lemon

[29a]

Is this normal on a 408 IS or do I have a lemon. I've done less that 500km in 6 weeks (more down time than up), I'm on my second controller,one set of batts has packed in, now the bearings in the wheel collapsed allowing the spindle to move off center irreparably shorting the windings.

What failures and time frame have u had ?

How much down time do u all get ?

Has anyone had a damaged crystalite IS hub motor rewound or looked into it ?

 

[fechter]

Bummer...
I think your experience is not typical, but we are dealing with "made in China" stuff here, so quality control is not their strong point.

Most everything can be repaired, and there are some threads around here somewhere that show the innards of these motors and some repairs.

 

[xyster]

I've been reading these forums for about a year and have never heard such an unfortunate story. Hubmotor systems are usually very reliable. I've ridden my 5304/72v35a/DIY lithium combo 1200 miles and the only problems have been:

2 broken spokes easily replaced

1 broken back rack from carrying the batteries also easily replaced

I killed 24 lithium cells out of 325 by over-discharging on one occasion -- fairly easily replaced.

 

[Lowell]

Can you post up some pics of the damage? I've had my X5 hub apart, and it looks pretty bullet proof inside. It seems like the only thing that can really damage these hubs is water getting into them.

 

[D-Man]

That is a bummer. I haven't had any problems. Been almost a year now. I stay away from water and dirt though. On the batteries, what brand and type did you have that went bad?

 

[29a]

the saga continues,

My spare set of batts 2X 24V 8Ah Nicd r easily repaired as it was just a short that burned out the thermal cut out (this prevented recharging) but my supplier Garry http://www.ebikeconversions.com/ and his supplier Justin http://www.ebikes.ca/store/ doesn't carry the part. Justin did supply Digikey part number: 317-1083-ND.
The controller was replaced with upgrade to 72V 35A at a greatly reduced cost by Justin.
But I suspect i was sold a used /repaired motor (which would account for the bearings collapsing after less than 500km) as the spindle thread was damaged (where it would be in drop outs) and the hall effect wires had very messy unprofessional soldering, of course this is denied.
Now i'm at the point where my supplier (Garry) say's his supplier (Justin) will not cover damage under warrenty because the motor was exposed to the elements ? presumably he means riden outside.

So a word of caution do not ride your Crystalyte Hub Motor outside as this voids warranty

 

[Matt Gruber]

time to call VISA for a chargeback

 

[Reid Welch]

Ack and gack. So sorry to hear this report.

 

[29a]

Just an update,

It isn't worth having the 400 series rewound (more cost than new)
but the winding shop did repair the shorted windings and replace the bearings.

Justin got back to me offering to repair but after i had taken it in allready
so he has offerd to give me some or all of the repair cost.

This was my first ebike I paid the extra dollars going through Garry Engler http://www.ebikeconversions.com/ to have the system fully assembled and checked before it was sent to me (so no problems for me).There is no way he could have missed the damaged spindle threads if he had assembled it and he shouldn't have missed the defect on mini XLR plug if he had checked the whole system as per our agreement.To add to insult "as a special deal because of the trouble I'd been through he would replace the wheel for $325 plus GST plus shipping."
I already knew that Justin or the guy in Toronto will supply the same wheel without special deal for $260 plus GST plus shipping.
So i would advise not to purchase from http://www.ebikeconversions.com/