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

[Stefan Mikes]

I read the Forum, Peranders

Well you would think I'd have learned after 41 years of flying. When in doubt, read the manual. It's the coin CR1220 battery in the TCD that's dying. I'll pick one up tomorrow. Changing the battery dumps everything in the TCD, even the Mission Control pairing.

 

[sealevelguy]

I read the Forum, Peranders

Although the manual (bottom of page 11) said changing that changing the CR1220 battery would dump your settings on the TCD, it didn't on mine. After changing the battery all my settings (units, odometer, time etc.) were still there.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

After changing the battery all my settings (units, odometer, time etc.) were still there.

I think all these settings might be stored in the TCU, especially the odometer (which is a vital piece of information).

 

[sealevelguy]

I think all these settings might be stored in the TCU, especially the odometer (which is a vital piece of information).

Apparently the wireless TCD's do drop everything. Which bikes use them is beyond me but they are out there. What I really found annoying was that my manual said the same thing, but I didn't lose a thing. Even Mission Control didn't require re-initializing.
I guess Marcela's advice was spot on. Do it real fast.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Apparently the wireless TCD's do drop everything.

Not so sure. See this:
My Vado 5.0 had been equipped with the older BLOKS display, which was later replaced with the TCD-W by the LBS. (In fact, the LBS had to disassemble and reassemble the bike to be able to do that). After the overhaul, all the information (especially the odometer figure) still were there! So I think the Turbo e-bike settings are not stored in the display but in the TCU, or Turbo Control Unit somewhere inside the bike. Some people say the odometer information is only reset when the motor has been replaced, and it makes a lot of sense. (@Nxkharra: Can you confirm the latter?)

Now, the SL e-bikes as well as the Levo or Kenevo can work completely without the display: everything is stored in the TCU. Same must be true for Vado and Como: the information is display-independent.

I have been trying to look up the TCD/TCD-W user manuals again but it seems the Specialized global website is under update and no manuals can be presently found!

P.S. I found the link to the User Manual: It claims the settings would be erased. I don't think so. (Pairing of devices might be reset).

 

[sealevelguy]

Not so sure. See this:
My Vado 5.0 had been equipped with the older BLOKS display, which was later replaced with the TCD-W by the LBS. (In fact, the LBS had to disassemble and reassemble the bike to be able to do that). After the overhaul, all the information (especially the odometer figure) still were there! So I think the Turbo e-bike settings are not stored in the display but in the TCU, or Turbo Control Unit somewhere inside the bike. Some people say the odometer information is only reset when the motor has been replaced, and it makes a lot of sense. (@Nxkharra: Can you confirm the latter?)

Now, the SL e-bikes as well as the Levo or Kenevo can work completely without the display: everything is stored in the TCU. Same must be true for Vado and Como: the information is display-independent.

I have been trying to look up the TCD/TCD-W user manuals again but it seems the Specialized global website is under update and no manuals can be presently found!

P.S. I found the link to the User Manual: It claims the settings would be erased. I don't think so. (Pairing of devices might be reset).

View attachment 68472

 

[sealevelguy]

Yeah. That's exactly what I was reading but then again I thought your TCU was a typo until I started reading and Yep there is a TCD and a TCU. Maybe by the time I get my new 2024 Turbo Vado 10.0 ZSX I'll have a grasp of some of this.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

All: I'm not sure how it is with your access to the Specialized Website but only the Li-Ion battery document is currently available there for me:

https://media.specialized.com/support/collateral/0000146778.pdf

It is quite interesting to see the 604 Wh battery is one of the most lightweight of the ones available to the full-power Turbo e-bikes. A similar Giant battery is 1 kg (2.2 lbs) heavier!
-----------
BREAKING NEWS: The Shimano drive-train replacement parts are disappearing from the market. I was informed in another thread the whole new Shimano production goes for newly manufactured bikes. I needed to buy the replacement 10-12t sprockets for the CS-M7100-12 cassette of my Trance E+. It looks I have been able to buy probably the last sprocket set available in Poland, and there's nothing available to me in German online stores. The situation in your region might be different but it looks the shelves are indeed bare worldwide.

Inspect your chain for wear frequently. Clean the chain, derailleur, the cassette! Or, you might be in trouble soon same as I am...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes the mileage will reset when you replace the motor, 4.0 and 5.0 did

Makes a lot of sense. The mileage should refer to the motor, not to the rest of the bike.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

amazon web site says that shimano parts will be back in stock at the end of october

Good news!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

So... The Trance E+ smallest cassette cogs have been replaced, nice!

Now this: It has turned out the Vado smallest cogs are damaged, too, and these need replacement. That's the weak point of owning N+1 e-bikes... I lost my patience and intend to ride my Vado in gears 1-9, leaving the 10-11 aside for a while. The expensive lesson learnt: Inspect your chain for wear (stretch) with a digital caliper and replace the chain when necessary before the sprocket disaster happens...

 

[Billperry]

So... The Trance E+ smallest cassette cogs have been replaced, nice!

Now this: It has turned out the Vado smallest cogs are damaged, too, and these need replacement. That's the weak point of owning N+1 e-bikes... I lost my patience and intend to ride my Vado in gears 1-9, leaving the 10-11 aside for a while. The expensive lesson learnt: Inspect your chain for wear (stretch) with a digital caliper and replace the chain when necessary before the sprocket disaster happens...

Como 5.0. I inspect the chain and replace when it reaches .5. So, chain replaced at 1700 miles and again at about 3200 miles. At the second chain replacement the two smallest cogs needed replacement. Now watching chain stretch and cog wear more closely. To early to tell but it seems that the small cogs may not be well matched for the motor's torque.

 

[BikeOn]

ordered a srsuntor seat post for the sl, 27.2 on the sl and 30.9 on 20 vado

cover of the rear tail light feel off, had to super glue it back on

looks like the stock tires are continental, cause have a new set for the 20 vado the tread pattern looks the same

215 miles so far

My rear cover light has fallen off 2x as well. When I re-applied it the first time I did not use adhesive and now it's off again. Hopefully it is in the garage somewhere. How's the glue working?

 

[Marci jo]

So... The Trance E+ smallest cassette cogs have been replaced, nice!

Now this: It has turned out the Vado smallest cogs are damaged, too, and these need replacement. That's the weak point of owning N+1 e-bikes... I lost my patience and intend to ride my Vado in gears 1-9, leaving the 10-11 aside for a while. The expensive lesson learnt: Inspect your chain for wear (stretch) with a digital caliper and replace the chain when necessary before the sprocket disaster happens...

Great point Stefan.
This last Spring the lbs mechanic showed me that the chain had stretched a bit. Roughly 2600 mi (4200 km) but still shifting as smooth as butter. I went ahead with a new chain. It’s interesting because previously on non-powered bikes I never replaced chains unless there was a problem. Guess I’m more proactive not reactive these days.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The motor adds a lot of stress to the chain.

 

[BarryS]

Como 5.0. I inspect the chain and replace when it reaches .5. So, chain replaced at 1700 miles and again at about 3200 miles. At the second chain replacement the two smallest cogs needed replacement. Now watching chain stretch and cog wear more closely. To early to tell but it seems that the small cogs may not be well matched for the motor's torque.

Some of the excessive wear is due in part to they are just cramming to many sprockets in : Obviously things have to be made lighter thinner etc .To accommodate it all My Roadie Friends are having the same Issues We are having I'm sure the Motor adds to it as well. But it's not all the Motors fault. The same can be said for these mission control units : Computers are delicate : You knock a laptop off chair height and you'll likely damage something : We are riding Bikes up to 30Miles and Hour : Buying Seat springs to save our backs and Butts : These tiny units on the E-bikes technically take a lot of harsh treatment : They are delicate : I have 2 friends that have Phones mounted on Bikes : They both have had phone issues : Technology is Great : Unfortunately it's not very durable against the harshness of banging it constantly riding :

 

[Marci jo]

Some of the excessive wear is due in part to they are just cramming to many sprockets in : Obviously things have to be made lighter thinner etc .To accommodate it all My Roadie Friends are having the same Issues We are having I'm sure the Motor adds to it as well. But it's not all the Motors fault. The same can be said for these mission control units : Computers are delicate : You knock a laptop off chair height and you'll likely damage something : We are riding Bikes up to 30Miles and Hour : Buying Seat springs to save our backs and Butts : These tiny units on the E-bikes technically take a lot of harsh treatment : They are delicate : I have 2 friends that have Phones mounted on Bikes : They both have had phone issues : Technology is Great : Unfortunately it's not very durable against the harshness of banging it constantly riding :

Good points Barry.
That's why I have no intention of mounting my phone onto the handlebars. All the thousands of small bumps and vibrations will certainly have a negative effect on the device.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

One can always keep the phone with Mission Control in their zipped pocket...

 

[Art Deco]

This. But I would be tempted to try to mount a phone cage in the lower water bottle boss in the step thru model. Side opening and secured use of the boss. But mine is in the bike bag's padded pocket.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

This. But I would be tempted to try to mount a phone cage in the lower water bottle boss in the step thru model. Side opening and secured use of the boss. But mine is in the bike bag's padded pocket.

You see, each and every of my e-bikes is equipped with a Spigen Gearlock smartphone mount (it is based on the principle similar to the popular Quad Lock). Yet the phone I carry is certainly not any expensive iPhone. I stick to Honor phones (Android, by Huawei), which are relatively inexpensive (around 300 dollar), and surely unavailable in the U.S. (you know why) I admit I lost a single Honor: I didn't notice the mounting screw loosened in one of these mounts. Quad Lock with integrated iPhone case is certainly better but I would indeed hesitate to put a one-thousand-dollar smartphone on the handlebars...

Not a Vado, not a Como. In the defence of smartphone mounts I might say these handlebars are supported on a 150 millimeter travel suspension fork, and my smartphone sees a lot of rough terrain together with me Sometimes I think e-MTB handlebars have come from the Outer Space...