Full Suspension offroad/road TSDZ8

[Kitony]

I'm happy with the latest OEM/Facebook version, but I'm not a stickler for the nuance of peddle feel, as long as I get more power when applying more pressure. I'm a casual rider on this bike, since speed or power are not this motor's strong suits.

Yeah, I am also not really after the power. I am from Belgium, so rules are quite stricter here, and no throttle is allowed. So I am more searching for something that could help me climb some of the insane hills I have here (Even at 24 years old I have to zigzag to be able to keep enough speed to ride them). Happy to see your motor is holding up well !

 

[LeoSuperMoin]

Thanks, this was helpful

Not completely, but now I'm leaning away from it being bearing related and more toward the mounting. The last few days, I noticed I could reproduce the sound when using throttle only, and the sound is still coming from the non-drive side. I think if the motor isn't completely tight, or has loosened over time, it's shifting position on the non drive side. I'm going to see if there's a way to provide better support or maybe shimming it somehow. Either that or just be lazy and live with it.

I had the same issues with my tsdz8 it felt like stepping on gravel when pushing down on my pedals. For me it was on the left side and didn't occur with the throttle. I traced it to a combination of my pedal bearing and the crank not being tight enough. It felt really tight and i couldn't tighten it any more but after rotating it 180 degrees it slid on about 2mm further in and the sound is gone.

 

[Zambam]

Not completely, but now I'm leaning away from it being bearing related and more toward the mounting. The last few days, I noticed I could reproduce the sound when using throttle only, and the sound is still coming from the non-drive side. I think if the motor isn't completely tight, or has loosened over time, it's shifting position on the non drive side. I'm going to see if there's a way to provide better support or maybe shimming it somehow. Either that or just be lazy and live with it.

The stamped sheet metal wrench that came with my TSDZ2 kit was insufficient to tighten the motor bottom bracket nut. It would eventually loosen after a ride or two. I used a flat blade screwdriver and a mallet to tighten the nut by impact, then wicked some blue Loctite on the threads, drew a line on the nut to the frame with Bic Wite-out. I look at the line before/ after each ride. So far, after 3500 miles, it has not budged.

 

[E-HP]

The stamped sheet metal wrench that came with my TSDZ2 kit was insufficient to tighten the motor bottom bracket nut. It would eventually loosen after a ride or two. I used a flat blade screwdriver and a mallet to tighten the nut by impact, then wicked some blue Loctite on the threads, drew a line on the nut to the frame with Bic Wite-out. I look at the line before/ after each ride. So far, after 3500 miles, it has not budged.


View attachment 385177

Thanks. Adding the markings to monitor is a great idea!

 

[LeoSuperMoin]

The stamped sheet metal wrench that came with my TSDZ2 kit was insufficient to tighten the motor bottom bracket nut. It would eventually loosen after a ride or two. I used a flat blade screwdriver and a mallet to tighten the nut by impact, then wicked some blue Loctite on the threads, drew a line on the nut to the frame with Bic Wite-out. I look at the line before/ after each ride. So far, after 3500 miles, it has not budged.


View attachment 385177

I used the included wrench with a hammer to tighten it because it got loose after less than a full ride.
Now it's locked in place by rust because i rode it during the winter while the roads were salted.

 

[oldskullmtbr]

Hi E-HP, I'm new here and have decided to take the plunge and get a TSDZ8 from AE Varstrom. The motor is supposed to arrive today, I must say the shipping via FedEx is extremely fast. Anyway, I appreciate your info on your experience with this motor. I grew up in the area you reside, E.C. and have ridden mostly in the Wildcat and Tilden growing up with BMX, then later on MTB. I still have my '97 Santa Cruz Heckler V1 and that's the bike that will be getting the motor. I will start a build thread, but i'm also wondering if you've done anything with the current OSF or factory FW and/or the Z8config ?

 

[E-HP]

Hi E-HP, I'm new here and have decided to take the plunge and get a TSDZ8 from AE Varstrom. The motor is supposed to arrive today, I must say the shipping via FedEx is extremely fast.

First, I apologize if anything in my build thread led you to purchase this motor. That was not my intention; the thread’s purpose is merely to document my build; an open diary of sorts.

Depending on how you look at it though, the pros may outweigh the cons regarding the motor: The YouTube reviews seem good, so that’s a pro; and they also remind me to not trust YouTube reviews, so that’s another pro too.

Hopefully you’ll have an even more positive experience.

I will start a build thread, but i'm also wondering if you've done anything with the current OSF or factory FW and/or the Z8config ?

On doing stuff with the firmware, other than everything I’ve described in this thread about it, nope.

There’s a lot of info on the OSF thread linked below though. I review the thread once in a while, but I don’t think OSF will address the weaknesses that I see in this motor, but YMMV.

TSDZ8 OSF (open source firmware)

I propose to discuss in this thread all the questions/issues about the open source firmware for TSDZ8 motor. Initially the first posts about this OSF firmware have been put in another thread ( e.g. new tsdz8 pswpower ) but I realized that it can be confusing to know if a post is related to the...

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However, placing everything into perspective, it’s WAY better than walking.