Ok I'd like opinions about feasability, and hopefully pointers/advice/pitfall warnings.
So I have a mountain bike that looks more or less like this one, in particular the rear shock is the same and it's mounted in the same place:
A close view of the rear shock:
The lockout lever:
The lever as pictured opens the shock so it can absorb the bumps going downhill. Turning it 90 degrees counterclockwise locks the suspension so I don't hate climbs.
I want to have a switch on the handlebars that will turn the lever without having to reach down for it. In mountain bikes thats usually done pulling a cable with a handlebar lever, but thats: a) expensive for what it is (think $70). b) uncool. c) not even available for this model.
So I figure that an arduino, some batteries, a pushbutton or two and a small servo/stepper motor/solenoid would make me happy. But my main hurdle is that I cannot figure out how to actually mount whatever will drive the lever in any decent way.
If I ever get this done next step could be a tilt sensor that would lock the bike by itself when appropiate. Wouldn't that be extra awesome?
How much force does it take to turn the lockout lever?
I would imagine one of the greatest challenges here will be finding a way to attach your actuator to the lever in a way that is robust enough to withstand all the bumps that make the shock necessary in the first place.
Honestly I would probably try to mount the actuator to the frame and then run a cable to the lever which would make me question why I was adding electronics to the equation anyway. (I would probably then answer, "Because I can" and start soldering anyway.)
Sorry to not be more help, but there are a lot of possibilities here depending on your mechanical skills and what kind of workshop and resources you have.
My not so scientifical assesment is that a newborn baby could operate the lever with her pinky when locking, and the lever actually sort of "falls into place" while unlocking, so I believe anything I can mount there will drive the thing.
Also the lever can be removed and the shaft exposed, so mounting any kind of pulley, gear or shaft coupler is also viable.
I was thinking about a solenoid, because I just need the two positions, and apparently from what I read they don't draw power while not moving.
My first idea would be to remove the lever, couple the exposed shaft to the shaft of a small rotary solenoid and somehow brace the solenoid body to the rest of the shock. The bracing and coupling are my problems, so I was hoping someone would say something like "hey, this thingawathever mount would fit there with just a little cutting!".
I can manage some cutting and filing, but no major workshop operations, I work from my kitchen when the wife can't see me.
Well nothing is going to draw power while not moving unless you have it actively holding a position which doesn't sound like it will be necessary. I'm not surprised its the mounting mechanics that is the issue and without access to some serious tools I can't think of a way to do it well. Hopefully someone will jump in with a link to that special bracket you could use but in the mean time it is good news it only takes one microfinger of force to move it. That definitely makes things easier.
