Tsdz2 ? Motor failure after washing

[7lucky7]

I decided to clean down my bike (as I have many times before) and do washed my tsdz2 to clean the chain and some muck off etc before re-oiling however since this my motor seems to not want to start. I can start up the vlcd5. Turn on lights etc and get no errors (I'm running osf). However im getting intermittent failure of the speed sensor, and the motor won't kick in either with pedaling or on walk assist mode.

The logical answer is that it is related to my clean down. This has not happened before, I opened the housing on both sides and found no evidence of water ingress or corrosion I did not get down to the torque sensor as I have no circlip pliers however this would not logically be damaged by this.
I've checked all connections, no water damage, battery is fine, lights work, vlcd display also fine.

Any tips? I wondered about motor failure as it won't start on walk assist, also about controller failure, though the lights etc still work. Some of the symptoms occur with torque sensor failure from what I've read but would be a coincidence to happen at the same time as this washing.

 

[Nealh]

My guess at best is the speed sensor two way connector if used and water ingress via this point causing possibly a short. The fact walk assist isn't working imv points to motor controller failure.

As you are running osf change the Tab 2 assist setting to cadence mode to see if the motor works still.

 

[7lucky7]

My guess at best is the speed sensor two way connector if used and water ingress via this point causing possibly a short.

I forgot to mention I have a spare speed sensor (yes both Y split to accommodate the lights) and have changed it to the new one no avail, also tried just walk assist with this disconnected with no luck.

Currently it's sat with a dehumidifier blowing at it but it has been 5 days and like I said before it had been opened and no evidence of water anywhere. Highly frustrating.

 

[Bikes4two]

Sorry to hear of your woes @7lucky7 - as you say, it would be a huge coincidence to some failing NOT related to the wash-down.

As already said I'd be looking at water ingress in the double yellow speed sensor which may have caused a problem with the controller - after all, it is through that connector that you program the motor.

The next thing to do is get your laptop out and see if you can read the controller settings - I get a feeling that you'll not be able to which means another controller, but if you can, re-flash your last OSF configuration and see what happens.

The only issue I've had with my own TSDZ2 (nearly 3,000 Km on the clock now) is with the controller - I had exactly the same symptoms as you - in my case I'd been out in the wet the week before but I'd also loaded the latest OSF (v20.1c.2) the week before too - when I connected up the laptop, I had no comms to the controller. So I honestly can't say if my problem was caused by water ingress or the OSF or just coincidence.

Fortunately I had a spare controller (loaded with v20.1c.1 just in case)and it was a couple of hours work to swap out - not difficult at all but it took some time to free the cables of the (very good) water sealant stuff and then re-packing with fresh sealant and a blob of sealant on the Y plug too.

 

[7lucky7]

FIXED

so I've had everything apart today to try and dry it which didn't seem to fix the problem.

Thank you for the suggestion that it might be a controller fault maybe caused by water ingress.
I reflashed the software (slight upgrade actually but same settings) onto the old one after a few attempts and it seems to be back up and working fine.

Perhaps some water ingress corrupted the osf hence giving faults with the speed sensor and the motor. But it's fixed for now.
I'll repost if this re-occurs. Feel free to message me/reply if you have similar problems.

 

[Nealh]

Great that the re flash worked, now keep water away from the motor. Better dirty & working then clean and not working.

 

[7lucky7]

Great that the re flash worked, now keep water away from the motor. Better dirty & working then clean and not working.

Thanks!!!

Here's to another 2000 miles!

 

[Bikes4two]

After any sort of strip-down, on re-assembly where there are O-rings involved, I usually add a smearing of Red Rubber Grease - this grease is rubber/O-ring friendly and you can get a small tin which will last for ages, from eBay for £4.

Vasalene is OK too.

 

[sjpt]

Great that the re flash worked, now keep water away from the motor. Better dirty & working then clean and not working.

In particular, never let a power washer get anywhere near a motor or other bike electrics. Probably best just never to let a power washer anywhere near any bike.

 

[Nealh]

Power washers are toys for someone with nothing better to do, this is typically borne out on a BH with the sun shining and some saddo spending all morning or afternoon cleaning their drive or patio only for it to get dirty again with algae,grime and the like and they repeat it again the next time. As for bikes they are only suitable for the tip.

 

[7lucky7]

Haha it wasn't a power washer.

I added a lot of grease so not all lost in the strip down. Blue gear still in tact. 2k miles must be a record though I usually don't use much assist and it's 250w