850 miles in two months on my trail tracker / first flat

[ebikelike]

Hey all, love love love my bike cant get enough but I am happy and sad today. I got my first flat. I went out for a long ride and it started bad. Chain popped off within 7 minutes. Ok no problem, fixed that issue easily. Then I cam upon a few folks hoggin the road and would not move over. Not nice! Finally, almost at my destination I see I have a flat

[1] I pull over and try the co2 cartridge I have ready to go. I screw it into the device but it doesn't spray when I try to deploy it. So I unscrew it, know this is probably the wrong thing to do. The thing explodes off with a big bang. It was the sound and fury signifying nothing. No biggie except lost co2.

[2] I move on to the hand pump to no avail.

[3] Then onto the Ultra Instant Bike Tire Inflator Sealer, in a can. That worked a little bit and got me where I needed to be.

[4] Now is where I say should I really fix the flat or ride on it the way it is. It was still to deflated so I nervously went for it and actually pulled it off. I changed the flat go me! Or so I thought. The problem occurred at the last step. The bolt that goes on at the end to secure the wheel in place went on crooked and got totally stripped out I tried to reseat the bolt and it is bad no threads left on a portion of the rod and the bolt.

I have a few question: how easy is it to fix this problem? Do I need a new motor or can I get the rod replaced? Secondly my shop is closed Sunday/Monday. Should I wait till Tuesday and just have AAA bring bike to shop or should I have AAA bring bike to my house today then ride the bike to the shop on Tuesday and can I ride the bike slowly with only one side bolted down?

Thanks!
ebikelike

 

[soyabean]

This is a great example of a DIY gone wrong.

From bad to worse.

Your LBS is your friend here.

Don't go from worse to worser.

 

[ebikelike]

When you say LBS "Local Business Service" I am guessing? Can I ride there on one bolt? Is the rod changeable? or am I in need of a new motor?

 

[soyabean]

You really need to stop breaking your ebike and go to your Local Bike Shop.

Don't go from worse to worser.

 

[6zfshdb]

When you say LBS "Local Business Service" I am guessing? Can I ride there on one bolt? Is the rod changeable? or am I in need of a new motor?

LBS = Local Bike Shop. I would NOT ride the bike without both bolts secured to the dropouts. You could cause more damage.
It is possible to re-thread the stripped bolt with the proper thread die. This should be done by a bike mechanic. A motor shaft replacement may not be necessary.

As you have discovered, repairing a rear flat on these hub drive e-bikes isn't easy. Prevention is the best approach. Many of us here, including myself, swear by Tannus Armor tire inserts for flat protection. I also use a heavy duty Slime filled tube for extra protection.

BTW, welcome to the forum! Too bad about your present problem but it's repairable. You'll be back on the road in no time!

 

[ebikelike]

Thanks, 6zfshdb. The thing is I did repair it correctly and when I went to finger tighten the bolt it went crooked. I undid it and tried it again it it went on but still a little crooked. It tells me the threads were already starting to wear prior to me ever taking that bolt off. I worked my a__ off to only get stopped at the 1 yard line. I should have stopped and called AAA once the bolt went off thread but its unfortunate it happened. In a way I feel it was a success and not a DIY gone wrong. I will do it again but if the bolt goes screwy I would stop.​

 

[6zfshdb]

I would contact Pedego Tech support at: 800 646-8604 or by email at:

Contact Us for E-Bike Information | Pedego Electric Bikes

Need assistance with e-bikes? Reach out to us for personalized support. We're here to help you with all your electric biking inquiries.

www.pedegoelectricbikes.com

They are very helpful about problems with their products.

They have sent me parts and installation instructions directly for my Pedego bikes without going through a dealer.
If you're handy with tools, replacing that shaft may not be too difficult.

 

[ebikelike]

You are awesome. Thank you!

 

[ebikelike]

Hey All, so it turned out the only problem was with the nut. I got a new nut from my LBS and all is good

Crazy thing though trying to circumvent a flat in the future I went and bought slime today. I got home started to put the slime in and holy s**t I looked at my tire and it was flat on the way back i ran over a tack. I did put the slime in both tires. I have a few questions that i dont understand:

-1 how long is slime good for?
-2 if i run over a tack/nail now that slime is in what happens? it self heals? just remove tack/nail and pump up the psi?
-3 when do i if ever change the tube moving forward?

thanks

 

[6zfshdb]

Hey All, so it turned out the only problem was with the nut. I got a new nut from my LBS and all is good

Crazy thing though trying to circumvent a flat in the future I went and bought slime today. I got home started to put the slime in and holy s**t I looked at my tire and it was flat on the way back i ran over a tack. I did put the slime in both tires. I have a few questions that i dont understand:

-1 how long is slime good for?
-2 if i run over a tack/nail now that slime is in what happens? it self heals? just remove tack/nail and pump up the psi?
-3 when do i if ever change the tube moving forward?

thanks

Glad the fix was a simple one!

I usually add slime every 12 to 24 months or whenever it stops seeping out the tire valve when air is added. It thickens and dries inside the tube over time. Although Slime does a good job of sealing small leaks, it isn't meant to be a permanent repair. I recommend patching or replacing the tube eventually but it can be done at home on a planned basis rather than on the road somewhere.

You might consider using heavy duty tubes and replacing the tires with a type that is more puncture resistant. Tannus Armour is the best overall solution but it is pricey.

 

[ebikelike]

thanks for the info. so are you saying I "might" get a year out of this slimed tube if the cut is minor? or should i just change the tube to a new one and be done? slime is more for getting you to an easier place to change the flat? also i used slime preventatively in the front tire [i have no leak or flat current] if i never get a flat in the front technically i can go with that setup for 1-2 years?

thank you for the guidance.

 

[6zfshdb]

thanks for the info. so are you saying I "might" get a year out of this slimed tube if the cut is minor? or should i just change the tube to a new one and be done? slime is more for getting you to an easier place to change the flat? also i used slime preventatively in the front tire [i have no leak or flat current] if i never get a flat in the front technically i can go with that setup for 1-2 years?

thank you for the guidance.

I've seen Slime filled tubes last for years with small sealed punctures. That's where it works best. Cuts can be more difficult since any movement at all can re-open it. It's really up to the individual to make the call. I usually replace my tubes every 24 months whether they have punctures or not. I ride in some pretty remote areas and I do it for some extra insurance.

You might try doing a forum search on "Slime" to see what others have to say. It, and other similar products, have been discussed here many times.

 

[ebikelike]

Thanks. So far so good. I filled them up yesterday and did 40 miles since happy camper so far!