Stella Livorno Premium - Technical Information Required!

[OldJack]

Hello Folks. I have just joined Pedelecs, because it seems like an excellent technical resource/forum for electric bikes.
Erm, I suppose that was obvious!

Anyway, I have recently bought a Stella Livorno Premium, with a Bosch Active Line Plus motor, a Bosch Purion BU215 Controller; and a Shimano Nexus 8 planetary gear cluster. It's done 2,500 miles.
The problem is that the chain is completely enclosed and is very stretched, in my opinion it probably needs replacing.
It seems obvious to say that one has to remove the outer chain enclosure cover to get to the chain, but to do that the pedal crank needs to come off. Therein lies the problem.
Not really a problem? It is if you don't know how to get the chain enclosure off. I have asked Stella, and eventually they responded saying there is no maintenance manual for the frame and fittings, and neither are there any drawings available. They pointed me to the part of their ebsite with the You Tube self help videos, and the seem to have every other arrangement except for the Livorno, with its' separate brake and hub carrier sub-assembly. Very neat.
I'm an electro-mechanical tech., by trade so maintaining it doesn't worry me at all. I've been fixing motor cycles and pedal cycles since I was thirteen. Over 50 years...
So experience tells me that I really don't want to do any damage by disassembling it incorrectly.

Does anyone have any experience of the Stella Livorno, or does anyone know where I can get technical information, special tools.
Any help and advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks.
Jack

 

[saneagle]

There should be a piece of the chainguard at the back that detaches to give access to a part of the chain. There, you can separate the chain, join the new one to it, pull the new one on as you pull the old one out, detach the old chain and join the new one.

If you're not sure how many links you need for the new one, mark or tie a bit of fuse wire or thin cord around a link in the installed one and count the links as you turn the pedal until it comes round again.

 

[OldJack]

There should be a piece of the chainguard at the back that detaches to give access to a part of the chain. There, you can separate the chain, join the new one to it, pull the new one on as you pull the old one out, detach the old chain and join the new one.

If you're not sure how many links you need for the new one, mark or tie a bit of fuse wire or thin cord around a link in the installed one and count the links as you turn the pedal until it comes round again.

Thanks Saneagle. Great idea. There is indeed an access panel underneath, unfortunately there is not enough space to get a chain breaking tool on it! And I don't think I noticed a split link. I have a M22/M10 crank puller coming tomorrow, hopefully I can whip the crank off and then the front of the chain enclosure. I Will certainly take a look for a split link. Thanks again.

 

[Nealh]

A bit of tippex works as well to mark the chain.

 

[OldJack]

Thank for the replies.
I "got it on it's back", so I could inspect it properly. Cleaned it all up and found the split link! I think the chain is 108 link, 54' chain. Need to confirm that.
It's responded well to some chain lube, and the Nexus 8 gear shift being set up.

 

[saneagle]

Thank for the replies.
I "got it on it's back", so I could inspect it properly. Cleaned it all up and found the split link! I think the chain is 108 link, 54' chain. Need to confirm that.
It's responded well to some chain lube, and the Nexus 8 gear shift being set up.

I guess once every 2500 miles isn't too bad. That's more maintenance than mine gets.