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Forum Index : EV's : Buy a Mobility scooter...or just build one.

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Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1135

Posted: 10:04am 16 Mar 2025

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Until lately I thought there was no need for one or anything like it, but now the Old Man is not to getting around very well its become a necessity, I know people have houses with stairs don't know how much of a problem its going to be until something happens and you need ground level access.
Its easy to make it more accessible before things go bad, because you cant do a damn thing about it later.

Have looked at getting one for Dad and most of the cheaper ones have small wheels and only suitable for shopping centre hallways etc, no suspension or very little articulation, absolutely useless around home.

Some are a little better but thats $3K or more, and then have a look at the SHIPPING COST......Oh

Still might get a small portable fordable unit one day as I don't have the time to design and build one like that.

So decided to build one for around the yard out of junk (its what we do best) found an old gearbox from MTD ride on lawn mower took it apart and checked the gears and diff appeared to be ok.

Found the rear forks off an old motorbike, cut it in half and widened it to a suitable size and welded some box section in.
looking on line there are trans axles available for scooters and most of them are 250w or a little less, there are plenty of electric go kart parts available so went with a 24v 500w version with all accessories but with out the batteries.

More later.

Cheers Aaron
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Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1135

Posted: 10:17am 16 Mar 2025

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Some frame rails mounted onto the rear swing arm, the front end is off an old Rover Rancher lawn mower, We had this one since the early 1980's

Had to change the sprockets to make it travel a bit faster.

Cheers Aaron
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Godoh
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Joined: 26/09/2020
Location: Australia
Posts: 510

Posted: 09:24pm 16 Mar 2025

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That looks good Aaron.
I did something similar for our walk behind line trimmer. We live on a steep bush block, and mowing walking tracks with a walk behind line trimmer was a bit tough.
I bought a mobility scooter from the tip shop for $50. Took the rear axle off it, used the motor, controller etc and mounted the axle to the line trimmer.
I use one of my 36 volt tool batteries to run it. Oh I also put bigger wheels on it, small wheels don't work too well on steep land.
It looks like you are on the right track. I hope you are having fun building it, it is satisfying making something yourself
Pete

Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1135

Posted: 05:01am 17 Mar 2025

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Sounds Good Pete,

Anything you can do (within reason) to make life easy, better, is worth doing.

Cheers Aaron
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Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1135

Posted: 12:50pm 08 Apr 2025

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Swivel seat mount.

Cheers Aaron
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Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1135

Posted: 08:47am 21 May 2025

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Thought its time for an update.
Bit more work done, steering is nice and responsive and the rear axle hubs are machined and fit the wheels nicely.
Parts include,
MTD gearbox
Yamaha rear forks
Ford hatchback front seat
Rover Rancher front
Honda handle bar
Nissan Datsun steering column....cut down to size.

And perhaps a few more parts yet, its very comfy to sit sit on, could easy stay there for some time.
Still wiring to do and the bottom of the steering mount needs to be bolted on, just held by a clamp at the moment

Cheers Aaron
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Godoh
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Joined: 26/09/2020
Location: Australia
Posts: 510

Posted: 07:16am 23 May 2025

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Looking pretty good Aaron. What size wheels did you end up using. You said in the beginning that the bought ones have small wheels. So wondering just what size you went with.
Are there any plans to make it 4 wheel drive in the future?
Have fun
Pete

Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1135

Posted: 09:55am 23 May 2025

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Thanks Pete,
No plans to make this 4wd, but Wouldn't rule out doing another one...perhaps much bigger, have plenty of 4wd stuff that could be repurposed, eg Subaru's, Nissan and other things transfer case etc.

Too many things to do at the moment.

Front tyre is 4.10/3.50 4 inch and Rear tyre is 4.10/3.50 6 inch, so about 12inch overall, these were industrial tyre's we had bought many years ago.

Cheers Aaron
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Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1135

Posted: 09:08am 29 May 2025

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Time to take it apart for a coat of paint, Old Man wanted it a little different than others, And we had paint left over from other projects, I was asked to find some of that old Hammertone, couldn't find that stuff for a while then Remembered there was a tin of Green Hammertone in front of the big old Diesel engine in the shed.

Thats the colour he wanted, so went with it.

Some of the parts painted, Will soon have it back together and then onto wiring etc.

Cheers Aaron
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