How to keep your ebike ALIVE!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Catching up with Chris from Berkshire Cycles and learning how to keep your ebike running well over the winter, and stop the electrics failing. The flashing lights seem to be caused by water, so some tips on how to keep it running.
Berkshire Cycles: www.berkshiret...
** My 2020 FULLBOOST Jerseys: shop.emtbforum... **
New Podcast Channel: bit.ly/2oSN5q2
Follow Me On Instagram: / robridesemtb
Back me on Patreon: / robemtb
The worlds best EMTB Community: www.emtbforums...
Mudguard used: www.crudproduc...
"This is a rubber plug and it seals to a certain degree" - what!!!! - no mate, for £5k, it should be IP66 certified. I can buy a £6 socket box that's IP66 rated, yet Specialized can't seal their components?...utter madness...the Trading Standards people would have a field day with them if they were to get involved!
yer it dont make sense can buy a car or even a motorbike for this money and that dont piss water in thru the seals
I wish Chris at Berkshire Bike was my dealer, I've just had the main cable replaced and a new TCU after getting loss of Bluetooth and motor faults, my dealer put it down to using the Blevo App (thanks for your video about that app Rob) he even wrote that on the report sheet. He said if I keep using the app it will break again. After searching the forums and through this video I've subsequently found damp on the TCU after washing my bike. So I'm now very careful about getting water around there when washing the bike, I take the TCU off and keep it indoors till I go riding again. And I've wrapped some tape around it like Chris has done. Thanks Rob..
All excellent advice. 2 things that destroy electronics is vibration and water. Even invisible water vapour will condensate somewhere and slowly degrade components or start corrosion.
Seeing Chris lovingly taking care of this bike makes me believe he has a loyal following with his clients.
Well done.
Well done Rob....about time riders were given some info about how to look after the electric on an E Bike. Chris is understandably being a little political in his critique of what are fairly obvious design flaws in terms of weather proofing, but as he said there are some fairly simple DIY hacks anyone can do to help avoid water ingress. On the basis you and/or Chris may use feedback from this video to give Specialized more information I have a few suggestions they may wish to consider.
1. The motor outer casings should provide a complete seal for the electrical contacts inside them. That means gaskets should be used....either solid or liquid. There are valve systems such as gortex that allow air through but not water so no reason why the entire motor cover set up could not be sealed or at least the area where all the contacts are on the non drive side.
2. TCU connections should additional be sealed to the TCU with shrink wrap
3. The main battery to motor cable should separate the high voltage pos and neg wires from the low voltage signalling wires and the plug at the motor end should be hermetically sealed and not rely on a flimsy adhesive seal between the plug and cable sheath.
4. The Rosenburg plug should be completely re designed. It relies on a single rubber ring to seal it, it opens in the direction of travel of the bike, and it is positioned in probably the most vulnerable position on the entire bike. Whilst it may be slightly less convenient for charging purposes, the connection here should be double sealed and secured with a couple of Torx bolts.
Finally I was surprised Chris did not mention the issue some seem to be having with the motor end plug of the motor to battery cable, splitting and allowing water ingress.
You should do more of these types of video Rob.
Wow...spot on
I use only 2 spray bottles.
One soapy with a little Dr. Bronner's, one clean water. I can get off most anything without so much pressure as to get through the seals. I also do not use compressed air as that will drive water into the seals. Not a lot but if the seals are not lubricated they will allow water in. I just use old shirts or paper towels to floss in between the pivot points and shock seals to dry. I do re-lubricate after wash all bearing seals, shock shafts and adjustment knobs, deraileur pivots and jockey wheels with Triflo.
On my 4th ebike now left Haibike due to trying to get hold of one for a start..waited a year gave up (flyon Xduro Nduro) now I have the 2020 Specialized Turbo Levo and Chris is bang on the money not many people i listen to but he is one I do listen to. I use the Cordless Makita DUB362Z leaf blower does the job perfectly very powerful i then on all the sensitive connections use the wd40 electrical cleaner which expels all other water and then evaporates it, just works. Keep up the good work guys we are a team of six riders and yours is our go to site.
I’ve tried using compressed air canisters that you’d use on laptops etc to blow dust and grime away from the electrics. Worked quite well so far.
canadian eastern fall and canadian earlier spring are almost like the british winter weather...BUT try true north canadian winter, got water warning signals in my levo everytime i washed off the salt and ice and snow from the frame I ended up only brushing it off to avoid those red flashing lights, plus adding real mud guards make the difference, one mudhugger with an extension on the front forks and 3 different models on the back frame, 1 guarding the lower back end of the levo motor,another proguard on top of it and finishing with the mudhugger rear fender...ugly but it works, no errors yet with so much snow so far in the GTA
Yeah good tip, people go on about pressure washing being bad for the e bikes but forget most of it is getting pressure washed with crap off the tyres for the whole ride in wet conditions
I commute three days a week on my Levo rain or shine. I have to lock my bike up outside my workplace. When it’s raining I cover my TCU up with a plastic bag wrapped around the frame and tied on using an old ski tie. Not pretty but stops it being exposed to water for 8-10 hours. I also gaffer tape just around the power socket cover. Probably overkill but the bike gets in a proper state each day
Cheers to Chris @ Berkshire Cycles for the tips! Stop getting those motor errors on your ebike with these tips, keep riding as much as you can this winter!
Chris made reference to a modification they do to the power cable in the motor housing, what is it?
last 2 winters rode my motorcycle 105 miles each way commute every week including in biblical rain and through flood water at boot level with no water issues. Also only 8 grand so cheaper than many of these. Needing additional taping is unacceptable design. Also if it needs this level of maintenance it needs to be laid out in the manual as to what is required and what is allowed to be done. Was researching to buy but will stick with non e-bike.
Wow i never knew that these covers did not seal 100%
Why do the gaskets not seal 100% ?
Crazy.
Refreshing to hear Chris talking about his vision and ways to keep the bike sound. Although Specialized has still problems to solve, I will definitely make my purchase from Chris when the time comes
Rob need more videos like this, hour or two would come in handy..... 😎 Taking my time building my Custom Levo and listening to you and Mr. Chris, doesn't get better than this. 👍
I get the feeling that Bicycle Mechanics are in a Happy Place. Certainly this guy. Full marks.
Thanks for letting Chris speak he's obviously full of knowledge and Ive seen a lot of other RUclips presenters constantly interupting the flow when interviewing people in the industry.
What tricks does he do to help waterproof the cables he mentioned he did something but didn't go into details?
Love the simple idea of wrapping the tcu too.
Anyone else watch 44teeth? This guy is awesome just like Jerry! I think it's a British mechanic thing lol. Great video
The seals are terrible for such an expensive bike! Should be at least IP65. I can't believe the amount of crap under that cover.
Yup. Build a 7k bike put pork switches on 😂
The motor is sealed but u do need air to get in frame to dry out . There will always be moisture
I live in the north of Scotland and constantly ride my e bike in wet conditions. Touch wood I have not had any problems yet. I just try to keep my bike clean and lubed after every ride. Great video
Hose pipe and brush better than power washer, muck and grime wont go into bearings and joints but a compressor would do that.
I've connected one of those yellow coily hoses to the kitchen mixer tap so can spray clean the muck off at low pressure with warm or even hot water. Just have to open the kitchen window though ;-)
Sticking some removable plastic tape over all electrical parts prior to washing would be the way to go and it maybe possible to stick tape over certain electrical parts when going out in the rain too. One important issue that people need to be aware of is by making the componentry more durable like a motorbike means making the componentry heavier. So the desire for E bikes to be as light as possible does have its tradeoff in terms of reliability.
Great to listen to Chris' voice and counsels.
Great instructions!! Answered my questions about my 2021 Levo electric issues. No WD 40, great tip, I have yet to hose off my EMTB in the first 6 months of riding, I use my air compressor and cloth rags, a toothbrush for my gears. Jolly good video.
The old school tube TV in the back ground. Love it!
I totally wish we had a bike shop that was this passionate about ebikes. Your lucky to have them UK.
I just got a Levo, but I had a TSDZ2 on my hardtail before and I always wash it with soap and a hose and then blow it off with my electric leaf blower. Seems to work well.
That dude is awesome, super smart and a great sense of humor. Remember his tip...double protection is always good :)
Wish that I used double protection... Then i would be out more riding, not home With kids...
CorrosionX on all my electrics, love the leafblower idea, high volume low pressure . id never use a pressure wash or compressor . Also never had an issue with hand washing . Nano coat the brand new bike and stuff just falls off
And i never blow grease from the chain over my rear disc, or put my fingers on the brake system and transfer the oil to them.
Shop vac, low pressure high volume...less likely to kill bearings.
Works great on chain after a good clean with liquid dish soap and pressure wash (chain only).
Regardless of any IP rating eventually water finds a way in, no matter how careful you are.
It's not always people knowing what they can do to their bikes, they are told by the people in the shops that if they touch X, Y or Z they will affect their warranty, and that's sometimes lack of knowledge by the staff and other times because it's extra revenue for the shop.
No bar ends , when you see your first core sample taken by not have bar ends on you'll be more likely to ride without a helmet than missing bar ends.
Turn bike off, Wash bike as normal, bounce a bit, hand dry with drying towel, air compressor if you have one, then contact cleaner at applicable points, allow to finish dry in a warm place *remove battery if possible and charge while its finish drying.
Chain... wash, degrease, rinse, dry and dab each individual link with a drop of oil (takes 2 mins) and never use Ceramic lubes on MTB. I like Purple Extreme personally.
Ceramic, as in chain lube ? I have dry and wet, I think dry is ceramic... Please explain.
@@sijmes The Ceramics in the lube produce a grey hard paste that wears and adheres the drive train. If you're absolutely meticulous and clean everything down spotless after each ride then it's not that bad. Have a look at your cassette and see if there is any hard grey/black residue on it.
Genuinely can't believe that, for the price Specialized are asking for these bikes and how long they've been making them, they haven't managed to make them waterproof yet. Poor show!
Also not sure I'm with your chap on letting all of the connections run dry... a little bit of dielectric grease in exposed connectors does wonders to keep the water out and stop them corroding, but that's just my experience with motorbikes, cars, and Shimano E8000 systems!
@@R-Dub-Ya A skeptical person might suggest that bike shop owners tell you to run the connectors dry to keep a steady income from people with connector problems... I'm sure that's not the case though!
I don't have an ebike, so I'm shocked that the manufacturers don't provide tutorials on routine maintenance. 5 or 6 grand? I'd definitely want comprehensive maintenance advice for that sort of money!
It's better to pretend they don't need anything special, so you don't scare away customers...cash in and move on...
Like Swiss banks which do not ask mobsters where they got their money from....
Car and motorcycle manufacturers don’t provide tutorials either and you can pay a lot more for them
That's what RUclips is for.
Rob, you dont need to a compressor and the hassle that goes with it. I have a £50 Bosch leaf blower, that is as good as the more expensive motorcycle dryers. Drys the bike in no time. Or you can use a cheap heater blower an just leave it on for a few hours too. Even cheaper, bring it into the house!
Great tip! Cheers.
Think I'm going to get a leaf blower after watching this, especially for the winter.
I personnaly use a Leaf blower here in Canada from Black and Decker (45$) and it works perfect after a wash ! Cheeers from Québec!
Come to Australia, I never ride in muddy wet conditions. Just wipe dust off with a damp rag and put the bike away.
Same, I'm Australian too, what even is water?
Whoa..what an eye opener to the Specialized electrics? Quite off putting if i'm honest
It's a shit design, for the price they should have used IP rated components and connections. Impossible to wash the damp things.
I love my kenevo, I will definitely seal up the ECU now 👍
Fortunately for my bike but unfortunately for me ( and everyone around me) I suffer from OCD so my bike is always cleaned after every ride.
I wouldn't hose or pressure wash my Ebike, I hand wash it with minimal amounts of water. By doing this I've never had any water ingress problems.
Do you ride indoors or something? I just came back in from a ride and had 2 inches of mud caked on in places. A sponge with minimal water wouldn't have done anything on that mess.
There's definitely 2 sides to the 'it's expensive, you obviously have to do maintenance.' Fair enough you should look after expensive bikes, but they shouldn't fail left right n centre so easily, I get the red and blue light thing on occasion (what is this indicating?) my bike hasn't been abused and gets kept inside my house.
Gonna get invis fitted after a good clean so the cable ties from the soon to be fitted rear mudguard won't mess up the paint work.
Red and blur lights happen when the motor is not connected properly to the battery sometimes i find it is just a small amount of dirt on the plug which stops it from seating properly, keep it clean and maintain it and it will last forever. Specialised probably the most reliable Ebike out there you have to look after everything you buy.
I wouldn't use a compressor with an air hose to blow off the bike for the same reason I wouldn't use a pressure washer; the high pressures concentrated in a narrow stream can push the water past the seals. I thought the use of the leaf blower was very smart. Good airflow over an expanded area. What you lack in air pressure to move the water molecules is made up for in volume while at the same time the amount of pressure won't be enough to push the water past your seals.
I want one of those "OH SHIT!" stickers he has on the bike stand. Sooo applicable sooo often.
Great video!! I really enjoy videos like this, I wish we had a nice bike shop like this around here, the guy is really knowledgeable!!
I learned a lot from this guy..Thank you sir..
Can I just throw ACF-50 into the ring here. It’s aircraft treatment largely used in the Motorbike world however it’s designed and main use is in Aircraft surfaces. Alas it is also used to protect all bare electrical parts and the inside of control and electronic surfaces to ensure water ingress doesn’t cause planes to crash!!! There is a great video on RUclips somewhere showing the insides of a light (like a traffic yellow flashing light) submerged in water and immediately shorting yet when ACF-50 is sprayed on it it works under water. PS I have all this kit to apply it and am local to you Rob if you want to give it a try 😎
As a potential ebike buyer one things becomes more clear through this video, it won't be a specialized/brose. Poor design from Spec but the SOOOO well tested brose motor(N° 1 in many mags) has to many failures, not only Spec, BH and Fantic also.
mtb trails its the best bike, not the most reliable. Leave the problems to your lbs, and ride the best.😉
@@frankokrisztian1400 Totally agree that spec make good bikes, problem is the combo, Spec/Brose, few weeks ago a friend of mine went for a enduro training to Spain and on the second day his bike broke down, motor problems ( Fantic/Brose). His third motor problem. And i know of three BH bikes with motor faillures, always correct dealth with by lbs. So ,for the moment I have to trust my "BIO" motor, has never let me down until now :-)
Rob - would like to a corresponding video for the SL - just got mine :D
Brilliant video Rob! Had a compressor for a while now and was used for another hobby I had. Such an essential tool to have in the garage. More vids like this please 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
He reminds me of Col at Geelong Harley Davidson on Million Dollar Bogan. Same sense of humour. 👍🏻
The pcb’s could be waterproofed, it’s just laziness by the manufacture. I’ve ran brushless RC motors and controllers submerged with no issues.
Great video, will be looking at travelling to Chris with any issues I get.
Great tips but put some safety glasses on when using the airline. Its no fun getting crap in your eyes.
I think as ebike owners we have to accept that there is always going to be issues where electrics are concerned...and basically mote TLC is needed and common sense when cleaning! Any electrical over none electrical will have problems it’s a matter of fact, but at the end of the day WOW is it all worth while 👌🏻
Also great videos Rob 👌🏻
A MTB doesn’t need to be spotless. Just sure that most dirt is gone and let it dry in a warm(er) place. Wash the chain and cassette pretty well and lubricate it before going on a ride.
Please don’t scratch it by sanding it with dry paper over the small dust that remains after a wash.
I use a powerful battery powered leaf blower to dry my bike as I don’t have mains power easily accessible from my flat without some very long cables .
Hey Rob Rides Emtb! Don't despair! I believe one day you will put the tyre on the correct way! We all have our strong points and not so strong ones! Those Barcher cycles mechanics like Chris don't put out well awesome ebike vids do they? Ride ride ride!
rubbing the grit on the frame OUCH looking after the bike also includes looking after the paint
Teaching the teacher, on working with airline is allways usefull to use protection classes. 😃
Very clear video -
But what about the motor internals? It’s not water killing them, it’s failing belts, sprag clutches and torque sensors.
Very useful as I'm about to pick up a Levo 😄
Hah! I've been using a compressor for years - admittedly during summer when it's really dusty. Otherwise I just brush stuff off when it's dry. I do clean sometimes with a warm mild wash n wax solution; wring out the rag and go over the whole bike with the damp rag - no water. I always use compressed air to blast out the brake calipers. If we travel we take an air mattress pump with a pointy nozzle on it - hand operated, high volume, fine jet nozzle glued on.
Do you think a compressor would disturb a invisframe wrap ?
@@dannyf5157 I have frame protection in places - that never would have been my concern. My compressor is fairly small - probably weighs about 10kg? For example, I put it away after use. I did buy a good industrial hose and fittings for it though - about 5m long, which is awesome. I set the pressure to 80psi at the tank - it's probably about 60psi by the time it gets to the end of the hose. The compressor really comes into it's own, for me, when it's really dusty riding conditions. Although I always give the brake calipers a blast - it is steep where I am, and the calipers get dusty even when it's a bit wet. I assume it's pad dust? I imagine if you're riding in wet conditions though, that the compressor would also be good. I always blast around the pivot points and bearings too, but I keep the nozzle at some distance so that the force isn't too focused.
Great info as always!! I will take this to heart and make it a part of peridot maintenance as well as waterproofing the TCU with electrical tape.
Great chemistry between these two, enjoyable video for sure.
I love Chris’s dry humour
Awesome video, thanks Rob and Chris.
I disagree with contact cleaner, it does have its uses to clean out any corrosion on the contacts as a corrective action.
getting really tired of my mrs levo not switching back on after washing it. definitely not getting water in the TCU as it is covered up. wash it and it turns on, take it indoors charge it and it wont turn on for a day or two
oh and i dont have a compressor when i go on holiday and need to wash the bike.
Same with mine they r replacing all the wires now so I’ll see
Passion from that fella 🙌🏼
On my motorcycle I use a 240 v dog drier to dry it after a wash. I must admit I hadn’t appreciated that drying a MTB cycle is important too....
yet another Great video guys is running a dehumidifier over night after cleaning a good idea??
Great video content Rob, always enjoyable hearing tips from the pros on bike maintenance
dielectric grease on all electrical connections
Rob good one. Can you maybe do the same deal for the Trek Rail since Bosch and it's different.
Why arent you guys using Dielectric Grease to seal plugs and covers ? Seems like a no brainer to me. I doubt that Marine rate would even be required. But who am I?
Great video, going to tape up my TCU for sure after watching it.
Dog blaster from Amazon perfect for drying your bike after a wash 👍
Very interesting video! Chris grab the bike by the seat with the repair stand : is it risky for the frame : no crack expected by doing this? No wobble in the seat post? This bikes are heavy so seing this make me nervous haha
It’s far less weight than the rider sitting on it and it’s only a static load. Shouldn’t really be an issue
@@streddaz thanks for your reply!
Hey guys i bought that leaf blower you suggested. Works great does the job sublime....but now my neighbor complain a lot when I star the leaf blower inside around 2330..i know it maybe sounds late but prefer to ride late to avoid walkers so doing it earlier is not an option ..any suggestion
I GOT THE MAKITA LEAF BLOWER too but petrol and my neighbour 2 houses away came over to complain about the noise when using it in the day time on weekends. I plan to use it on my new 2021 Levo mullet
Great video, Rob , glad I’ve been doing something right , I’ve been san airline for years 👍
Aaaah now i want to buy my own airline! Great vid chaps!
very interesting!!! Thanks for doing the hard work!! Cheers
Chris said it's like 2 steps forward and 5 steps back with the new models.. It would be great to know what to look out for on the older models, I have a 19 Kenevo and a 20 Levo Hardtail with the 1.2E motor fitted. Would this advice be the same for the older motor versions/batteries? I'm glad I don't have that TCU on the top tube, apart from water ingress issues, I really don't like it on the new models..
Great video mate 👌
I had my Levo cut power a couple of times and the red light flashed.
On inspection of the plug there was blue corrosion around one pin on the male and female sides. I cleaned it s up hopefully that was the issue.
I think this is the worst plug design and placement for a ebike .
Interesting that in the forums the Specialized seem to have the most issues with their motors an electronics. Bad design by the looks of it.
as someone who lives in California, it is always warm and dry :) just ordered my Levo Comp 2019, cant wait for it to arrive
All this talk of leaf blowers been using the good old drip dryer on my motorcycles for 50 years without any problems lol. just bought my first ebike if anything like my motorcycle I will hate to get it wet.
Is there any way to connect an air line trigger thing to a Joe Blow Booster (the one with the big air canister you can pump up)? Would be a cheap way for me to get probably just enough air for a quick clean...
i get red and blue lights on my 19 levo every other power on
Hi Rob, could you pop a link up to Chris’ shop please. I’d like to take my Kenevo Expert to him. Thanks
I think blowing water and grime anywhere near seals and bearing is just the same as power washing. The control unit getting compromised by water is worrying, if I'm right most bikes have that thing on the bars and it isn't a problem. Was anyone else worried by the bike being clamped on the dropper post and being rotated to a straight position ? He kept hanging on the bars whilst talking 🙄
Bro The Dropper post support your weight during the ride. As far as the air I wouldn't say put it directly on the seal but backing it up and blowing it off I don't think it's a big deal. If you're just blowing on one spot with high-pressure air like 2 cm away you're going to have a problem. Using air to blow off water with a little bit of space between is a great idea.
That's an exceptionally expensive dropper, he twisted it in the clamp to realign the bike. Whilst riding you only apply force downwards. But he probably knows that it doesn't cause any damage.
@@sijmes There’s way more force placed on the post and frame from riding than hanging off a stand. It’s only a static load too. They are designed to take the dynamic load of 120kg plus rider.
@@streddazI think you're right.
Another great video Rob, keep up the good work :) Are there any plans to do a review on the new Orange E Bike range?
Possibly one day.
why clean it ? i clean the drivetrain, brakes if necessary (they tend to clean themselves), i don't care about mud on the frame, what i dont want is start wiping the frame off with a towel, risking to scratch the paint (s-works carbon frame), i just let it dry and if there is a lot of mud it will fall off.
Haha yeah some people are tarts 😀
super good!
How about using a hair dryer. Not as powerful as a compresser but much cheaper and easier to store.
Denoon Sampson Ndlovu Inc
1 second ago
Can someone comment on riding MTB after a Shoulder Joint Replacement. if one damages a Shoulder Joint Replacement after surgery, it can lead to very serious injuries and surgery ; so says surgeon. Are body armour pads really that protective ? Any comments.
Great video and top bants 👍🏻
Why not put a gasket under the control panel?
Wow I like to ride all year round dry wet snow. Guess I won't be getting a ebike.