Jumper: brake squeal also set level of assist?

[Mtnm]

Two questions I hope the experts can help me with:
1) After about 100 miles on my Jumper (26") I've developed a front squeal in the brakes.
I did do some riding in Moab which had deep sandy conditions in the Needles area.
I have washed down the front rotor using an alcohol solution and lint free rags, which did remove a layer of black: this helped.
I also have been washing the area with just water: this also helped.
But the squeal does return.
I think my next step is to replace the brake pads with the thought I've somehow contaminated the pads: any other thoughts or recommendations?

2) Is it possible to adjust the "eco" setting so I get less boost?
The goal is to extend my distance.
I get around 10 miles of distance before the battery has dropped to 2 bars, which seems reasonable given I'm riding off-road with several hundred feet of elevation gain.

Thank you for any suggestions or comments.

Mike
Colorado

 

[James]

Hi Mike,

I'd try sanding the pads with a high grit sand paper before tossing them. You probably have lots of life left in them and that usually takes care of some of the squeal.

 

[JoePah]

This is what i do about brake squeal...Buy a new bike... jk!

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tuesday-Silence-That-Squeaky-Disc-Brake-2011.html

Scotchbrite both sides of the discs with soapy water. Some people use brake cleaner or wd40
Use 200 grit waterproof emery cloth to sand the discs.
This is a pain in the butt on the bike.. Take your time and wear gloves or else you may ding your fingers. (I do not recommend removing the discs, since the bolts are mounted with heavy duty loctite)
wipe clean

Remove the disc pads. If they are unevenly worn or have 1/16" pad left, replace them.
Otherwise scotchbrite them, then sand them. wipe clean.
If the pads are glazed, rub the pads on a steel file, then sand them smooth.

Important.
AFter you reassemble the pads to the bike, run up your bike to max speed and brake HARD to a stop.. Repeat this 10x to bed the pads.

Squeal problems are usually a result of improper bedding.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Hi Mike,

I read your post on ES but I was on my phone and couldn't respond earlier.
I own Jumper 650B with 12 ah battery and you should be able to get 12ah battery sometime next month (check with California office)

What James mentioned is right. You don't need to change the pads at 100 miles. It's normally at close to 800-1000 miles. Roughening the surface and aligning them well should take care of it.

Tektro also has some nice videos on YouTube.

 

[Mtnm]

Hi Mike,

I'd try sanding the pads with a high grit sand paper before tossing them. You probably have lots of life left in them and that usually takes care of some of the squeal.

Thanks for the advice. I have some 320 and 600 around, so I'll give that a try.

Mike

 

[Mtnm]

This is what i do about brake squeal...Buy a new bike... jk!

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tuesday-Silence-That-Squeaky-Disc-Brake-2011.html

Scotchbrite both sides of the discs with soapy water. Some people use brake cleaner or wd40
Use 200 grit waterproof emery cloth to sand the discs.
This is a pain in the butt on the bike.. Take your time and wear gloves or else you may ding your fingers. (I do not recommend removing the discs, since the bolts are mounted with heavy duty loctite)
wipe clean

Remove the disc pads. If they are unevenly worn or have 1/16" pad left, replace them.
Otherwise scotchbrite them, then sand them. wipe clean.
If the pads are glazed, rub the pads on a steel file, then sand them smooth.

Important.
AFter you reassemble the pads to the bike, run up your bike to max speed and brake HARD to a stop.. Repeat this 10x to bed the pads.

Squeal problems are usually a result of improper bedding.

That is a great link. Very helpful. I think you nailed it about the need to get good seating.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mtnm]

Hi Mike,

I read your post on ES but I was on my phone and couldn't respond earlier.
I own Jumper 650B with 12 ah battery and you should be able to get 12ah battery sometime next month (check with California office)

What James mentioned is right. You don't need to change the pads at 100 miles. It's normally at close to 800-1000 miles.
Roughening the surface and aligning them well should take care of it.

Tektro also has some nice videos on YouTube.

Thanks for the video link.
I'm sure I will be a 12Ah customer somewhere down the road, but also find the 9Ah may be adequate for many off-road trips.
Seems like a boost level of 75-80% in eco would help on some of the slower technical places and also give a longer trip.
If I read the manual correctly not depleting the battery to a low level ensures longer life.

Mike

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Thanks for the video link.
I'm sure I will be a 12Ah customer somewhere down the road, but also find the 9Ah may be adequate for many off-road trips.
Seems like a boost level of 75-80% in eco would help on some of the slower technical places and also give a longer trip.
If I read the manual correctly not depleting the battery to a low level ensures longer life.

Mike

You're right. I charge the batteries as soon as 3 bars are depleted. This reduces stress on the battery anode. Even though there is no memory effect in Li-ion cells, they undergo stress when completely discharged and charged. They have refined the "eco" level on 2014 models and it comes with just the right amount of push. 2013 models have too much punch even in eco setting. Pete's electric bikes in CO is an Easy Motion dealer and may be they could tweak it a bit?? I'm not sure.

Couple of weeks back, EddieJ, a member here was mentioning how certain UK dealers have this tool to recalibrate the assist setting on BH ebikes.

 

[Vern]

Quick Question Neo Owners.

I just got home after riding my bike from work. I left my charger at work and I have about 2-3 bars left. I plan to drive my car tomorrow. Should I :

1. Bring my battery to work with my car tomorrow and charge it first thing in the morning.
2. Bring my charger home from work and charge it tomorrow night.
3. Drive to work right now, get my charger and charge it.
4. Don't worry about it, any of the above is fine.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Quick Question Neo Owners.

I just got home after riding my bike from work. I left my charger at work and I have about 2-3 bars left. I plan to drive my car tomorrow. Should I :

1. Bring my battery to work with my car tomorrow and charge it first thing in the morning.
2. Bring my charger home from work and charge it tomorrow night.
3. Drive to work right now, get my charger and charge it.
4. Don't worry about it, any of the above is fine.

Vern,
If your commute is less than 5-8 miles and if you normally drop only 1-2 bars each way then it should be ok.
If you have noticed, the range will be slightly different for the first two bars and after that it is teeny bit lesser. That is because at full charge, the battery can discharge at 36V but once you are at 2 bars or the last one, the voltage drops to 33 or 34V.
Having said that, even the manual says to completely discharge and charge it once or twice when you get the new bike. But repeatedly doing so could lessen the range.
If I were you, I would take the battery and charge it tomorrow. But it will be fun to experiment with discharge/charge cycles over the weekend.

 

[JoePah]

You're fine... If you had ridden your bike to low voltage cutoff, I'd say go get the charger tonight.

If it gives you peace of mind take the battery to work.

 

[Mtnm]

You're right. I charge the batteries as soon as 3 bars are depleted. This reduces stress on the battery anode.
Even though there is no memory effect in Li-ion cells, they undergo stress when completely discharged and charged. They have refined the "eco" level on 2014 models and it comes with just the right amount of push. 2013 models have too much punch even in eco setting. Pete's electric bikes in CO is an Easy Motion dealer and may be they could tweak it a bit?? I'm not sure.
Couple of weeks back, EddieJ, a member here was mentioning how certain UK dealers have this tool to recalibrate the assist setting on BH ebikes.

Thanks for the advice.
I did purchase the bike from Pete's Electric Bike, and will make contact with them.

Mike

 

[Vern]

Vern,
If your commute is less than 5-8 miles and if you normally drop only 1-2 bars each way then it should be ok.
If you have noticed, the range will be slightly different for the first two bars and after that it is teeny bit lesser. That is because at full charge, the battery can discharge at 36V but once you are at 2 bars or the last one, the voltage drops to 33 or 34V.
Having said that, even the manual says to completely discharge and charge it once or twice when you get the new bike. But repeatedly doing so could lessen the range.
If I were you, I would take the battery and charge it tomorrow. But it will be fun to experiment with discharge/charge cycles over the weekend.

My commute is 13.2 miles but I charged it at work today. There are still 3 bars left after my ride home today. If I were taking my bike tomorrow, I would just ride it and charge it then. I usually only use two bars on my way to work anyway. I wasn't planning on using my bike till Friday, so I will take the battery and charge it at work tomorrow. I feel a little wierd about walking into work with my huge battery just to charge it there though. I'll get there early so no one sees me.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

My commute is 13.2 miles but I charged it at work today. There are still 3 bars left after my ride home today. If I were taking my bike tomorrow, I would just ride it and charge it then. I usually only use two bars on my way to work anyway. I wasn't planning on using my bike till Friday, so I will take the battery and charge it at work tomorrow. I feel a little wierd about walking into work with my huge battery just to charge it there though. I'll get there early so no one sees me.

These days, companies are setting up chargers for EV cars and that's an added bonus and good for everyone. Everyone on our campus loves it. Our head of the department drives a Tesla and charges his car everyday.

But charging an ebike is deplorable at least based on this video...!!
if they do arrest you, it means American society has gone complete bonkers

 

[Admin]

Interesting video Ravi, I used to charge my battery in the office every day and people thought it was cool. Some of them even did test rides! Maybe it depends on the area or the workplace... or how you act

 

[JoePah]

I ride my Stromer to my doctors' office... The nurses think this is the funniest thing. And let me park my bike in their breakroom or records room so I can charge it.. They're not into riding it quite yet I guess...

I'm finding more and more people are getting interested into what an ebike can offer... Short trips around town to market, doctor lawyer baker.... The barrier is the price... It's a bargain but they cannot see the benefit.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Interesting video Ravi, I used to charge my battery in the office every day and people thought it was cool. Some of them even did test rides! Maybe it depends on the area or the workplace... or how you act

In my experience most people associate electric bike or electric cars to safe and eco-conscious riders and are always respectful.
I often get compliments about my bike from professors who bike to campus and few of them even took a quick ride.
My own professor let me park my bike inside the lab (in a remote corner where it is away from the chemicals).

I often charge my bike in the lab and my rides are funny because I park the bike in our living room and from there, it is a straight journey to my lab.
Takes 3 mins for 1 mile (door to door)

but there will always be some bad apples like the school admin guy in the video. I just can't believe he did that.

 

[James]

That video is unbelievable! Now ideally you want to ask permission before taking anything.... but getting arrested AND charged for theft?? what he got booked for theft over .04 cents? what a brutal waste of time and resource. Kinda reminded me of those super cops in another post.... the video where it took 10 cops to pull over one guy on a bike

 

[Admin]

The nurses think this is the funniest thing... They're not into riding it quite yet I guess...

Insert joke here.

park my bike inside the lab (in a remote corner where it is away from the chemicals).

Ravi, you sound like a mad scientist... and that's mad awesome

 

[James]

I (like Ravi) keep my ride in my living room!