BBSxx maintenance intervals?

[Fordulike]

What's the general consensus amongst BBSxx owners, as when to open the unit up to grease the primary reduction gears and secondary gear axle etc..?

I've done around 1600 miles, and all I've done so far is put extra grease on the secondary reduction gears.

She still sounds sweet as a nut.... well she did before I blew the controller
Awaiting a new one from EMPowered Cycles with the newer mosfets, but that's another story lol.

 

[SpezElec]

Hi Forduike,

Interested to know as well as I have also done 1644 miles to be exact since installing it last year,but I have not done any maintenance yet on the motor,should I need to one soon.

 

[Fordulike]

If anyone has done some periodic maintenance on the primary reduction gears (nylon gear), how much factory grease was on there, and was there any leakage of the black grease from the secondary gear through to primary?

I know I could open it up and take a peek myself, but I'm loath to disturbing mechanical things just for the sake of it.

 

[bobdk]

I have a BBS01 unit, since approx. September 2014. Bought from Woosh.
In total I have covered 4800 km, or close to 3000 miles. Most of this is commuting to/from work, in all types of weather in Denmark.

Around 3000 km, the unit started to develop some noises and vibrations. I tried to regrease the final gear using lithium-moly grease several times to solve this. Without luck.

The noise got worse until I had covered between 4200-4400 km. Then I stripped the unit down, regreased with mobil-28 grease. This cleared all noises and most of the vibrations.

I found that some lithium-moly grease had gotten in next door to the nylon gear. Not much, but clearly visible on the nylon gear's teeth. Besides that, the nylon gear was in mint condition without any signs of wear.

Most of the original grease on the nylon gear had left the gear, due to rotational forces.

The most disturbing thing I saw when stripping the motor down, is that the rubber seal that protects the compartment with the nylon gear from water was assembled incorrectly. Consequentially, water had gotten into this compartment (visible water drops near the broken seal), with clear signs of corrosion near the leak, and some minor on the stator and rotor.

In your shoes, I would leave the unit as is. If it starts to develop signs of lack of grease, i.e., noises and vibrations, then consider stripping it down.

 

[Steve UKLSRA]

Good post/question...and only posted so I get an email to remind me to check back on this thread to see what the consensus is...found the Avo grease I need, but when to use is not very clear.

 

[Fordulike]

I have a BBS01 unit, since approx. September 2014. Bought from Woosh.
In total I have covered 4800 km, or close to 3000 miles. Most of this is commuting to/from work, in all types of weather in Denmark.

Around 3000 km, the unit started to develop some noises and vibrations. I tried to regrease the final gear using lithium-moly grease several times to solve this. Without luck.

The noise got worse until I had covered between 4200-4400 km. Then I stripped the unit down, regreased with mobil-28 grease. This cleared all noises and most of the vibrations.

I found that some lithium-moly grease had gotten in next door to the nylon gear. Not much, but clearly visible on the nylon gear's teeth. Besides that, the nylon gear was in mint condition without any signs of wear.

Most of the original grease on the nylon gear had left the gear, due to rotational forces.

The most disturbing thing I saw when stripping the motor down, is that the rubber seal that protects the compartment with the nylon gear from water was assembled incorrectly. Consequentially, water had gotten into this compartment (visible water drops near the broken seal), with clear signs of corrosion near the leak, and some minor on the stator and rotor.

In your shoes, I would leave the unit as is. If it starts to develop signs of lack of grease, i.e., noises and vibrations, then consider stripping it down.

A few forum members over at Endless Sphere have gone the Mobilgrease 28 route. Definitely something to think about if I need to regrease the internals.

Thanks for the write up bobdk

 

[Kinninvie]

I did a google uk search for Mobil28 and only found one supplier and thats for a 16Kg tub at £724

 

[Kinninvie]

A bit more searching and found a Shell alternative in the UK at a better price .
£11.95
http://www.flightstore.co.uk/aircraft-supplies-c840/aeroshell-grease-22-380gm-cartridge-p960/s1138?gclid=CjwKEAiA0ZC2BRDpo_Pym8m-4n4SJAB5Bn4xg5DEl3xqv1oZCaQRwmnelTAcXqpakyoEpGCNI_0VbBoCbbfw_wcB

 

[bobdk]

I bought mobil 28 grease from here: http://www.aircraftspruce.eu/mobil-grease-28-98jf51.htm

However, I can't say if it's better or worse than the Aeroshell 22. Futher, this grease has only been in the unit for one month (~500 km according to my tracker), and it is thus too early to conclude on whether it is better than a silicone-based grease or any other non-petrol based grease for that matter.
The only thing that I can conclude is that mobil-28 did not cause the nylon gear to fail yet.

In a month or two (i.e., after ~1000 km with this grease), I will strip the unit down again, to see how well the grease worked out. If most of the grease is still on the gear, I will consider it a success.

 

[awol]

I thought grease was grease was grease , so ordered the first tub I found which was called Comma CV Lith-Moly Grease.
Can I put that stuff inside around my motor's nylon gears and pack into sealed bearings?
I hope so as I have a new full tub of the stuff.

 

[Fordulike]

I thought grease was grease was grease , so ordered the first tub I found which was called Comma CV Lith-Moly Grease.
Can I put that stuff inside around my motor's nylon gears and pack into sealed bearings?
I hope so as I have a new full tub of the stuff.

I use exactly the same stuff on the secondary gears, but I wouldn't be using it on the nylon gear as it's petroleum based.

 

[bobdk]

Comma CV Lith-Moly Grease.

First, I am not an expert on this. I just followed the advice of other guys [1] in my decision on greases.
From the technical spec [4] of that grease I could not determine what it is based on. Some lithium-moly greases are apparently [2] save for plastics, so maybe. However petroleum based greases will dissolve (albeit slowly) the nylon gear, and thereby lead to accelerated deterioration [3].

I would not recommend you proceed and grease the nylon gear with Comma CV Lith-Moly Grease unless you can establish exactly what it is based on.

[1] http://electric-fatbike.com/2015/12/23/mobilgrease-28-bbshdbbs02-because-a-good-mid-drive-is-better-seen-and-not-heard/
[2] http://nerfhaven.com/forums/topic/16267-plastic-safe-lubricants/
[3] http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1750111
[4] http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/view/6/212

 

[Fordulike]

First, I am not an expert on this. I just followed the advice of other guys [1] in my decision on greases.
From the technical spec [4] of that grease I could not determine what it is based on. Some lithium-moly greases are apparently [2] save for plastics, so maybe. However petroleum based greases will dissolve (albeit slowly) the nylon gear, and thereby lead to accelerated deterioration [3].

I would not recommend you proceed and grease the nylon gear with Comma CV Lith-Moly Grease unless you can establish exactly what it is based on.

[1] http://electric-fatbike.com/2015/12/23/mobilgrease-28-bbshdbbs02-because-a-good-mid-drive-is-better-seen-and-not-heard/
[2] http://nerfhaven.com/forums/topic/16267-plastic-safe-lubricants/
[3] http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1750111
[4] http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/view/6/212

Great links. Looking at the spec sheets, there doesn't appear to be any conclusive evidence that the Comma stuff contains petroleum.
This can only be a good thing, for if it does seep through to the nylon gear, then it shouldn't damage it.

As for lubing the nylon gear, you mention that it was still in mint condition after 1000's of kms, and that most of the lube had spun off.
Therefore, I'm not going to lose any sleep over the lubing of this part, and will just stick to the secondary gears.

 

[awol]

Looking at the spec sheets, there doesn't appear to be any conclusive evidence that the Comma stuff contains petroleum.

Thanks for the links bobdk
I've sent Comma an email asking them.
So I am OK to use this stuff on ball bearings (wheels,headsets etc) and to take the sides off sealed bearings and stuff it in those, or basically anywhere there is only metal parts ?

 

[Steve UKLSRA]

Thanks for the links bobdk
I've sent Comma an email asking them.
So I am OK to use this stuff on ball bearings (wheels,headsets etc) and to take the sides off sealed bearings and stuff it in those, or basically anywhere there is only metal parts ?

I use PJ1 waterproof blue grease to fill my bearings before fitting and have never had to change one yet, fit and forget...wheels/sus/headsets/everything...I've 1979 and '84 dirt bikes that are still going strong with the right lubes in the right places, it really does make a big difference!

 

[awol]

I got a reply from Comma regarding the CV Lith-Moly grease :-
--------------------------------
Our CV Lith-Moly Grease is mineral oil based and therefore we do not recommend for use with polymers or plastics
--------------------------------
So it turns out I've a full tub of the stuff I can't stick in my motor.
I guess I'll have to get some mobil28 or Aeroshell22 or any others?

 

[brightonebikes]

I posted this somewhere so apologies if this duplicates the info, but here's a company in the UK with small size tubes of Mobilgrease28 for £16 + shipping.
https://www.silmid.com/products/mob2800400-mobil-grease-28-390gm-cartridge-mil-prf.aspx
Rapid delivery and the best I've found.
Friend's who work in or have experience of aeronautical engineering are on the case to find some of the white grease used on the nylon gear wheel, but this is only really for when a problem/fault occurs and a rebuild is necessary opposed to a routine maintenance. I wouldn't be looking to crack the unit open to 'top it up'.
The mobilgrease28, however, is well worth cleaning and refreshing periodically.
Hope that helps, and if anyone else knows a source of the other white nylon happy grease please sing out.
Cheers
Darren

 

[CrIMiN8l]

Hey guys, well late on this disscusion. So I can you use mobilegrease 28 on both gears?
Thanks

 

[Zac]

I use aeroshell 22 on both Tongsheng and Bafang mid drives and have nothing bad to report. As it is so cheap I use it for general bike maintenance as well. The one warning is that it should not come into contact with some elastomer seals but that is true for all synthetic based lubricants.

http://www.machinedesign.com/archive/ensuring-plastic-and-lubricant-compatibility

https://www.flightstore.co.uk/aircraft-supplies-c840/aeroshell-grease-c300/aeroshell-grease-22-380gm-cartridge-p960/s1138?gclid=CjwKEAiA0ZC2BRDpo_Pym8m-4n4SJAB5Bn4xg5DEl3xqv1oZCaQRwmnelTAcXqpakyoEpGCNI_0VbBoCbbfw_wcB

 

[tommie]

Use AeroShell myself but next time i`ll be going for this stuff..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucas-Oil-10005-Tacky-Grease/dp/B000ARPVO8

doesn`t break down as quick and hangs to the cogs much better