Introduction: Marianette Update
After a year of daily work and more than 1000 Km the hinge was wearing out making steering unprecise. So I decided to rebuilt the mechanism and try to make it even stronger.
Many people watched the original instructable last year but nobody told me about doing something similar. I hope this one helps somebody to try it. The bicycle is really fun and many interested people ask me about it in the street.
Step 1:
The new hinge is built using a wheel hub, a handlebar stem and a front fork.
Step 2:
Hub diameters are not standard.
The diameter of the hub should be similar to the diameter of the handlebar stem.
Step 3:
The spokes of the bicycle wheel are dismounted. The hub is kept to be used as a bearing.
Step 4:
The stem clamp was opened using a big screwdriver and pliers.
Of course you would not do that with an aluminum stem!
Aluminum stems have usually a two pieces clamp, this step would not be needed. However, matching the diameter of the hub would be more difficult.
Step 5:
Hub into the clamp.
Clamp closed with pliers.
Clamp screw inserted and tightened.
Step 6:
The stem is mounted in the bicycle
Step 7:
The fork is mounted on the hub.
Step 8:
The handlebar is fixed to the fork using another stem.
Step 9:
A pedal is fixed to the fork. I used a crank shortener and a couple of seat clamps for that.
You may also find a way to fix a spare crank to the fork instead.
Step 10:
I used a satellite clamp and a M8 threaded rod to couple the pedals.
Step 11:
The front crank is now fixed with aluminum profiles. The profiles are screwed to the fork using the mudguard hole and a seat clamp fixed to the stem.
Step 12:
I changed the elastic ropes by springs.
Finished. Steering is really better. I hope it will work for another year.