Bafang maintenance + controller upgrade.

Hixyhicks

Pedelecer
May 14, 2020
151
10
55
Im very pleased with my motor and use it everyday without issues,ive read that upgrading the controller to an after market one can be a good idea is it and worth it?At xmas when i have some time off i want to service my Bafang HD how do i go about it.Is it a case of stripping down the motor and cleaning then grease the gears,is there anything else i should be doing?


Thank you.
 

MontyPAS

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2020
390
148
Im very pleased with my motor and use it everyday without issues,ive read that upgrading the controller to an after market one can be a good idea is it and worth it?At xmas when i have some time off i want to service my Bafang HD how do i go about it.Is it a case of stripping down the motor and cleaning then grease the gears,is there anything else i should be doing?


Thank you.
Ive got a few Bafang's and they are rock solid. Apart from a bit of grease on the main cog every now and again. I have found them maintenance free!

"If it ain't broke....... Don't fix it!";);)
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,538
Im very pleased with my motor and use it everyday without issues,ive read that upgrading the controller to an after market one can be a good idea is it and worth it?
Have you tried reprogramming it with a cable, to achieve what you're after? I don't see the point in an after-market controller, as the BBSHD is already plenty powerful and refined, with the right software tweaks
 
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Hixyhicks

Pedelecer
May 14, 2020
151
10
55
Yes ive
Have you tried reprogramming it with a cable, to achieve what you're after? I don't see the point in an after-market controller, as the BBSHD is already plenty powerful and refined, with the right software tweaks
Ive got a few Bafang's and they are rock solid. Apart from a bit of grease on the main cog every now and again. I have found them maintenance free!

"If it ain't broke....... Don't fix it!";);)
Thats good news,thank you.
 

Hixyhicks

Pedelecer
May 14, 2020
151
10
55
Have you tried reprogramming it with a cable, to achieve what you're after? I don't see the point in an after-market controller, as the BBSHD is already plenty powerful and refined, with the right software tweaks
I have a cable,which programme do you recommend?
 

MontyPAS

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2020
390
148
I have a cable,which programme do you recommend?
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,538
I have a cable,which programme do you recommend?
From my experience with programming my BBS02, I would say that there is no 'one size fits all' program out there. It's a case of tweaking, then road testing, tweaking some more, and road testing until you are happy with the results.

There are a few generic tweaks across the BBSxx controller range, that can benefit all models. An example would be the 'Keep Current' on the 'Pedal Assist' tab of the software. If this is set too low, then the motor will drop power on a hill, just when you need the extra oomph.

I've heard of vendor programmed units arriving set at just 10% 'Keep Current', which is no good for the controller, motor or rider. The Bafangs like to be kept spinning nice and fast, to prevent bogging down of the motor and potential overheating of the controller.
 

jimriley

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 17, 2020
595
398
What are the thoughts on resetting the keep current, mine was at 30%, I changed it to 80 or 90. Any problems likely to ensue from going to 100? Apart from battery life.
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,538
What are the thoughts on resetting the keep current, mine was at 30%, I changed it to 80 or 90. Any problems likely to ensue from going to 100? Apart from battery life.
I've had mine set at 100% since the beginning (approx 8k miles). It doesn't mean I'm getting full beans all the time, as my PAS levels 1-4 are programmed for lower speed and current limit. Only on PAS 5 is it programmed for 100% speed and current limit.

Not had any issues running my bike like this, but I do try to always keep the motor speed high in relation to the gear I'm in, so I tend to ghost pedal* on very steep hills.

*Where the rider is turning the pedals to activate the motor, but the pedal cadence is too high to actually provide human assistance.
 

Hixyhicks

Pedelecer
May 14, 2020
151
10
55
I use paddle assist 1 for 99% of my riding except friday going home because i don't have to conserve battery,My only concern is gear changes, as it sounds like I'm destroying my chain and cassette.Pas 2 is more than enough for any riding situation.I just wish that the motor would stop dead when i stop peddling instead of over running.Can this be sorted with software?
 

MontyPAS

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 16, 2020
390
148
  • Agree
Reactions: Fordulike

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,538
Either use one of the gensor shift sensors, as MontyPAS suggested, or fit a brake cut-off sensor and blip the brake lever when changing gear.

I find it odd that you say the motor overruns when you stop pedaling. I don't find this the case for me and the reason why I either use the brake-cut off or stop pedaling when changing gear. Might be slight changes in the controller firmware between models that's causing this.
 

jimriley

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 17, 2020
595
398
I use paddle assist 1 for 99% of my riding except friday going home because i don't have to conserve battery,My only concern is gear changes, as it sounds like I'm destroying my chain and cassette.Pas 2 is more than enough for any riding situation.I just wish that the motor would stop dead when i stop peddling instead of over running.Can this be sorted with software?
Bbs01b can be re programmed with cable to have 3,5 or 9 steps in the power gradient, I set mine at 9 to give a finer gradation.
 

Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,538
Bbs01b can be re programmed with cable to have 3,5 or 9 steps in the power gradient, I set mine at 9 to give a finer gradation.
Just so forum users don't get confused, you do not need the programming cable to set the number of PAS levels. See following link for info:

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/change-the-bafang-bbsxx-pas-range-go-on-you-might-like-it.21245/

You will require the programming cable to adjust each of the speed and current settings on each PAS level though!