what does scratching sounds mean from hub motor

[DanSFIV]

when i walk my bike i hear a scratching sound coming from hub motor. It there an issue i need to worry about or everything or. can it be fixed without opening up motor?

 

[Ykick]

Direct drive motor that's usually not good. You're the one with phase wire connection trouble, yes? There could be something related? Perhaps a wire tie inside burned and/or let loose?

My guess is removal of the motor cover is probably in your future?

 

[dnmun]

when the bike is off the ground and the wheel spins free, do you still hear that sound? try inverting the bike, and listen again and see if you can locate the sound. once you open the motor it will not be possible to isolate where it is coming from so try to put a mark on the cover where you think the sound is coming from, then look there when you open it, and post up pictures!

 

[dfar]

could be the copper stator wires rubbing on the cover from the inside. warrants taking the hub apart and looking for wear marks on the sides of the copper stator wires/covers. Sometimes axles are not installed squarely and as a result the motor can rub at certain points. Mark on the tire/rim/hub with a marker a point then turn the wheel. If the scratching is intermittent and happens at specific intervals i.e every 360 degree turn of the wheel than that is something that needs to be sorted out.

 

[Alan B]

Scratching sounds from a hubmotor means it is time to look inside and perhaps fix something simple before it fails, or ignore it and take a chance and have a bigger problem (like a blown controller plus a shorted motor).

 

[TylerDurden]

Magnets can become un-glued and rub on the stator, so it might be wise to check for any loose ones after a cover is off, before before trying to remove the stator. I suppose there is the potential for loose magnets jumping out and cracking against others if/when the stator is removed. Maybe some tape worked-in to the airgap could help prevent that.

 

[MadRhino]

Scratching is something to stop for,

any unusual noise of your bike is, and is worth the time to find what does.

The dull sound of a fresh bike (and motor) is priceless,
for you are confident it is ready to take a beating,
when the urge (or emergency) comes.

Maintenance is the mother of Confidence
Confidence is mother of twins, Angel and Demon
Whom with you're ridin...