Need help with hub motor

[Chic Lasser]

I have an Ejoe bike with 500w 48v hub motor, need to find a bike shop or dealer than can open and check motor. Sounds like a nut is rolling inside motor, similar to a roulette wheel. Motor runs fine but sounds awful. I am in the lower Great Lakes and no shop wants to touch it. I can remove and send anywhere needed. Can someone recommend a ebike dealer willing to open this up and look, above my pay scale. Thx.

 

[Feliz]

What brand is the motor?

 

[Chic Lasser]

Not sure. It says youe on side with gear wheel motor for bicycle.

 

[rich c]

It's really quite easy. Tons of videos on youtube. Sorry, but what does lower Great Lakes mean?

 

[Feliz]

It's really quite easy. Tons of videos on youtube. Sorry, but what does lower Great Lakes mean?

It means he's under water.

 

[Chic Lasser]

Mid Atlantic western ny area or Ontario Canada. Will send to any dealer willing to open it up. Looked on YouTube and did not see much other than some guys slamming his axle on wood to pry open. Not real comfortable trying that.

 

[rich c]

Mid Atlantic western ny area or Ontario Canada. Will send to any dealer willing to open it up. Looked on YouTube and did not see much other than some guys slamming his axle on wood to pry open. Not real comfortable trying that.

That's what works. Had my Bafang open a couple of times. It makes it nice when rebuilding a motor, to just leave the case in the wheel and replace the core. For me it was pull the ring of bolts out, then tap it out. Sometimes you don't even have to tap it, it slides out. It's that simple. Just keep track of shims and washers and take phone pictures if you don't have the memory for it. I live in Central IL. I thought lower Great Lakes might mean Chicago. But that's just lower Lake Michigan.

 

[rich c]

There is a Velofix location in Albany. They'll come to your door if you're not that far. You seem a little reluctant to give your location. https://www.velofix.com/locations/albany/

 

[Chic Lasser]

I’m in Rochester ny. Willing to drive if I have too.

 

[MechaNut]

The only LBS around here that I'm aware of that actively advertises that they have e-bike certified techs is Towpath Bike at Schoen Place.

Shops I've personally dealt with

Sugar's: for mechanical only, they aren't comfortable working on the electrical systems, have been helpful
Towpath: Have been helpful when I was looking for parts and stuff
Park Ave: Wouldn't recommend - big shop, very impersonal
Bert's: Wouldn't recommend - was ignored until I was walking out the door empty handed
Tryon Bike: Gave me the run around. Wouldn't recommend.
Full Moon Vista: Haven't dealt with them with an e-bike, but every time I've done business with them with my analog bike it has been an excellent experience.

LBSs I've heard good things about:
Freewheelers (multiple friends and coworkers get their analog bikes worked on here)
RV&E

edit: There is also a Pedego shop in Geneva NY. Their service department might be able to help.

 

[Chic Lasser]

We’re gonna give towpath a call. Not optimistic since generally only deals with stuff they sell and they are mid drive. Worth a call.

 

[Chic Lasser]

Well took it to towpath bike shop. At first glance they think wheel bearing not motor issue. Now the problem is the WB fixable. Who knows?

 

[MechaNut]

There are all kinds of how-to videos on YouTube about changing bicycle wheel bearings. Towpath shouldn't have any trouble fixing those if that's the problem. Odds are the bearings are cartridge bearings, so it should be a matter of finding the right sized cartridge and swapping it out.