Opening Amped Bikes geared Hub motor

[eDahon]

Can't seem to find info on opening these motors. Would like to better repair a severed wire but this will require opening it. Looks like it unscrews? but may need a special tool. How is amped bikes when it comes to repairing these motors. They are chronically unavailable it seems.

http://www.ampedbikes.com/images/reargear.jpg

 

[spinningmagnets]

Take a pic of the other side, and post it here. Some will unbolt, and other styles might unscrew. The wrench for that can be expensive, but a DIY wrench can be made easily. Kepler had a pic of his on his "super commuter" thread: http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=47139&start=225#p732717

 

[motomech]

Yes it unscrews.
Some have gotten it loose with an off the shelf two prong spanner wrench using the axle as a pivot.
Both Cel_man and D8veh have taken it apart. Cel_man made a wrench. You can search his posts with the keyword MXUS.
perhaps the easiest way with out a wrench is to use something like a piece of 2' X 2 'X 3\4'" of plywood and mount 3 lag-bolts in it that match up to the three recesses in the motor cover. Stand on the plywood and turn the wheel.
Pretty sure it is standard thread rotation.

 

[eDahon]

yikes..said he spent a day making the tool. Anyone know which spanner wrench works? or where to buy the actual tool? Seems it took a lot of torque to get it loose so doesn't sound like any make-shift tool will work.

 

[motomech]

tool like this;



or cruder version;

 

[eDahon]

Ok thanks for the help guys. Looks like a very simple tool would work but that big hole is a problem. Don't have anything that can cut that. Maybe in aluminum i could do it....just wonder if aluminum is strong enough.

 

[motomech]

Maybe alum would work.
Double nut the bolts you use, both side with large flat washers. Tighten both on each side

 

[eDahon]

Was a disaster. Don't think those motors are meant to be opened. I ended up shearing the bolts on my tool that i fabricated. The bolts were 1/4-20. I wound up destroying the threads on the freewheel. Its basically a throw away now. Just not worth dealing with it. In addition amped bikes is a disaster of a company. Horrendous service. Would not even answer emails and when i call it goes to voicemail and says to email. Probably is they don't answer emails. Will never order from them again. I am wondering if they are going out of business or something based on their complete unavailability.

Jared

 

[ohzee]

I have been wondering about amped for some time. That's the 1st company I found so at least they did introduce me to this fun way of life.

I did notice that nothing ever seemed to come of their 'future' developments and they just kept peddling the same stuff while everything else matured.

Last month they even forgot to re reg their domain name so their web page was down for a week or so.

Anyway while I think they may have given it all at some time it does not sound like it's that way anymore.

ebikes.ca is who I would use unless I wanted something for a specific need. I have no doubt Justin would provide better customer service on his death bed
then most ebike companies do in their prime.

Sorry to hear about your motor.

 

[motomech]

Was a disaster. Don't think those motors are meant to be opened. I ended up shearing the bolts on my tool that i fabricated. The bolts were 1/4-20. I wound up destroying the threads on the freewheel. Its basically a throw away now. Just not worth dealing with it. In addition amped bikes is a disaster of a company. Horrendous service. Would not even answer emails and when i call it goes to voicemail and says to email. Probably is they don't answer emails. Will never order from them again. I am wondering if they are going out of business or something based on their complete unavailability.

Jared

I have a slightly used Q100 328 with a DNP 9-speed freewheel (which I can't get off) that I'll sell very reasonable. It's smaller than the MXUS, so you would need different spokes.
PM me if you are interested.

 

[d8veh]

You have to take the free-wheel off first. If you're very lucky, the free-wheel will be jammed on its thread, so when you try and unscrew it, it'll unscrew the whole side-plate, which saves a lot of time and trouble. This often happens on used motors.

You don't need a special tool. Just take out one of the three countersunk screws and replace it with a normal cap-head screw (Allen screw) with a washer under the head. You can then tap it round anti-clockwise with a hammer and screwdriver. Draw a pencil line across the join so that you can see the side-plate moving. It's very easy to think that it's not working. Once it's moved about an inch or so, it can be unscrewed by hand.

 

[eDahon]

You have to take the free-wheel off first. If you're very lucky, the free-wheel will be jammed on its thread, so when you try and unscrew it, it'll unscrew the whole side-plate, which saves a lot of time and trouble. This often happens on used motors.

You don't need a special tool. Just take out one of the three countersunk screws and replace it with a normal cap-head screw (Allen screw) with a washer under the head. You can then tap it round anti-clockwise with a hammer and screwdriver. Draw a pencil line across the join so that you can see the side-plate moving. It's very easy to think that it's not working. Once it's moved about an inch or so, it can be unscrewed by hand.

I wish it was that easy. This style of motor doesnt have screws on the plate, just three (holes)divets. Basically, you need a lot of downward pressure so the pins dont slip out of the divets and a heck of a lot of torque. As one person described it its like taking off lug nots but with additional problems.

Its ok, I have basically washed my hands of it. Its got damaged threads on the freewheel so would require a retap and then i would have to redo wiring. Its not worth the hassle. Its a spare. Not bike for it. Was going to use it for a future build but i may just hold off a while.

 

[eDahon]

Was a disaster. Don't think those motors are meant to be opened. I ended up shearing the bolts on my tool that i fabricated. The bolts were 1/4-20. I wound up destroying the threads on the freewheel. Its basically a throw away now. Just not worth dealing with it. In addition amped bikes is a disaster of a company. Horrendous service. Would not even answer emails and when i call it goes to voicemail and says to email. Probably is they don't answer emails. Will never order from them again. I am wondering if they are going out of business or something based on their complete unavailability.

Jared

I have a slightly used Q100 328 with a DNP 9-speed freewheel (which I can't get off) that I'll sell very reasonable. It's smaller than the MXUS, so you would need different spokes.
PM me if you are interested.

Thanks, ill keep it in mind but most likely will hold off. This motor was a spare. No bike for it yet anyways.

 

[eDahon]

I have been wondering about amped for some time. That's the 1st company I found so at least they did introduce me to this fun way of life.

I did notice that nothing ever seemed to come of their 'future' developments and they just kept peddling the same stuff while everything else matured.

Last month they even forgot to re reg their domain name so their web page was down for a week or so.

Anyway while I think they may have given it all at some time it does not sound like it's that way anymore.

ebikes.ca is who I would use unless I wanted something for a specific need. I have no doubt Justin would provide better customer service on his death bed
then most ebike companies do in their prime.

Sorry to hear about your motor.

Apparently, they are closing soon at least as far as conversion kits. They are getting into complete bikes. They didn't want to service my motor. Not sure what good it is buying from them at huge markup if they wont even service the motors. Might as well buy direct from China. Well maybe at some point they did service them but not anymore.

 

[d8veh]

You have to take the free-wheel off first. If you're very lucky, the free-wheel will be jammed on its thread, so when you try and unscrew it, it'll unscrew the whole side-plate, which saves a lot of time and trouble. This often happens on used motors.

You don't need a special tool. Just take out one of the three countersunk screws and replace it with a normal cap-head screw (Allen screw) with a washer under the head. You can then tap it round anti-clockwise with a hammer and screwdriver. Draw a pencil line across the join so that you can see the side-plate moving. It's very easy to think that it's not working. Once it's moved about an inch or so, it can be unscrewed by hand.

I wish it was that easy. This style of motor doesnt have screws on the plate, just three (holes)divets. Basically, you need a lot of downward pressure so the pins dont slip out of the divets and a heck of a lot of torque. As one person described it its like taking off lug nots but with additional problems.

Its ok, I have basically washed my hands of it. Its got damaged threads on the freewheel so would require a retap and then i would have to redo wiring. Its not worth the hassle. Its a spare. Not bike for it. Was going to use it for a future build but i may just hold off a while.

OK. It must be a MXUS. I used a similar method. A 5mm cap-head screw head fits exactly in the hole, so you put it in head downwards. Half of the head is still sticking out. You can tap it round with a hammer and screwdriver. After a few taps, the hole elongates a bit and the screw comes a bit loose, so move on to the next hole. Don't forget the pencil line so that you can see progress.