Nordlicht Bicycle Dynamo Drive "Tire"

IMPORTANT:   Be sure to read the note below for how to install this on your dynamo…brute force is not the answer!

Edit: I have added models for medium and small diameter tires, in addition to the origional fairly large version.  The tread pattern has been adjusted to keep the pitch nearly the same between different versions.

The Nordlicht dynamo was widely hailed as the best bottle style unit made.  Unfortunately, these are now out of production.   The rubber drive tire used on some models is a consumable item, and is currently unobtanium.     

One solution advocated by the fine gentleman that sold me my dynamo many years ago is a 3D printed adapter to fit a tire intended for another make of dynamo.   Those are also nearly impossible to source in the US, so not my preferred solution.

I finally gained enough skill with CAD to create a replacement tire, and I finally have a printer (Bambu X1C) that does a fine job with TPU, so here it is!

There are three different sizes, so you can choose one that suits your preference between drag and low-speed performance.  With modern LED lights, the largest tire offers lowest drag and low speed performance hasn't been an issue.

The pitch of the tread is intended to match the dynamo track on Schwalbe tires…see photo.  The tread pattern has been adjusted between sizes to keep the pitch fairly equal.

To install the tire on the dynamo, DON'T FORCE IT.    Soak the tire in boiling water for a minute or two, then work quickly, and the tire will go on with very little fuss.  The heat expands the tire some, but more importantly, it makes the TPU MUCH more compliant.

I used 98(shore?) TPU, so anything squishier should be a breeze.

You will likely have to cut the tire off the dynamo if you need to remove it.