Specialized Turbo Vado/Como/Tero/Tero X User Club

[Stefan Mikes]

Oh boy, just hit 1200 miles today, guess I gotta check for stretch, etc. All seems perfect riding, etc. I cannot believe 1.0 stretch on a chain in 1200 miles.

The stretch certainly depends on how a given e-bike has been ridden. The motor adds a lot of tensile stress, then there is the matter of rider's cadence, how the gears have been shifted etc. You need to be aware the 1.0 stretch translated to the chain length means a little bit over a millimetre, which is a very small figure. Still, the tolerances on modern cassettes are very tight. Not replacing the chain at the right moment means rapid deterioration of the cassette, and these are very expensive. Not replacing the cassette worn by the worn chain results in the damage to chain-ring, and replacing a chain-ring is hard: hard to buy a replacement, and few of us can replace the chain-ring at home.

Having said the above, I think replacing the chain in time is far cheaper than subsequent replacing the cassette, or worse, the chainring. The chain gauge costs dimes. If in doubt, the LBS will do chain purchase and replacement for you. However, some shop mechanics may insist the cassette should be replaced, too, and that makes me really unhappy.

Views of other Club members?

I have been capable to clean the Vado cassette only to this shape. Jacek was able to clean the Trance's cassette to the level it looked like a new one.

 

[TS25]

We were baffled by the fact it would be the best to own the Shimano Quick-Link pliers but Jacek was capable to connect the chain without the tool. (After he assembled the Quick-Link with pliers, he pressed the rear brake lever and stomped very hard on the right pedal; the Quick Link snapped into place).

I used the same technique to install a replacement chain on my Vado. I was surprised how much pressure it took on the pedals to get the master link to 'click' closed! For my 9-speed mech bike it's much easier...

For my 3x8-speed Lovelec I could close the link with my fingers...

That's why I don't like the Shimano quick links / KMC missing links. Get the SRAM powerlock quick link next time. No special tool needed and reusable.

 

[TS25]

... and replacing a chain-ring is hard: hard to buy a replacement, and few of us can replace the chain-ring at home.

... The chain gauge costs dimes.

Views of other Club members?

I have been capable to clean the Vado cassette only to this shape. Jacek was able to clean the Trance's cassette to the level it looked like a new one.

I agree in most points, but not in the above:

replacing the chain ring is an easy job, just need a few tools for about 22€ and 1/2 hour time, and you can buy good quality ones easily for 1/3 or 1/2 price of the Specialized chain ring.

Buying a chain gauge is a waste of money if you have a digital caliper at hand which is even more precise. I use the caliper method: 10 stretched chain links measured from centre to centre, 127mm is new - 128mm is OK but time to change - 129mm is a bit too late and worn teeth are likely. The chain gauge method is less precise and could lead to unnessary early chain exchange.

And for your attempt to clean the cassette: just send it to @Sierratim, I trust he would love to show you how it can be done properly
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Specialized Turbo Vado/Como/Tero/Tero X User Club

I got my Como 4.0 about a month ago. Already 500 miles on it. Fabulous bike! I’ve had several ebikes going back to 2007, and I’ve had many other bikes. Some very high quality bikes. This Como is just superb. Very smooth and solid feeling. Rides like a truly high quality bike. I do have a...

electricbikereview.com

So you couldn't take yours apart?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That's why I don't like the Shimano quick links / KMC missing links. Get the SRAM powerlock quick link next time. No special tool needed and reusable.

Thank you. Easily available for both 11 and 12 speeds.

Buying a chain gauge is a waste of money if you have a digital caliper at hand which is even more precise. I use the caliper method: 10 stretched chain links measured from centre to centre, 127mm is new - 128mm is OK but time to change - 129mm is a bit too late and worn teeth are likely. The chain gauge method is less precise and could lead to unnessary early chain exchange.

Thank you for the advice!

The new chains: 127 mm. The Trance chain: 128 mm. The Vado chain: 129 mm (oops!)

And for your attempt to clean the cassette: just send it to @Sierratim, I trust he would love to show you how it can be done properly
:

Specialized Turbo Vado/Como/Tero/Tero X User Club

I got my Como 4.0 about a month ago. Already 500 miles on it. Fabulous bike! I’ve had several ebikes going back to 2007, and I’ve had many other bikes. Some very high quality bikes. This Como is just superb. Very smooth and solid feeling. Rides like a truly high quality bike. I do have a...

electricbikereview.com

So you couldn't take yours apart?

Don't want to!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@TS25: what exactly tool is necessary to remove/replace the cassette? I have noticed the 40 Nm indication. Could you describe the process? Not that I'm paranoiac about the cassette: it is probably still fine...

 

[TS25]

The new chains: 127 mm. The Trance chain: 128 mm. The Vado chain: 129 mm (oops!)

Measured at various places? Maybe that's the price for speeding (S-ped).

I just measured mine (6 places): 127.3mm after 1.500 miles.

 

[TS25]

@TS25: what exactly tool is necessary to remove/replace the cassette? I have noticed the 40 Nm indication. Could you describe the process? Not that I'm paranoiac about the cassette: it is probably still fine...

You need the Shimano lock ring tool TL-LR15 to unlock the cassette

and the Shimano's dealers manual for the cassette is helpful:
Shimano DM-MBCS001-01.

Manuals & Technical Documents

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Measured at various places? Maybe that's the price for speeding (S-ped).

I just measured mine (6 places): 127.3mm after 1.500 miles.

First of all, that could be the speed. The unknown in the equation is my brother who rode the Vado for a month and he was never slow... He prefers lower cadence in addition to it, however, he learned pedalling fast when he rode the Trance

You need the Shimano lock ring tool TL-LR15 to unlock the cassette

and the Shimano's dealers manual for the cassette is helpful:
Shimano DM-MBCS001-01.

Manuals & Technical Documents

That is really helpful!

 

[rochrunner]

You need the Shimano lock ring tool TL-LR15 to unlock the cassette

and the Shimano's dealers manual for the cassette is helpful:
Shimano DM-MBCS001-01.

Manuals & Technical Documents

Also a chain whip.

 

[TS25]

Also a chain whip.

Yep.
I trust @Stefan Mikes has already started to make his own as shown here

Chain ring tooth selection

@E-Wheels Here a couple of shots, and you can see just how tight everything is in there. Sorry the second one is a bit dark because of the sunlight, but you can see my US Postal water bottle - that will tell you who my hero used to be, but that is another story :). Looks to me like there will...

electricbikereview.com

- from the old exchanged chains.

So is there a new home bike mechanic born already? You wouldn't believe it, would you?

 

[Marcela]

My apologies. I assumed you were using trail mile markers when you referred to "the 1/2 mile mark", etc. What mark are you referring to?

Go back a few pages we already discussed this.

 

[Marcela]

Just my opinion, taking the cassette apart to clean is unnecessary and introduces additional variables into the reliability equation.

How many times can the special thin lock washer be reused?

You have to get the gear interface almost surgically clean, any dirt in this area will introduce play later in the life when it works its way out and the gears become loose, you do not want this to happen.

You need a torque wrench, chain whip, and the socket to interface with the cassette locking ring.

Again, you pick your battles and make your choices. My preference to clean the cassette is a can of starting fluid (ether) for $3 and 2 minutes of time unless I need to change out some gears.

Not saying taking something apart is wrong, I also like to take stuff apart. Just be aware of what the ramifications could be.

I think the cassette requires 40 ft. lbs or some astronomical number to put back together also, that is quite a bit so you might expect to wrestle with it a little.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

To be absolutely clear: I don't intend to disassemble the cassette. I don't intend to replace the cassette myself either
I'm very happy now. With spotty weather right now, I had some short but very fast grocery shopping rides on my Vado, and it was a sheer pleasure! I intend to ride to see my daughter on Sunday (40 km round trip). I could do it in Turbo but no, that will be in 25/25% Eco since I need more workout. 90 kg or 198 lbs as of today and I need to lose more body mass!

 

[TS25]

To be absolutely clear: I don't intend to disassemble the cassette. I don't intend to replace the cassette myself either
... I had some short but very fast grocery shopping rides ...
I need more workout. 90 kg or 198 lbs as of today and I need to lose more body mass!

That's easily supported: return the dumplings to the store.

PS
----------
sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Stefan Mikes]

That's easily supported: return the dumplings to the store.

Entschuldigung?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

@TS25: I appreciate your sense of humour; and they say the German are deadly serious...

I sometimes cannot resist drinking or eating something containing sugar; the best way would be refraining from anything like that (because I eat very little and my diabetes pills support body-mass decrease). Yet, sometimes, I cannot resist eating pączki on my rides and my excuse is "come on, you have burnt a lot of calories already!" With regret, I eat pierogi very rarely...

 

[Code54]

I am in Columbus,Ohio. The only Specialized dealers I know of that handle ebikes are in Akron or Cincinnati, both over two hours away.

Check BikeSource at 4840 Sawmill Rd, Columbus, OH 43235. I bought both our Como and Vado there a few weeks ago.

 

[Art Deco]

@TS25: I appreciate your sense of humour; and they say the German are deadly serious...

I sometimes cannot resist drinking or eating something containing sugar; the best way would be refraining from anything like that (because I eat very little and my diabetes pills support body-mass decrease). Yet, sometimes, I cannot resist eating pączki on my rides and my excuse is "come on, you have burnt a lot of calories already!" With regret, I eat pierogi very rarely...

The only sugar I like is maltose ? the one in beer, anyway. But I like that one much too much @Stefan Mikes .

 

[Eric B]

50miles ?? I have a Vado 4 I've ridden 90 miles on a charge . Averaging probably 17 or more MPH. I rode yesterday 31.5 miles Using Turbo twice when I stopped to take a Phone call . Leaving me about a mile behind everyone else . I used it to catch them. Mostly riding in ECO . Yesterday was a Fast ride : We were averaging 22 mph : I have 5 bars of 10 left and 3 lights out of 5 on the battery still. So far I have left the Factory setting alone : I also used the Sport mode for 4 miles : Just to see how much more Juice I used : The 90 miles I mentioned still left me 2 bars of Power : I was going on another longer ride of 50 miles the next day so I charged it up. Had that not been the case I was going to ride around My Block which is 7.5 miles . Just to see if I could get to almost 100 miles with one charge : Granted my bike is just a week and 2 days old .

Today I rode 22 miles, average speed 13 mph, 1,000 elevation gain, mostly trail (Crushed gravel/sand), and used 200 Wh or 9 Wh/mile on my Vado 5.0. Mostly Eco mode with standard settings. The Mission Control App says I averaged 200% support. I’m not sure of the Wh capacity of the Vado 4.0. however it is safe to say that over the course of 100 miles you are using less than 6 Wh/mile, maybe 5. It is interesting how these bike‘s computers pay out the Wh support. I imagine the average cadence has a lot to do with it, although Mission Control does not appear to store the cadence details in the Ride history. In other words in your fast ride you may have pedaled with a much smoother/optimized cadence than I use.

 

[GuruUno]

I am 69-1/2 years old, 6'0" and 228 lbs.
Weather here today was 66 degrees and 1.9mph wind 95% humidity at 7:30-9:30 AM
I did a 27 mile ride with 100% battery at start and returned with 53%, did ECO the entire time, as a test to see if I could ultimately gauge if I could ever do more than 50 miles. Standard out of the box settings on Mission Control, no mods.
27.03mi 630ft
I'm not doubting you ability or the bikes ability, but I wold love to get the distance you get.
Do you weigh 60 lbs?