Greetings

[Myfanwy]

Hi, Myfanwy here from Kerry, Ireland, this is my first time using a forum. I have a Schwinn Tailwind that I bought 18 months ago, I wonder if anybody can help me with a problem. The bike fell over last week and since then the on/off switch doesn't work and I am powerless! It's a heavy bike to cycle without assistance, and the nearest ebike repair shop is 200 miles away. Any suggestions? Best wishes to all.

 

[GORDONAL]

Hi Myfanwy

There will be experts along soon to fully answer you ,is your on/off switch on the handlebars or the battery?

Welcome to the forum

Alan

 

[shemozzle999]

Hi, Myfanwy here from Kerry, Ireland, this is my first time using a forum. I have a Schwinn Tailwind that I bought 18 months ago, I wonder if anybody can help me with a problem. The bike fell over last week and since then the on/off switch doesn't work and I am powerless! It's a heavy bike to cycle without assistance, and the nearest ebike repair shop is 200 miles away. Any suggestions? Best wishes to all.

Hi Myfanwy,

Welcome to the forum.

Check your brake levers to see if they have been bent. Make sure they return all the way into the housing otherwise the electric brake switch may be still operating and killing the power from the controller .

 

[Myfanwy]

Hi Myfanwy

There will be experts along soon to fully answer you ,is your on/off switch on the handlebars or the battery?

Welcome to the forum

Alan

Hi Alan, the switch is on the handlebar, it has one button for on/off and another to set the assistance level. When the bike fell over, the brake lever outside it got slightly bent, so I think that's where the impact has caused trouble. Thanks for your welcome, Myfanwy

 

[Myfanwy]

Hi , thanks for your reply. The brake lever is slightly bent, I will have a check on it. I didn't like to bend it back in case it broke off!

 

[flecc]

The original agents for the Schwinn e-bikes in the UK were a bicycle shop in Yorkshire run by an enthusiastic young couple, so they may be able to help in getting a new switch assembly:

Hildethorpe Bicycles
24-26 Hilderthorpe Road
Bridlington
North Humberside
YO15 3BG

Phone: 01262 400 141

They don't appear to have any web presence or email address.

Unfortunately since then they've mostly be sold online by such as Amazon, meaning great difficulty in getting support. Schwinn USA have no listing of any UK outlet.

 

[jackhandy]

Before you try straightening the brake lever, check out d8veh's words of wisdom:

Once you push aluminium beyond it's elastic limit, it work-hardens as it moves, which resists further movement. If you then try and move it further, it snaps. To be safe, you need lots of heat; Bend a bit (use jack-screws); re-heat to stress relieve, then bend a bit more; repeat until you get to where you want. I've never used this technique on forks before, but it works on normal aluminium tube.

And remember you're dealing with cast alloy, rather than forged tube, so it'll be more brittle.

 

[Old_Dave]

so it'll be more brittle.

Yep...

But if you accept the fact that the odds are against you and it may well break.. then that will save any pain when it does..

However its not working as it is, so nothing to loose

 

[shemozzle999]

The original agents for the Schwinn e-bikes in the UK were a bicycle shop in Yorkshire run by an enthusiastic young couple, so they may be able to help in getting a new switch assembly:

Hildethorpe Bicycles
24-26 Hilderthorpe Road
Bridlington
North Humberside
YO15 3BG

Phone: 01262 400 141

They don't appear to have any web presence or email address.

Unfortunately since then they've mostly be sold online by such as Amazon, meaning great difficulty in getting support. Schwinn USA have no listing of any UK outlet.

Chain Reaction based over the water still sell them, they maybe can source spare parts :

Schwinn Tailwind Electric Bike | Buy Online | ChainReactionCycles.com

 

[Myfanwy]

I couldn't find anyone here in Ireland who dealt with Schwinn, I bought the bike privately. I heard Reece Cycles were agents, they didn't reply to my email though. Has anyone experience of taking the switch apart?

 

[mountainsport]

Hi, Myfanwy here from Kerry, Ireland, this is my first time using a forum. I have a Schwinn Tailwind that I bought 18 months ago, I wonder if anybody can help me with a problem. The bike fell over last week and since then the on/off switch doesn't work and I am powerless! It's a heavy bike to cycle without assistance, and the nearest ebike repair shop is 200 miles away. Any suggestions? Best wishes to all.

Sorry to hear about your bike,you've come to the right place for help,by the time your battery is fully charged i guarantee you that your bike will be up and running.

Mountainsport..

 

[Myfanwy]

Sorry to hear about your bike,you've come to the right place for help,by the time your battery is fully charged i guarantee you that your bike will be up and running.

Mountainsport..

Waah! If only! I just tried the old fashioned remedy-a good clean and polish, even that didn't work. If I ever get it sorted, I will remove the side stand.

 

[shemozzle999]

If it is not the brakes, check that the plug and socket on the cable leading up to the handlebars has not been pulled apart when you dropped the bike.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/55967-9.jpg

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/55967-3.jpg

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Original/55967-2.jpg

 

[RobF]

I wonder if the brake cut-out is now operating all the time.

Difficult to advise online, but Mafanwy may be able to see a thin electric cable going into the (bent) brake lever housing.

Try disconnecting it.

 

[wissy]

Thinking 'out of the box' (I hate that expression so thought I would annoy you all...) ... Bike fell over... What else could have been affected?

 

[Myfanwy]

I don't think so Rob, the sensor is on the right hand lever (front brake), and the bike fell to the left. Is that what you mean, to disconnect the sensor?

 

[Myfanwy]

Can't see anything obviously loose..

 

[RobF]

I don't think so Rob, the sensor is on the right hand lever (front brake), and the bike fell to the left. Is that what you mean, to disconnect the sensor?

Some bikes have a cut-out on both levers.

If it's easy to do, you could still try disconnecting the one that is fitted - they are known for acting up.

 

[shemozzle999]

Try removing and refitting the battery.

 

[Myfanwy]

Yes, that was the first thing I did, tried it again and again. I'll try disconnecting the brake tomorrow.