Wisper 805 fe problems due to abuse

saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
6,996
3,237
Telford
I friend of mine bought an old Wisper 805FE at a police auction. It wasn't charging, so I said I'll have a look at it for him.

It didn't come with keys, so the first problem was to get the battery off. After a lot of jiggling with my jiggler keys, the lock finally turned so that I could get the battery out.

A quick test on the output terminals and charge socket both showed zero volts - not a good sign.

It's held together with screws that have triangle holes in, but I have every type of bit to undo screws. 9 screws later, I was able to open the case, and I was greeted by the stink of knackered lithium cells.

There were signs of water in it and most of the cells were corroded under the heatshrink. No point in going further.

A new battery from Wisper is £425 plus shipping. Equivalents can be found on Ebay for £170. Yose has one for £150 inc. shipping. Aliexpress has them for £108 inc. shipping, with options for bigger capacity. We're going to try the Yose option.

Here's why not to leave your ebike out in the yard for months at a time. The battery arrangement protects it against water in normal use, but I'm guessing that the bike was left in such a position that the rain could travel all the way inside to the front, where the connector is. The connector is well shrouded, but the receiver becomes a bucket if you angle the battery sloping downwards to the front.

61424

Here's the bike:
61425
 

Wisper Bikes

Trade Member
Apr 11, 2007
6,286
2,252
69
Sevenoaks Kent
Wow I haven't see that model for the best part of 15 years. We do still hold that battery in stock and sell it with a two year warranty, but it would certainly be cheaper to buy from China, just make certain it is a good one. Although not completely waterproof I am pleased to say that our latest batteries are far less susceptible to water ingress.

All the best, David
 

saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
6,996
3,237
Telford
Wow I haven't see that model for the best part of 15 years. We do still hold that battery in stock and sell it with a two year warranty, but it would certainly be cheaper to buy from China, just make certain it is a good one. Although not completely waterproof I am pleased to say that our latest batteries are far less susceptible to water ingress.

All the best, David
I think it had been laying on its side in a police yard for a long time, so no reflection on the quality of the bike. Soon, it'll be back in service for another 15 years. It's going to outlive me.