I'm having what seems to be an odd problem. I have a nine continents front motor that seems to freeze over night sue to moisture build up from wet roads and a warm motor. The next time I use it, its frozen solid. I can force it using my hands to move a bit, and that seems to fix it till the next time I park it for more than a few hours. Now the problem arises even with two torque arms on, and tightening the nuts up before I attempt to force it free (with me literally standing on and jumping on the wrench), I have just managed to round out the drop outs on two steel forks over the last 3 weeks doing this on a twice daily basis. I rent a single room in a house, and unable to bring it inside when not in use. The landlord won't allow it. Any ideas, or at least someone in a similar situation without these problems. I'd happily buy another kit if it meant the end of buying a new fork every other week.
Frozen hub motor
- Thread starter Jeevis
- Start date
adrian_sm
1 MW
This may sound crazy but you could try applying a bit of throttle to pump some heat into the motor. This may help thaw things out.
Lyen
10 kW
Try to place a blanket or buy the engine heated blanket and cover it when leave outside. 
I thought the same with the throttle thing, but I've tried that several times in the past. When you turn the throttle when its frozen, nothing seems to happen. No motor struggling noise or anything, and doesn't seem to heat up.
I'll try the heated blanket thing. It'll be a few days seeing as I need to go buy a fourth fork tomorrow (I've spent more on forks/installations than on any other component of the bike). I am a bit concerned about putting the blanket outside exposed to the elements and everything. Might be a bit hazardous if it gets wet, seeing as the one I have was probably only ever considered for indoor use. Worst case I'm out a blanket I suppose.
I'll try the heated blanket thing. It'll be a few days seeing as I need to go buy a fourth fork tomorrow (I've spent more on forks/installations than on any other component of the bike). I am a bit concerned about putting the blanket outside exposed to the elements and everything. Might be a bit hazardous if it gets wet, seeing as the one I have was probably only ever considered for indoor use. Worst case I'm out a blanket I suppose.
TylerDurden
100 GW
Kats 1153 Handi-Heat 200 Watt Magnetic Heater:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOABS6/ref=asc_df_B000BOABS6994674
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOABS6/ref=asc_df_B000BOABS6994674
Ypedal
100 TW
You need to dry it out. :wink:
Remove the wheel from the bike, bring it indoors, open it up, hair dryer or fan etc, dry it up really good.. then button it back up and re-bolt to the bike.. :wink:
The motor being mostly sealed, will not let any water that does manage to get in dry out.
Remove the wheel from the bike, bring it indoors, open it up, hair dryer or fan etc, dry it up really good.. then button it back up and re-bolt to the bike.. :wink:
The motor being mostly sealed, will not let any water that does manage to get in dry out.
bigmoose
1 MW
If you have to keep it thawed outside, a lightbulb and a little insulation might do wonders. In the days of my youth we used to shine a 150 watt flood light on a tractor's battery overnight when it was -10F outside to get a little more umph to start it in the morning.
dogman dan
1 PW
Yup, a 100 watt incandecent bulb is a 100 watt heater. But yeah, you do need to sneak at least the wheel inside, pop it open, and dry it out. You may also be having some corrosion building up causing extra friction. Hate to say it, but if the climate is that bad, mabye pedal for the next month or two. A drip loop on the wires entering the hub helps if you don't have that yet.
dnmun
1 PW
you have to open it up like ypedal said. it has condensation inside which is freezing the hub to the stator. you only have to pop the side cover on one side and leave it next to the heater and fan so it can force out the moisture. then when you tighten the cover back afterwards, make sure it is aligned and turns freely. the lip on the cover kinda insures it is set in the right place, but get the screw holes aligned first when you put it back on. you only have to pull the cover a little bit off, not remove it entirely, but you can on the side with no wires, let it dry for as long as possible. and get some torque arms before it is too late and you twist off the motor.
then put a tarp over it, everywhere you go where it rains or if it rains on you during your ride, try to keep the water from going through the axle seal with a small cloth, jammed into the crack between the fork and the hub right on top of the axle, when you stop. the 9C is really designed to keep water out because it has the seals on the axle so it surprising you have water inside the hub. but follow ypedal's advice.
then put a tarp over it, everywhere you go where it rains or if it rains on you during your ride, try to keep the water from going through the axle seal with a small cloth, jammed into the crack between the fork and the hub right on top of the axle, when you stop. the 9C is really designed to keep water out because it has the seals on the axle so it surprising you have water inside the hub. but follow ypedal's advice.
awesome ideas guy, the light bulb especially (one of those, "why didn't I think of that" things) sounds like a solid idea. I'll let it dry out as suggested, it spent the last week and a half in my room off the bike, while I waited for a new fork to come in and put it on, but I suppose once water gets in there, it really doesn't have a way out.
Its really not that cold, -30 to almost 0 most days, its the constant slush (salted roads) that Calgary has thats causing the problem I bet. Then its just a matter of time since its wet and easily cold enough to freeze. Needless to say,
Thanks again for all the help guys, (ES members rock!) I'll let you know how it works out.
Its really not that cold, -30 to almost 0 most days, its the constant slush (salted roads) that Calgary has thats causing the problem I bet. Then its just a matter of time since its wet and easily cold enough to freeze. Needless to say,
Thanks again for all the help guys, (ES members rock!) I'll let you know how it works out.
Lock
100 MW
Given that it's about impossible to keep the water out, would it make more sense just to drill a lotta holes in the casing just to make it easier for warm/moist air to exit and to flush w/pure water on a regular basis? I actually really liked TDs suggestion for the magnetic heater (lazy versus disconnecting/disassembling things)...
tks
Lock
tks
Lock
Ypedal
100 TW
This one would be obvious, but i'll mention it anyways.. Brake pads are not frozen to the rim by any chance ?? :lol:
Lock
100 MW
Hmmm... had a thought about those magnetic heaters... no chance they could mess with the magnets in the motor? 
TylerDurden
100 GW
I imagine the magnets in the heater are rather weak by comparison.Lock said:Hmmm... had a thought about those magnetic heaters... no chance they could mess with the magnets in the motor?
dnmun
1 PW
the cover is aluminum, so the magnet won't stick anyway. you need to open it up anyway. just opposite the side with the wires.
I'm using two solutions. Letting it dry out now, and the magnet heater is on order (going to take 2-3 weeks to get here). I just went out and double checked to make sure it wasn't the brake pads. Luckily or unluckily they don't appear to be the problem. I would have a hard time forgiving myself for ruining several forks now for something that simple.
Ypedal
100 TW
hehehehe.. made you look ! :wink:
lifepo4ever
10 kW
if the cover is already remove put some stuff to protect it from the moisture before reassembling the motor you won't regret
kZs0lt
100 W
I had a ride in the snow and after that the bike sat in the garage in sub freezing temps. Next day I found the motor blocked. Only backward as it is a geared freewheeling hub (BMCv1). Got it inside my house, ice and snow melted off from the motor and spokes, and it would turn backwards ok again. Next day brought it back to garage and then again I found it blocked next time. Now the weather is a little milder, no sub freezing temps, but haven't ridden it since, because my battery died.
Makes me wondering what was blocking the motor. Ice buildup between magnets and stator, or grase solidified in planetary gearset... Hadn't popped up the motor to find.
If it was moisture ice build up, does it evaporate and dries out, or I'd better pop up the motor and clean off some rust?
Makes me wondering what was blocking the motor. Ice buildup between magnets and stator, or grase solidified in planetary gearset... Hadn't popped up the motor to find.
If it was moisture ice build up, does it evaporate and dries out, or I'd better pop up the motor and clean off some rust?
Just in case anyone else out there is having a similar problem.
I took off the hub cover on both sides and let it sit for 2 days in my room to dry out. I saw very little signs of water getting inside, but I'm guessing it only took a tiny amount. After letting it dry out, I coated the insides with "fluid film" a spray lubricant and water displacement with an extremely low freezing temp. So far I've had it outside for three days in sub zero temperatures and it hasn't frozen yet. I did order the magnet heater, which seems unnecessary but I think it'll be a nice tool to unfreeze if the problem ever reoccurs and I need to get to work within the next hour.
Thanks to everyone for helping me get back out on the road Problem solved.
I took off the hub cover on both sides and let it sit for 2 days in my room to dry out. I saw very little signs of water getting inside, but I'm guessing it only took a tiny amount. After letting it dry out, I coated the insides with "fluid film" a spray lubricant and water displacement with an extremely low freezing temp. So far I've had it outside for three days in sub zero temperatures and it hasn't frozen yet. I did order the magnet heater, which seems unnecessary but I think it'll be a nice tool to unfreeze if the problem ever reoccurs and I need to get to work within the next hour.
Thanks to everyone for helping me get back out on the road
Problem solved.Anymore updates with how the fluid film has been working? I'm having the same issue with my hub motor, which is a crystalyte 407, freezing over night due to being left outside. I ruined my front dropouts by forcing my wheel loose. I'm using rust cure 3000 but I'm still having the same problem. I was going to try those reusable heat packs to thaw out my motor but that magnetic heater looks more appropriate.
I guess I'll answer my own question for anyone else that may run into this problem. I brought my hub motor inside and pulled off a side cover to let the remaining water out and help evaporate moisture then I picked up a can of fluid film at home hardware and sprayed some inside. So far so good it's been a couple weeks since I did that and I haven't had a frozen hub motor in the morning since then. Even today it was -15c and I was able to go out and use my bike without any problems. That is some good stuff. I'm going to be periodically bringing my hub motor inside to release water and re-apply some more fluid film. So far the motor has held up quite well being stored outside exposed to the elements and used in all weather conditions.
Similar threads
