Swingarms, Backing Plates and Motor Mounts    

Heinkel EV swingarm with motor retention brackets

I decided to connect the battery pack and swingarm mount to the existing Heinkel engine mount with a 1/4″ (6.35mm) metal plate. That way I could slide the entire assembly in and out of the car if necessary.  The original engine takes about 90 minutes to fully remove, and it is a pain in the neck!  I thought I could improve upon that just a little.

The swingarm supports the hub motor and is a key part of the suspension. It took me three tries to design and fabricate something that would work.

The swingarm had to do several things:

  • Hold the hub motor in place
  • Incorporate the Heinkel shock at the same angle and position as the original
  • Be built in such a way that it didn’t hit the battery case in its range of motion.
Heinkel EV Battery Pack and Metal Mounting Plate on Sliding Cart
Heinkel EV Battery Pack and Metal Mounting Plate on Sliding Cart. Once the plate is attached to the swimgarm the cart can be removed.
E-Heinkel Battery and Swingarm Mounting Plate
Battery and Swingarm Mounting Plate. 10mm bolts secure battery box to original engine mount, bottom 10mm holes are for attaching to the bottom two holes of the original engine mount.
Heinkel EV Swingarm attached to bracket and mounted to backing plate. Original Heinkel motor mount on the left. Battery is mounted above.
Heinkel EV Swingarm attached to bracket and mounted to backing plate
Heinkel EV Swingarm, Bracket and Backing Plate
Heinkel EV Swingarm, Bracket and Backing Plate
Heinkel EV swingarm axle with Teflon spacers
Heinkel EV swingarm axle with Teflon spacers

Axle is from a GSX 750 motorcycle. Thanks to Steven Keegan at Eastern Cycle http://easterncycle.net/ for helping me figure this out!

Heinkel EV Swingarm Strengtheners
Heinkel EV Swingarm Strengtheners

Here it is: three tries and 20 pieces of steel welded together:

Heinkel EV swingarm with motor retention brackets
Heinkel EV swingarm with motor retention brackets
By EV Conversions