Cursed by the E-bike gods

[February]

Well, my Vivi C26 came today and everything is good except for one little problem.... front axle bolt too short by about an inch.... Heading out to local bike shop tomorrow because I don't want to wait 30 days for a stupid axle. Anyway, I'll post pics as soon as I get the the thing assembled.

 

[fooferdoggie]

good luck.

 

[February]

Thanks, battery is charged, tires are good, 95% assembled. I suppose if something was going to go wrong, a poor factory worker in China making a mistake like this, isn't so bad.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

They will probably have to order it. If you have calipers measure the size and order it yourself:

Wheels Manufacturing Axle (146mm) (10 x 1mm)

4130 steel axles, heat-treated for strength and with rolled threads for easy assembly. Model: (Thread) (Length) (Type) AXLE-03: (10 x 1 Threading)... AXLE-04

www.performancebike.com

Also while you’re at it order better torque washers and axle nuts.

In 2024 your e-bike should be using thru axles.

 

[harryS]

Is that what modern bike axles look like today? I would have thought that was the vied they use to keep the forks from being squashed in the box,

Don't mine me. I'm still back in the era of QR skewers.

 

[February]

Here is the thing, I'm good people, but I'm so poor I'm po; can't afford the extra o and r. From what I understand, Vivi is pretty good with stuff like this, so they may send a replacement sooner, or I may luck out at the bike shop tomorrow. All I can do is hope. If money were no object I would go to Grand Rapids and get the proper part. Please excuse the mess, I am disabled and renovating my trailer. Here she is so far:



Honestly just happy the bike came at all. It's just been death by a 1000 paper cuts lately and the fact this one little piece of metal is holding me up is mildly infuriating.

 

[Nvreloader]

Feb
Question,
Do you have a solid or Quick release skewer axle?
Per information I found, their replace parts show Quick release type axles.
Is there a hole thru the axle or is it solid?

 

[February]

Feb
Question,
Do you have a solid or Quick release skewer axle?
Per information I found, their replace parts show Quick release type axles.
Is there a hole thru the axle or is it solid?

yes, it's the right size, but the axle is not, unless I'm missing something? I don't see anyway to make what I have work. I think they just packed the wrong front tire at the factory. The first image I posted is deceiving, the axle looks bigger than it is. There is no conceivable way to seat the wheel on the fork with what I have. In the instruction book that came with, there are directions for installing the quick release, but for other models, not the c26u. I think this is just a case of s*it happens. At this price point, which was less than $500 usd including shipping, I kind of feel ashamed complaining about this.

 

[Nvreloader]

Feb
Is there an axle in the hub of the front rim/tire?
You show a QR skewer in your photo, I blew the photo up to 400%,
it appears that there is bearing cones/bearings you have to assemble.

What is the total overall axle length, end to end?
What is the distance to the outside edges of the drop outs?
What is the distance between the inside of the drop outs?
Is there a hole thru the axle?

 

[February]

going to take me a minute

 

[February]

The forks ends are 4.5 inches from out side to out side. The perspective is bad, but again, pretty sure they sent the wrong wheal, because there are no other parts.

Edit: Quadruple checked, there is no way to make the parts I have connect the wheel to the fork. Some one made a mistake, it happens. Thank you for trying to help.

Once upon a time in shop I was working on making a small metal vice, blued it, marked it, milled it, after 3 weeks of work made one wrong cut. My shop teacher looked it over for a minute and then said the following, " Yup, no way to save it. I know how you feel son, you know you're not stupid, you just can't prove it." We both had a good laugh at that.

We all make mistakes, at least this one is very fixable. I can't imagine what life must be like as a Chinese factory worker, so I'm not trying to get all Carled up over this. Probably won't hear back from the Vivi Dealer until Monday. And in case anyone doesn't know this already, these bikes are manufactured, packed and shipped from china to the USA to a couple different Dealers here. They are just trying to make a buck and I don't think there is anything on their end they did wrong.

 

[Nvreloader]

Feb
From what I can see clearly, you have a cone bushings with a shield on each end of that axle.
Do you have a bearing set (2 bearings), look inside the hub and see if they are there, are they loose or caged ( all bearings are contained in a steel ring/cage)?

You again show a QR skewer for that axle.
IS THERE a hole thru that axle? Yes or no....

It would also help to see a good sharp close up of the hub,
end view, looking inside the hub.

 

[gromike]

QR axles tend to be a bit short in the dropouts, sometimes catching just 3mm.

 

[Nvreloader]

GM
Yes,
that is what I am attempting to find out from Feb.

 

[February]

ok, I will humor you if you want but guys i'm really tired of wiping grease of my hands. Trust me I want this to work as bad as you do, but.... screw it, back with photos in a few minutes...

 

[gromike]

The QR axle is a bit short so it can clamp the axle into the dropout. Just how short is the question.

 

[sc00ter]

If that is a solid axle at 26tpi I just gave away 2 of those, 4130 heavy duty extra long. Both axles also had cones with dust deals, bearings and all other hardware. I ordered them from SE Racing to rebuild some loose ball hubs and managed to salvage one of the original axles. Ordered 2 and they sent me 3. If that is a solid axle getting the correct dust washers can be a bit tricky. Most of the bearing sizes are the same though. I forgot the size off the top of my head and no longer have the axles with the specs written on the bags. Good luck in sourcing the right part!

 

[February]

 

[February]

If that is a solid axle at 26tpi I just gave away 2 of those, 4130 heavy duty extra long. Both axles also had cones with dust deals, bearings and all other hardware. I ordered them from SE Racing to rebuild some loose ball hubs and managed to salvage one of the original axles. Ordered 2 and they sent me 3. If that is a solid axle getting the correct dust washers can be a bit tricky. Most of the bearing sizes are the same though. I forgot the size off the top of my head and no longer have the axles with the specs written on the bags. Good luck in sourcing the right part!

Heading off to local bike shop in the morning. Talked to the owner earlier today, he thinks he has the right part.

 

[February]

Ok guys I'm exhausted. I really appreciate everyone trying to help, but all of those photos were taken with the axle as close to alignment as possible. The forks aren't going to budge and there is no way to make the parts I have work. I did not move it at all when I took these photos. It doesn't even clear the deepest part of the fork exterior. I'm tapping out on this one and going to bed. Will report back tomorrow. Thanks again all.