help please

[Caroline Huxford]

Hi I have an old folding electric bike I used to keep in my camper van.
I plan to put on ebay but it has been in the garage for about 3 years. All charges up all working but the motor seems to have seized. It tries to work but hardly moves at all. Anything I can try to make it work please?
Thanks

 

[flecc]

Batteries die in storage, so that is most likely the problem. That one appears to charge or even measure enough volts is no assurance it can deliver the necessary current to run a motor.

Do you know what kind of battery it uses Caroline, and also the make and model of e-bike?

 

[Caroline Huxford]

its a lead acid battery, and I cant remember the make and model of the bike, I bought it through the caravan club?
Is it likely the battery then?
Thnaks

 

[flecc]

Quite likely, since the low cost ones can last only a few months is neglected, though I'd have expected the motor to turn just a little if the motor wheel is lifted from the ground.

The advantage of that type is that they are easily and cheaply replaced. If the battery case is opened up, inside it will almost certainly be two 12 volt SLA batteries wired in line to give 24 volts, this being the most common specification on low cost folding bikes.

Noting the connections carefully, the batteries can be lifted out and one of them measured for it's three dimensions in millimetres. Then it's a simple matter to buy two replacements for as little as about £60. A lithium battery on some of the more expensive models can cost £300 or more!

However, I can't absolutely guarantee it's solely the battery, since a bike left idle for such a long time can suffer lost connections due to moisture corrosion. The symptoms and history point to battery, but it could be either or both conditions together.

 

[Caroline Huxford]

Thanks very much will give it a try.