Hi guys
After developing some problems with my conversion of a 29er MTB I dismantled the build and recreated the bike as originally designed. Lately I have started to think about buying a new ready built ebike but realised that it would be much cheaper to get my old kit up and running again. So maybe someone can help me to solve a few problems.
Following great advice I received here about 2 years ago, the conversion kit was put together with a Q128C motor 700c wheel, controller etc from BMSBattery and a Dolphin 48V 12Ah (samsung 30Q) frame battery from Eclipsebikes (see https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/which-kit.28397/ ).
I was delighted with the build. The problems started with the rear wheel. After several hundred miles the spokes started to work loose and the wheel developed a bit of a buckle. I managed to get a reluctant bike shop to true the wheel for me (essentially they didn't want to touch it as they didn't sell me the bike). That seemed fine and I cycled a little longer. When winter came I put the bike aside in my shed.
Early the following spring (2018) I took the bike out for a spin. After its first short spin I recharged the battery and put it on the bike. The display showed that the battery was only charged to 50%. Ok I thought I'll go for another spin and try a recharge after that. When I was out a rear spoke broke and I wobbled home. Needless to say I couldn't get the battery to charge beyond 50% after that. I put the bike aside for another winter in my shed. In the spring of this year I removed the ebike components and reverted the bike to pedal only.
So today I decided to see if I could resurrect the kit. I found a bike shop online which purported to be able to true or rebuild ebike wheels. When I got to the shop he only offered to sell me spokes for me to fit myself. So I bought 5 in case any more of the originals spokes broke. When I got home I discovered that the spokes were in fact 12 gauge (2.6mm) instead of 13 gauge (2.3mm). They seem to be the right length (250mm). So I thought maybe I could use one anyway. But I found that the broken spoke was in fact a spoke with the head outside the flange (elbow inside). No matter how I try I can't see away of lacing the new spoke into the wheel. I can't get the spoke into the flange and across to the hole in the rim. I'm sure I could be missing something but I can't see a way to do it with removing other spokes (which I'm slow to do for fear of making things worse). Any ideas?
Unfortunately the battery issue might be my own fault as I left it in a damp shed over the winter. I put it on charge today and its still only showing 50% with 55 volts. Anything come to mind in relation to this?
Thanks in advance for any help.
John
After developing some problems with my conversion of a 29er MTB I dismantled the build and recreated the bike as originally designed. Lately I have started to think about buying a new ready built ebike but realised that it would be much cheaper to get my old kit up and running again. So maybe someone can help me to solve a few problems.
Following great advice I received here about 2 years ago, the conversion kit was put together with a Q128C motor 700c wheel, controller etc from BMSBattery and a Dolphin 48V 12Ah (samsung 30Q) frame battery from Eclipsebikes (see https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/which-kit.28397/ ).
I was delighted with the build. The problems started with the rear wheel. After several hundred miles the spokes started to work loose and the wheel developed a bit of a buckle. I managed to get a reluctant bike shop to true the wheel for me (essentially they didn't want to touch it as they didn't sell me the bike). That seemed fine and I cycled a little longer. When winter came I put the bike aside in my shed.
Early the following spring (2018) I took the bike out for a spin. After its first short spin I recharged the battery and put it on the bike. The display showed that the battery was only charged to 50%. Ok I thought I'll go for another spin and try a recharge after that. When I was out a rear spoke broke and I wobbled home. Needless to say I couldn't get the battery to charge beyond 50% after that. I put the bike aside for another winter in my shed. In the spring of this year I removed the ebike components and reverted the bike to pedal only.
So today I decided to see if I could resurrect the kit. I found a bike shop online which purported to be able to true or rebuild ebike wheels. When I got to the shop he only offered to sell me spokes for me to fit myself. So I bought 5 in case any more of the originals spokes broke. When I got home I discovered that the spokes were in fact 12 gauge (2.6mm) instead of 13 gauge (2.3mm). They seem to be the right length (250mm). So I thought maybe I could use one anyway. But I found that the broken spoke was in fact a spoke with the head outside the flange (elbow inside). No matter how I try I can't see away of lacing the new spoke into the wheel. I can't get the spoke into the flange and across to the hole in the rim. I'm sure I could be missing something but I can't see a way to do it with removing other spokes (which I'm slow to do for fear of making things worse). Any ideas?
Unfortunately the battery issue might be my own fault as I left it in a damp shed over the winter. I put it on charge today and its still only showing 50% with 55 volts. Anything come to mind in relation to this?
Thanks in advance for any help.
John
I put a meter across the connectors of the battery and bang - nearly lost my thumb!! Thankfully it was only blackened after the flash.... but it looks like one of the connectors from the battery has melted and I can't switch the lcd on at all now. I'm not sure what I did wrong but I think I'm lucky I didn't hurt myself. I'm not feeling confident about dismantling the battery to see if anything else has blown (visual check) and if the connector can be replaced in the housing. What do you think Neal?
