Small Update
It's been well over a year since the hub motors were reassembled and in use. I have not had any issues regarding the hub motors per se, although I am a little worried about that phase wires leaving the axles. At one point in the last summer I had some odd production on the rear hub, but it was fixed by minor adjustment on the phase wire tension. I've never been too happy with the way the phase wire exits from the axle and feel that I'm marching with time until they fail. It's just a thing to deal with. That said, I recently swapped summer tires for winter, and so far the hubs appear to be fully functional without even minor issue (other than what I reported earlier).
Some caveats: I've been out of country for nearly two months - much of it during a raining spell. Kid you not - Seattle had a record-breaking dry period that lasted nearly a whole season most people would call "summer" in other parts of the country, but for us here in the Pacific Northwest, it was unheard of. When the weather did break, I was already out of country enjoying awesome weather, although without the benefit of my electric horse.
In China - I got to see what other folks ride in great detail. I could tell upon moderate examination the dimensions and characteristics of the moped motors employed; most were smaller than a 9C - and that's fine. It was dry and humid near Shanghai and didn't observe issues with wet weather there. However, I will report that the number of people riding bicycles is very small, incredibly small relative to people on electric mopeds of all sorts and styles. And - there are repair shops for mopeds at nearly every corner. I did not have opportunity to speak with those good folks, namely cos my work activities kept me busy well past normal work hours. If I have the opportunity to return, I shall attempt make a point to investigate weather-related issues with these repair shops.
Mopeds in the district where I worked did not appear to go at great speeds, and mainly limited to less than 30 mph. The battery packs also seemed quite small, perhaps having a range less than 20 miles. It made me believe that people in China use ebikes/mopeds for short distant commutes and that they were stored under cover at each end. Their motive society is quite different than Western Culture and I'm still learning to appreciate this - albeit slowly, carefully, respectfully. For this is a society way ahead of the rest of the world in providing - by directive of high government - to go forth in their transit by the lowest carbon footprint possible, perhaps even scantly affordable. Smog is thickly dreadful there and of the like I have never experienced. My strong words in this post - upon reflection, are sharper than they need to be. And I realize now that China is doing all it can with the people that it has, with the tools at their disposal, with the education available, with the resources at hand, doing something quite remarkable at breakneck speed - that is to lift their people out of 3rd World into the First in less than 30 years.
With that in consideration,
I look for answers in China and still dare to ask: Why is it you guys don't varnish the stators?
Grateful I don't work in North Korea where contrary opinion lands you in hard labor.
In Redmond for the holiday,
KF
