to hook up. Oh well if its a brand new motor, hopefully it will now last you many years. Be happy for that.

I did see one site on web where a couple lived in old rural house and wanted to run a wringer washer with gas engine. Instead of mounting an engine on the washer and running exhaust outside, they cut little slot in wall and had the engine on front porch and ran a belt through the slot. The washer then was against the wall and the engine was on a hinged support outside to provide belt tension. Necessity is mother of invention they say.

-- Hermit John (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), January 02, 2001.


I own 3 different types of washing machines...automatic, wringer and a James "handpowered" washer....

I would not want any of them to be bicycled powered... unless I was single...

plus due to my circumstances at a given time... I have used a metal type plunger (boughten from Lehman's hardware) and water tubs that I use for the critters... to wash clothes... but clothes would have to be thrown over a clothes line as hand power wringing leaves lots to be desired...and lots of dripping...

I don't think you know the work involved with pedaling any lenght of time... questions to ask is how long does your machine run now??? could you pedal that long... guess one could if you were in shape... how many loads do you do in a day... week...

course, I have kids and they could help... but look at the time involved in pedaling... what else could you do while you were pedaling??? but then I work part time and appreciate the automatic...

I use my wringer in the summer to save water and wear and tear on my septic system.... but it involves intense 2 hours doing my family of 6 wash... doing nothing else... course, this is once a week... and the water gets put on the herbal/garden beds...

I have used my James washer extensively... and let me tell you a few things... you learn real quick that clothes don't need to be washed for 14 minutes like on the automatic timer (which is used in the winter... don't have a nice place for the wringer in the winter)...

you have great biceps... and hurting arms until they are in shape... plus you have to go back and forth with that short handle 2x's per load... one for washing and the other for rinsing...

the wringer is another arm builder... and it doesn't wring out the water very well either... and does a terrible job on jeans for wringing... most of the time I run the jeans thru twice...

please consider your time in all of this Amanda...what is your time worth... if you have plenty of free time... go for it...

-- Mary Ann (peanut@wi-net.com), January 02, 2001.


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