All eBike motors are not currently serviceable items. They are designed to be fitted and forgotten (Yes, I know we all know how that turns out). They are not currently designed to be taken apart and put back together on a regular basis.Why they can’t just set up a decent servicing scheme via my LBS I’d be happy to pay out for a maintenance every 6 months.
Creaking and clicking is usually caused by something outside of the motor e.g. Motor bolts not quite tight enough causing the motor to creak against the frame. Front chainring bolts not tight enough causing the chainring to creak against the spider. Spider creaking on the motor drive. Crank arm creaking on the crankshaft. Pedal failing. Seat post creaking in the down tube. Rear quadrant bearings or pivots creaking. Rear shock linkage creaking. Rear cassette or freewheel hub creaking and finally, rear axle bolt creaking.Creaking / clicking under load, initially only when standing but now whilst seated!
Motor on motor off same creaking/clicking
Yes, we have had all of these at some point or another and most people talking to us are just about to pull the trigger on a new motor! Always check motor bolts and chainring bolts first.
We have spoken to Brose about what parts are used and what are not! We have been assured that only parts in very good condition are ever re-used. I think I can assure you of this when they told me that most motors returned from the UK are scrapped because the motors have had water through them and are destroyed! (We can vouch for that!)If they were corroded drive side bearings then the crank would probably have to be replaced along with the rollers as part of the 'recon' since the crank is effectively the 'inner race' of the bearing but if they are going cheap on repairs and just replacing the rollers I can see why recons would not last long with new rollers rolling on an old pitted crank.
Also, although it was nice of your dealer to pull a new motor from another bike for you I wonder if that bike got a real new motor or a 'recon'?
We also buy a lot of motors from overseas, if these come from a dry country, the parts are normally immaculate. And no reason they should not be used again.
When motors (any make) come out of warranty and their owners contact us, people like to tell us the back-story to their bikes and motor failures. Here is how the conversation normally goes:
Hello, eBike Motor Centre.
Hello, I think my motors' fooked!
OK, whats it doing?
The pedals are stiff to turn backwards and forwards.
Have you changed the front chainring lately?
Yes.
Did you use the Brose tool when you pulled the spider off?
No.
OK, send it in and we'll sort it out.
Or
Hello, eBike Motor Centre.
Hello, I think my motors' fooked!
OK, whats it doing?
The pedals are stiff to turn backwards.
Is it possible that your motor has water in it?
No, I never pressure wash it, I don't hose around that area, I never go through deep water.
Do you use a car rack to transport your bike?
Yes. We had a great trip up to Bike Park Wales last week. It rained all the way up there, but a great day.
OK, send it in and we'll dry it out and fix it.
I could do a 100 of these, and none of them will be the motors fault (Yes, I know it should be waterproof but it isn't). My point is; if you get through 4 or 5 motors in a thousand miles, it may not always be down to the motor