Down and out By richardv (Read 1,684 times)

[richardv]

I wish I could ask you guys for help but it's probably not your area of expertise. My electric moped shut down last night. I could turn the switch off and back on and run for a few minutes before it would shut off again. Good thing I was close to home as that things is a bear to peddle with out the electric assist.

It's 3 years old now and off warranty so I opened the battery pack and found nothing wrong so just recharged it. Tonight I bypassed the switch in the battery pack and went for a ride. The same thing happened. I opened the control box at the bottom of the bike, just a bunch of wires and a fined aluminum motor control box. I was looking for a thermal breaker. Took it for another ride and when it quit I checked that controller box and it wasn't even warm.

Unfortunately there are no dealers that do repairs/parts in within a couple hundred miles and there internet site was of no help. So I guess I'm out of the game for now.

It's an e-Moto Ridge 4.5 and they quit making them last year.

I'd go cry in my beer if I could.

[Alleyoop]

I would check the batteries if you have had it for 3 years the batteries are probably are not holding a charge and deplete right away after a charge. Get a VOLT METER and check the battery volts on each one I see it is 24V so you only have 2 12v batteries. I know something about them My brother in law just sold his Electric Bike which we put a Phoenix Front HUB electric with 6 12v batteries 72volts it goes up to 40mph.
Alleyoop

www.electricrider.com/

[Bashan]

Could it just be the battery? Three years on a battery like that is a long time. I actually do have a BIT of experience with these things and that's the first thing I would check. Now, step one...go get a beer. Step two...become lachrymose. Step three...drink the beer and shut your pie hole!! Rich

[Alleyoop]

HAHAHA, we had the same thoughts I really think the batteries are shot.
Alleyoop

[Bashan]

You're starting to scare me brohau, we're developing some kind of psychic connection.....you can't see me can you? Ignore the tutu! Rich

[Alleyoop]

ONLY the KNOWS

[cyborg]

i triple the batteries or just one of them is bad take the bike apart to the point where you can load test them individually,,that would be my call

[kz1000st]

I'm thinking it could be some stinky little component in the motor control box. A crappy diode or chip breaking down. Remember condensors in old point systems? How many people pulled their hair out over those crappers?

[novaraptor]

First guess is the same as most. 3 year old batteries. Most of the time, they don't gradually degrade, they just pretty much quit holding a charge under load. That's the first thing to check. And, shouldn't come as a surprise that there is help available for virtually any kind of vehicle on a forum like this. Get enough people together and there is almost always a few people with experience to share. I would guess that there are several members with welding backgrounds, others with metal fab, probably a few with upholstery, etc..

[richardv]

It's not the batteries (two 12volts). They check out. It doesn't slow down like it's discharged but rather off like a switch. I can turn the key off and back on and be able to go at top speed for a short distance before doing it again. Could probably do the full 15 mile range turning the switch off and on but something would more than likely give out.

Useful while it lasted.

[jct842]

Years ago we used to hit the electrical components one at a time with a freon spray when they exhibited a quit when hot symptom. I don't know what would be used today since you can't use freon. We also would heat individual components with cigarette. Chances are that even finding a heat sensitive part There would be no part number on it and chances are you could not purchase a replacement.

I would be looking to replace the whole controller, and it may not be as expensive as you think. I have seen quite a few that would be used for electric bicycles.

[novaraptor]

endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=55522
from this, it appears that if some cells of the battery pack do not fully charge, than the controller can do a shut down. Might not be the problem, but still a good read..

[richardv]

Last night I dismantled the battery pack and all checked good. There's three individual cells all soldered together so I couldn't check individuals but the pack was at 25.7 volts after my last ride of 2+ miles. It spent the night on the charger and now shows 26.7 volts with the switch on and 3.5 volts with the switch off. So I'm still thinking it's the regulator.

Those aren't very inexpensive either. $20 less that I paid for the bike, a refurbished battery pack is $20 more and the charger is $35 more than I paid for the entire package.

I think I may be better off buying a Wal Mart special bike and save the $300 towards a REAL scooter that doesn't need an extension cord to refuel. My closest authorized dealer sells Kymco what do you guys think of that brand. He has new, used and does repairs. He also sells used motorcycles, snowmobiles and atvs.

[kz1000st]

Kymco is a great brand. It is so close to Japanese quality it's amazing.

[jvino]

I don't know were your located Richard v but there is a kymco 125 for sale in butler pa for 500 dollars seems like a fair deal. It has 2200 miles on it.