Bafang hub maintenance?

[rocketman58]

I have a three year old Bafang G020 500w, 48v, geared hub motor on my tadpole trike. It has about 45k mikes on it. It still has the rear wheel side play I posted about earlier this year, and it still works ok. I would like to get is serviced, but much to my surprise I have been unable to find anyone who does motor repair or mainuenenace here in the Los Angeles/Orange county area.

 

[James340]

Same in PHX AZ.I have a Dapu motor but it seems like geared hub motors are similar.I replaced a outer drive side bearing and it was easy.I did Google to get information prior.Some one had posted it previously.

 

[Chalo]

If the side play isn't enough to affect braking, and isn't accompanied by a rumbly rotten-bearing sound, then it's probably better to tolerate it than try to fix it. Unlike traditional bike bearings, electric motor bearings aren't designed to be adjusted. Sometimes a little axial float is by design; sometimes it's not really by design but it doesn't hurt anything. Making end play go away from cartridge bearings is more likely to trash them than leaving them alone.

 

[rocketman58]

This is good to know. For this particular trike I was planning to eventually replace the rear hub drive with a CYC Photon. Right now the Photon is transitioning to the General 2 model. The Gen one models are becoming difficult to find, and the Gen 2 models will not be available until this summer (or so). hopefully my hub motor lasts that long.