Hello from Wisconsin. Have questions on a Lee Iococa ebike

BigD

BigD

New Member
Region
USA
Hi. We have a 36v ebike that’s been in the family since new. It’s my wife’s primary mode of transportation since she doesn’t have a drivers license. Last week the pedals stopped working, the pedal and move the rear wheel gears but the rear wheel doesn’t move with them. The electric motor hums but doesn’t drive the wheel either. Any ideas what is wrong?
 
This is a collector's item. It sounds like the either Freewheel or Freehub has failed. The rear bearings may also be shot. One option may be to sell it to a collector to use as an original parts bike. Note the serial number when listing it for sale Collector's look for that. Use the proceeds to buy a newer bike that is worth investing into as reliable transportation. Just ideas.
 
Welcome BigD, why not take it to a bike shop that sells that particular brand. Let the bike shop mechanics determine it‘s problem and find out what it would it would cost to repair. You didn’t mention the brand or the age of the bike, or like PedalUma states, getting a newer bike might be a better choice for reliable transportation. Good luck, ride safe and responsibly.
 
PedalUma said:
This is a collector's item. It sounds like the either Freewheel or Freehub has failed. The rear bearings may also be shot. One option may be to sell it to a collector to use as an original parts bike. Note the serial number when listing it for sale Collector's look for that. Use the proceeds to buy a newer bike that is worth investing into as reliable transportation. Just ideas.
Click to expand...
Definitely a very cool bike and I'm sure Iacocca would be stoked to learn that someone was still riding it 20 years later. As suggested, I would try replacing the cassette on the rear wheel. It's not a difficult or expensive job, but it does require a specialized tool.

Here's a video:

The motor in that bike is a very high quality German-made unit with steel gears.
 
It is going to be tough to diagnose over the Internet without pictures. My guess would be the same as @PedalUma. If it is a mid-drive motor, then the bike almost certainly uses standard bicycle components on the rear wheel. A local bike shop will be able to help you fix it.
 
It is a tear wheel motor and our local bike shop won’t work on it since it has been out of production for years. I started to take the rear hub apart, but ran into some problems since it requires some tools I don’t have
 
If it is a rear hub motor, then it is odd that both the motor and the pedals won't turn the wheel. It is possible to replace the wheel with a new wheel and motor, but it takes some technical knowledge to do so and you may need to replace the controller as well. You could be better off just buying a cheap conversion kit and putting it on that bike or a different bike. Given the age of the bike, it probably uses SLA batteries and you would get a big boost in range and reduce the weight upgrading to a lithium battery. Quality batteries aren't cheap though.
 
I have already updated the batteries to lithium ion. My wife was getting almost 70 miles between charges.
 
BigD said:
I have already updated the batteries to lithium ion. My wife was getting almost 70 miles between charges.
Click to expand...
According to the specs, it has a brushed hub motor in a 26" wheel. Although I think there were other versions that may have had different sized wheels.

https://electricbikereview.com/ev-global-motors/ebike-sx/

It is easy to find hub motors already laced into 26" wheels, but most new motors are brushless and use a brushless controller. You will need to replace the controller and display if you switch to a brushless motor. You may be able to find a used brushed hub motor or another Lee Iaccoca bike that you can salvage parts from.
 
RunForTheHills said:
According to the specs, it has a brushed hub motor in a 26" wheel. Although I think there were other versions that may have had different sized wheels.

https://electricbikereview.com/ev-global-motors/ebike-sx/

It is easy to find hub motors already laced into 26" wheels, but most new motors are brushless and use a brushless controller. You will need to replace the controller and display if you switch to a brushless motor. You may be able to find a used brushed hub motor or another Lee Iaccoca bike that you can salvage parts from.
Click to expand...
I have been looking, but they are scarce
 
After much searching and consulting with the local bike shops, our lee Iococa ebike will become a spare parts bike. The part under the sprocket cassette that acts like a centrifugal clutch is shot allowing the rear wheel to freewheel while in electric or manual operation. Thanks for all the help!
 
BigD said:
After much searching and consulting with the local bike shops, our lee Iococa ebike will become a spare parts bike. The part under the sprocket cassette that acts like a centrifugal clutch is shot allowing the rear wheel to freewheel while in electric or manual operation. Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...
 
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