Frame breakage Vado turbo

[Orphanautos]

Working on a Vado turbo for a friend. The clunking noise in the driveline turned out to be a break in the frame at the motor mount. LBS says they have seen two others with the same break. As this is a second hand bike there is no warranty in effect. No significant incident occurred that would have likely caused this ie a fall or curb shot pothole etc. So it looks like we are on our own to repair the frame. Anyone else out there repaired this? I believe we have designed a strap to reinforce the area where the break occurred after we weld the frame. Common sense says to remove all electronics prior to welding. What problems are we likely to encounter after reassembly? Attached is a photo of the frame break. Looks kinda deficient in strength to me to start with.

 

[Ebiker01]

It should be on it’s way to the dumpster...or weld and it breaks again in other spot.
Should be thicker tubes/frame.

 

[J.R.]

Working on a Vado turbo for a friend. The clunking noise in the driveline turned out to be a break in the frame at the motor mount. LBS says they have seen two others with the same break. As this is a second hand bike there is no warranty in effect. No significant incident occurred that would have likely caused this ie a fall or curb shot pothole etc. So it looks like we are on our own to repair the frame. Anyone else out there repaired this? I believe we have designed a strap to reinforce the area where the break occurred after we weld the frame. Common sense says to remove all electronics prior to welding. What problems are we likely to encounter after reassembly? Attached is a photo of the frame break. Looks kinda deficient in strength to me to start with.View attachment 43203

There have been a few reports here and elsewhere of cracked frames on newer Specialized bikes. Seems clear a manufacturer's defect and I would press Specialized on the issue, whether second hand or not. Frames come with a lifetime warranty, probably for the original owner, but cracked frames are a safety issue. Someone could get hurt.

Keep an eye out for a recall.

CPSC Search

www.cpsc.gov

Also consider contacting CPSC to file a report.

If you TIG weld, it could be repaired. Or a really good welding shop could do it. I would think if you repair it you might lose the right to a claim against the company. I am not an authority on this though. I would exhaust all possibilities with Specialized first. Good luck!

 

[Orphanautos]

There have been a few reports here and elsewhere of cracked frames on newer Specialized bikes. Seems clear a manufacturer's defect and I would press Specialized on the issue, whether second hand or not. Frames come with a lifetime warranty, probably for the original owner, but cracked frames are a safety issue. Someone could get hurt.

Keep an eye out for a recall.

CPSC Search

www.cpsc.gov

Also consider contacting CPSC to file a report.

If you TIG weld, it could be repaired. Or a really good welding shop could do it. I would think if you repair it you might lose the right to a claim against the company. I am not an authority on this though. I would exhaust all possibilities with Specialized first. Good luck!

Thankyou for your advice. Pressing specialized seems to be the best initial course of action. My friends need of this bike for transportation is great. I’m trying to convince him to ride a “normal” bike for a while while we sort this out. I have a very qualified welder involved with the project. I am a compitent mechanic who can’t spell but not a qualified for the electronics...yet.

 

[Turbo Vado Pip]

My Vado 4.0 frame broke at the exact same spot. Entire bike replaced under warranty. Clearly yet another weak spot that Specialized are keen to keep swept under the carpet....

 

[123andy]

I have a Vado 6 -- I started to notice a looseness in the crankshaft/motor - removed the guard and saw that the frame had snapped. I'm starting the warranty process with my dealer now. For the record, I didn't do any off-roading or anything 'hard' on this bike -- just an essential commuter on paved roads.

 

[Art Deco]

There have been a few reports here and elsewhere of cracked frames on newer Specialized bikes. Seems clear a manufacturer's defect and I would press Specialized on the issue, whether second hand or not. Frames come with a lifetime warranty, probably for the original owner, but cracked frames are a safety issue. Someone could get hurt.

Keep an eye out for a recall.

CPSC Search

www.cpsc.gov

Also consider contacting CPSC to file a report.

If you TIG weld, it could be repaired. Or a really good welding shop could do it. I would think if you repair it you might lose the right to a claim against the company. I am not an authority on this though. I would exhaust all possibilities with Specialized first. Good luck!

My Specialized manual says that the frame is under warranty for the life of the original buyer and/or for two years for a second hand bike. I remember it because it seemed so weird.

 

[Ebiker01]

e frame had snapped

What location is that ? Too much stress from maybe too high tq of the bolt ?

 

[123andy]

What location is that ? Too much stress from maybe too high tq of the bolt ?

This is located right under the motor -- here is a second pic from a little further away:

I think this is the only attachment between the motor and the frame (although I haven't touched the bolt -- want to leave that to the dealer for fear of having any warranty issues.).

It does seem like a pretty small amount of aluminum when you consider the torque of the motor plus a strong push on a pedal..

 

[ChrisS]

Hi, currently have the same problem with my Vado 4, being the 2nd owner I am currently having a fight with the Specialised dealership in NZ. Want me to produce the Original receipt of purchase from the 1st owner. Cant see what difference that makes to a problem that is clearly a design weakness. Even then they haven't promised to replace the frame F.O.C.
Has anyone designed a bracket to strengthen this?

 

[Dallant]

I have a Vado 6 -- I started to notice a looseness in the crankshaft/motor - removed the guard and saw that the frame had snapped. I'm starting the warranty process with my dealer now. For the record, I didn't do any off-roading or anything 'hard' on this bike -- just an essential commuter on paved roads.

View attachment 85176

Looks like some cheesy pot metal!

 

[123andy]

Update on my bike - the dealer got a hold of Specialized and I think I'll get a new 2022 Vado - the downside is none are available for another 3 months, so I wait. I'm still not commuting every day due to COVID so I can make do without my fancy e-bike for a while.

@ChrisS - The Specialized warranty clearly differentiates between the original buyer and secondary owners, so may are likely out of luck on that front. I guess they figure why take on a liability when it won't help the sale of the bike? Not defending the policy but I can understand it.

 

[Orphanautos]

Update: we were not able to get any traction with warranty so we went ahead with welding repair of frame. Upon further inspection one of the other motor mount bolts was broken inside the case and required removal of the “clutch to repair. These are bolts that are recessed into a hex shaped cavity that prevents the bolt from turning while tightening its sleeved nut. This arrangement is known as a married pair I believe similar to mountain bike shock fasteners. It appears as though this bolt is part of an assembly that is pressed in with the bolt already threaded into a webbed bushing so replacement required drilling every so slightly the inside of the bushing and very carefull selection of the replacement bolts so that there was the proper length of unthreaded shoulder allowing the new bolt to sit in the hex shaped recess and not have any play in the case. I was able to remove the entire crank shaft assembly as a unit. There was no need to replace any bearings just make sure to hold the assembly together as you remove it. Everything went back together nicely and the welded frame has held up though not many miles were travelled before the next problem came up.

 

[Orphanautos]

My friend bought this bike used and we were not able to get any sales receipts or other documentation that may or may not have helped with any warranty claim. We don’t even know where the bike was purchased new for that matter. His bad for not finding all this out when he bought it from the original owner who he doesn’t know how to locate. I know, sounds all murky and mysterious to me as well.
So now we have a problem with the bloks display unit. It shows dead battery when the battery is fully charged. Took me a minute to realize it’s just the bloks battery is dead. As near as I can tell because the display is dead the motor won’t run due to the fact that these are required by law to have an operating speedometer. So where is the cr1220 battery located within the bloks display unit? Any help out there? Am I missing anything else here? Thanks

 

[Ebiker01]

Perhaps Mr. @Stefan Mikes could start a Al smeltering mini in his hometown ? Aluminum is plentifully there and cheaper.

Make an aluminum metal smelter

I build a smelter for aluminum. I melt aluminum cans (and other aluminum) into ingots.

www.howtoengineering.com

I could help getting the frame design almost okay. Any good welders and painters out there ?

 

[TS25]

My friend bought this bike used ...
So now we have a problem with the bloks display unit.
... it’s just the bloks battery is dead. As near as I can tell because the display is dead the motor won’t run due to the fact that these are required by law to have an operating speedometer. So where is the cr1220 battery located within the bloks display unit? Any help out there? Am I missing anything else here?

You're missing to tell the relevant info: which Vado model, which MY?
There are at least two different BLOKS displays possible, a LCD or a TFT display. Which is the one you're talking about?

 

[Orphanautos]

This bikes mfg date is 3/27/2018. It is a class 1 20mph 250w turbo Vado pearl white w/ black trim. We tried a known good display and it reads the same nearly dead. At the button on the battery it shows fully charged. Checked and rechecked all connections. Still no go.

 

[pajazzo]

I unfortunately had the same thing two weeks ago. According to specialized that goes on warranty, since I am the first owner and the bike was purchased in May 2019. I get a completely new bike, when that is delivered, however, is open.

 

[Turbo Vado Pip]

That’s not good. I would like to check mine. Is it easy to get the cover off?

 

[TS25]

Easy, just loosen the four screws of the motor cover:

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