Storing ebike outside?

[electr0n]

Is it ok to store my ebike outside in the rain and snow if I cover it up? My main concern is during the winter when the hub motor gets wet and the temperature outside is below freezing. I've got a crystalyte 407 which isn't water proofed at all. I rode all through last winter and kept the bike outside for about 8 hours a day while at work in subzero temperatures without apparent problems, but I also brought the bike inside the house after work to dry out.

Is there anything I can do prevent the motor from corroding and seizing? Would lubricating the inside of the hub motor with grease or possibly putting a heating pad on the hub and covering it with plastic overnight be any good against this? Anyone with experience in this area? Any other options?

 

[spinningmagnets]

There have been several threads about this over the years. Search waterproofing and corrosion resistance.

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2938

 

[dogman dan]

Best advice I ever heard was to drill a 1/4 to 3/8" hole in each cover, so that they are 180 degrees apart. Ride the bike, and when brought inside in winter, uncover the holes. Condensate then will steam out of the warm motor for awhile letting it dry. About once a week, or anytime it gets soaked should do.

Apparantly vapor, or small leaks have a hard time getting back out of the motor once in. So a few vents opened up occasionally helps it get back out.

 

[JEB]

When I had a job, (retired now) I worked in a building that was 100% sheet metal, no insulation, when conditions were right (humidy, temp swing etc.) everything in the building made of metal had condensation on it in the morning- not sprayed with wd40 the night before, covered with rust.

I built a box made out of 1-1/2" building foam covered with a roof coating, my trikes never have any moisture on them. I tried a tarp first but it did not let the moisture out and it condenced on the metal.

 

[Jason27]

NO NO AND NO!

Never store your ebike outside for longer than a day. Any type of moisture on the motor that is not delt with right away will rust it shut. Ive seen it first and and it ruins the bike.

 

[electr0n]

So are those anti corrosion products ACF-50 etc going to keep my motor intact while storing it outside over night during the winter in below freezing temps? I've already been riding through the snow and slush last winter and left my bike outside for 8 to 9 hours a day without apparent problems but leaving it outdoors 24 hours a day is something else. Bringing it inside is not an option. Unless I remove the hub motor and re-attach daily. I'm using it for commuting so I'd rather avoid doing that if possible.

 

[dogman dan]

So then you must have a way to ventilate the condensate out of your motor. Keep the holes taped shut most of the time, but on dry days, run with the holes uncovered. The hot motor will make the steam leave though the vent holes. then tape em back up while the motor is still hot.

 

[electr0n]

Thanks dogman. I'm just a little unsure about drilling ventilation holes in my hub because there was one Canadian guy in the Improved waterproofing thread that was against this. I believe he is from Quebec and endures similar weather conditions as I do here in Ontario. However I'm not clear if he was storing his bike outside. I don't think he was.

I guess I will drill at least one ventilation hole in the side cover and spray some anti corrosive product in there and unplug the hole after riding. Is there anyone here that store their bike outside during winter in a Northern climate? I'd imagine even keeping the bike in the garage would probably be similar to keeping it outside in that the temperature if below freezing outside will likely be similar in an unheated garage and the freezing water and or condensation would be similar.

 

[Solcar]

Well, ebikes are outdoor items for the most part. It is going to be uncommon for these things to be stored anywhere having more protection than an unheated garage, shed, barn, overhang, or other place where bicycles are kept. It will be quite rare for people to bring one into the kitchen or living room when not in use. Expecting more storage protection than other vehicles would prevent universal adoption of ebike use by the public.

 

[marty]

When I had a job, (retired now) I worked in a building that was 100% sheet metal, no insulation, when conditions were right (humidy, temp swing etc.) everything in the building made of metal had condensation on it in the morning- not sprayed with wd40 the night before, covered with rust.

I built a box made out of 1-1/2" building foam covered with a roof coating, my trikes never have any moisture on them. I tried a tarp first but it did not let the moisture out and it condenced on the metal.

That metal building needed some vents. DO NOT store electric bicycles outside in the winter. Shed, or garage protected for the weather is good. Indoors is better.

 

[electr0n]

Just to be clear I'm not intending to leave my bike outside all winter without using it. I will be using it daily for commuting even in below freezing weather, through the snow and rain etc. One thing I thought about doing was building small insulated housing for my front wheel with hub motor to sit in. So it would be like a micro garage for the most vulnerable part on my bike.

However I'm still not really clear on how an unheated garage or housing would be better than leaving the bike outside. If the problem is condensation from the hub motor acting like a dehumidifier as it cools down it draws in moisture which may then either freeze overnight or just sit inside the hub motor and cause corrosion, then how would an unheated garage be any different than just leaving the bike outside under a roof or something?

 

[dogman dan]

The guy from quebec was probobally against vent holes left open all the time. I would be too. The idea is to be able to vent steam out occasionaly, and the rest of the time run with the vent holes taped up. The best tape for the job would be the aluminum hot duct tape. It's aluminum tape, with no cloth or plastic backing. The adhesive is designed to seal the hot vents of water heaters and furnaces. So 200F won't faze it. Pretty good stick in water too, I've used it many times for a temporary fix for a day on boad hulls and surfboards.

Another option is rubber grommets to fit the hole, either solid ones, or ones with a hole for a wire with the hole siliconed.

Still not advised to store the bike outside, but at least get it into some kind of cover, like a motorcyle cover. And you will have to troubleshoot many mornings.

 

[electr0n]

I picked up a can of Rust Cure 3000 and a wire brush. I'm going to try to get the side cover off and take a look inside. I stumbled across this as an inexpensive outdoor bicycle storage solution it's basically a tent sized to fit bicycles. http://www.tidytent.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=2

I might get one of those tents and maybe try to insulate a bit.

 

[electr0n]

So I've been storing my ebike outside for the past 2 weeks. It's summer here in Ontario. Luckily it's been dry out, however I've noticed that my crystalyte motor is making some noises now. It's never made noise before at least not like this. The noise is hard to describe. Kind of like a vibration kind of noise when the motor is accelerating. I'm thinking the motor has already been affected by being kept outside despite the dry weather.

Any guesses what might be the cause? I'm going to try to open up my motor tonight and spray some of that anti rust stuff in there. Any advice for me? It'll be the first time I open the motor, hopefully I don't ruin anything in the process.

 

[FMB42]

Be sure to check the following (before you "open" the motor):

1. Make sure that the axle nuts, spokes, and all other fasteners are properly tightened.

2. Make sure that the electrical wires, connections, and connectors are clean and tight.

3. Double check for any loose water bottles, cases, and/or bags that you may have.

 

[electr0n]

Good point. Can't say I'm sure the noise is coming the motor directly. It could be something vibrating.

However I did hack the motor open partially, just not enough to see inside much. It wouldn't open all the way and I didn't want to force it. I sprayed some lubricating anti rust stuff in there. Not sure if it helped with the noise yet but hopefully it will help inhibiting rust.