Waterproofing my bike

[cwah]

Hello,

Following all my issues with water, it's time for me to properly waterproof my bike. Because I can't park my bike inside during work time, my problems are even worse.

I'm going to list the issue and what has been solved to date:
- Throttle is one of the least waterproof item I've ever bought. All throttles have this issue. And many times I've been saved by the brake cut-off because the throttle went crazy.
A solution has been found around that: I now have handlebar muffs. All problems sorted, suddenly. And it also protect from the cold and the rain. Great great stuff and too bad I haven't thought about it.
- Another one is motor metal starting to rust:

I haven't found a way around that... but I need to. Some motor just take water and rust from the inside too. One of them (leafbike) has now hall sensors issue.

- Battery cover:
I'm planning to buy relevant fabric to cover it on top of my bike:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WATERPROOF-DENIER-POLYESTER-CANVAS-FABRIC/dp/B00HW2IJWA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1422580122&sr=8-8&keywords=waterproof fabric
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001K9QXQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0002JT0PK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1VULBCKLYKFVN

Are these all right for what I need to accomplish? And are there better items to buy?

 

[jonathan75]

Asides design and so forth, another issue afaik is going to be waterproofing the stitches and seams - and stitching them. I think there are spray treatments you can use or similar, or particular stitching techniques or both. If you google 'sewing waterproof fabric' or 'waterproofing seams' you'll get some answers.

£2 sewing shears from UK

 

[awol]

Put a small amount of grease on the motor axle to stop the rusting, in fact on all threads. Also have the motor wire loop down from the motor before going up the frame to stop water running down the wire into the motor.
I cover my battery with a shower cap and a couple of elastic bands and get about a month out of each one, or a carrier bag held with elastic bands work just as well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transparent-Disposable-Polythene-Hair-Shower/dp/B0086AUTH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422603929&sr=8-1&keywords=clear+shower+cap

 

[patpatbut]

Hi cwah
You should cover the motor with the supplied plastic cap.
This helps a lot

Pat

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Thr reason you have rust and hall sensor problems in your motor is that you haven't installed them properly. The wire should go downwards from the axle before it goes upwards. This stops water running down it and into the motor. Secondly, they normally provide rubber or plastic caps for the axle, which you haven't fitted. The cap should be fitted with the hole for the wire facing downwards. If you have a stand for the bike, make sure that the bike leans towards the side with the motor wire.

Water can also get into some motors, like Bafangs and Q100s, down the disc screws. When you fit a disc to the motor, it's a good idea to put some sealant on the threads.

 

[Nealh]

Ditto, first thing I noticed form your pic hub wiring doesn't exit south and no axle cover.

 

[KirstinS]

You can fashion a new cover with sugru very easily if you lost the cover

I've done this before and it both worked and lasted

 

[JamesW]

If you read EddiePJ's maintenance regime he recommends the use of ACF-50 to prevent water getting onto components and causing corrosion, maybe this would help. Just got some to use myself.
Would second Kirstin's recommendation for Sugru (also makes a nice way of making a twist throttle much grippier if you roll small sausages and add to the long dips to get rubber bumps!)

 

[cwah]

So shall I get this?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ACF-50-Motorcycle-Automotive-Metal-Anti-Corrosion/dp/B000P1C8UO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422819546&sr=8-1&keywords=acf+50

And also move back the motor on the right place?

Is it here the best deal to buy sugru?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sugru-Multi-Colour-Pack-of-8/dp/B008URBC9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422819602&sr=8-1&keywords=sugru

And can sugru waterproof my throttle? (I didn't loose my motor thread cap but didn't fit it in as I need to desolder motor wires for that!)

 

[cwah]

This thing seems to be better value than sugru
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00CAL4BRU?vs=1

 

[JamesW]

I just bought a bottle of liquid for wiping and a spray for £30ish on eBay ( arriving on Wednesday) personally I would hope that the acf-50 would waterproof your throttle for you too on the basis of how it works. The sugru I would get as a backup plan or if you have any enormous holes where water is getting in that you could block off.

Important to note is that sugru has been tested with electrics and is sold with insulating properties as one of its characteristics. Also rubber is more grippy than plastic, so I would stick with the sugru, you wont need much and it's always useful to have some spare in n the fridge for something else!

 

[awol]

You don't want to get acf50 on the handle grip part though, it is a kind of thick wd40 oil based type liquid.

 

[JamesW]

You don't want to get acf50 on the handle grip part though, it is a kind of thick wd40 oil based type liquid.

Ahh someone who uses and knows what they are talking about!

 

[awol]

Ahh someone who uses and knows what they are talking about!

Can't confess to knowing what I'm talking about, I got the idea to buy some and try acf50 recently from eddiePJ

 

[JamesW]

Can't confess to knowing what I'm talking about, I got the idea to buy some and try acf50 recently from eddiePJ

but you have at least tried it - mine is still in the post!

 

[dingrpdl]

I came across this vid from the RC world about using this CorrrosionX goop to protect electronics from moisture. I am sure we can use the same stuff for our ebike components. Both CorrosionX and ACF50 are used in aviation, from what I read.