Serious motor problem?

[DanInStPete]

Hey all,

So I came home from the last ride perfect. Flipped it upside-down today to lube the chain before a ride. Spun the cranks some while cleaning the chain. Then out of nowhere that noise starts. It's coming from inside.

Anyone know what it is???

 

[rich c]

Sounds like normal SES sprocket noise from a dry chain. Definitely not something inside. Very common and I have that on my 2016 Full Seven. Lots of discussion here over the years. https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/haibike-ses-jockey-wheel-noise.33424/

 

[DanInStPete]

Thanks, but no, I've been all over that problem. This is much louder and coming from inside. It's unrideable. Can feel it clunking.

 

[Alaskan]

One way to be sure. Flip the bike back upright and see if the noise is still there. Then, if it is still there, put a new chain on it and see if it goes away. Bikes are infamous for sounds that travel and seem like they come from one place but the noise has traveled and sounds like it originating someplace else.

 

[DanInStPete]

True Alaskan, I've had squeaky seat posts that I would swear were the forks! This is really odd, the cranks are stepped when I turn them, flipped or riding. I tried to ride it for a few feet and it feels like it's damaging the motor.

I suppose I could have put the jockey pulley on backwards after cleaning it. I'll get back into it tomorrow and report back, as I am on the way out to dinner.

 

[fooferdoggie]

also take the chain off and try it

 

[William - Bosch Team]

As fooferdoggie said, try without the chain. This is the first step in trying to rule-out external causes. I can't tell for sure, but the chain seems a little "bumpy" or wobbly when I focus on the idler pulley area.

[Edit]: chain actually looks like it is not seated on the pivot-mounted idler pulley at all, though hard to tell. That noise could be the sound of the chain hitting the composite "cross-bar" part of the chain guide, as the chain rides up on the pulley. Additionally, the teeth on the idler pulley look very worn.

 

[DanInStPete]

As fooferdoggie said, try without the chain. This is the first step in trying to rule-out external causes. I can't tell for sure, but the chain seems a little "bumpy" or wobbly when I focus on the idler pulley area.

[Edit]: chain actually looks like it is not seated on the pivot-mounted idler pulley at all, though hard to tell. That noise could be the sound of the chain hitting the composite "cross-bar" part of the chain guide, as the chain rides up on the pulley. Additionally, the teeth on the idler pulley look very worn.

Thank you for that followup and info William, I haven't been able to get to it yet but will report back soon.

 

[DanInStPete]

Yeah, it's so dumb I don't want to admit it, but I should have checked the chain path more closely. Apparently it was not seated completely on the jockey pulley. However, when I rode it and looked down it was spinning fine, so I thought it was fine. I would have sworn it was coming from the motor case!!!

Thank all, and sorry for the false alarm...

 

[William - Bosch Team]

Yeah, it's so dumb I don't want to admit it, but I should have checked the chain path more closely. Apparently it was not seated completely on the jockey pulley. However, when I rode it and looked down it was spinning fine, so I thought it was fine. I would have sworn it was coming from the motor case!!!

Thank all, and sorry for the false alarm...

If I had a dollar for every time I overlooked something like this as a bike mechanic in my earlier days... I'd have a lot of dollars right now.