Fuel EXe Fuel EXe TQ Motor Issue Poll

[keeganxt]

Feel free to summarize your issues, if it was warrantied/repaired, etc.

 

[Mteam]

Motor failed (lost all drive) at about 400 miles, was replaced under warranty no probs, replacement motor has been fine

 

[Chris83]

9.7 model After 6 months started getting grinding noise in motor shop warranty it, on first ride with new motor noticed now there is less power than the old motor. I have to use full power to really feel any kind of assistance. I’ve had many problems with this bike. Had to warranty both wheels due to clicking noise , the rear end was harsh and noisy over bumps they set rear shock to fox for the updated piston and with a complete overhaul. The display stopped working and motor started to be noisy. So after all this within a year, trek decided to send me a new fuel exe and will swap all my upgrades over at no charge. This time I got it in pennyflake I wanted yellow but don’t make them anymore. We shall see how this one turns out

 

[Cell4soul]

1,200 miles. No issues thus far. Bike has been flawless and still quiet.

 

[Emailsucks98]

1yr+ review:
Overheated the motor a few times resulting in momentary reduction of power- no big deal
Remote died at 12 months, replaced under warranty
Replaced cranks, stock e13s were coming loose frequently
Frame & pivots still quiet
Replaced most stock parts due to personal preference
One failed rear carbon rim (warranty)
One failed King freehub (warranty)
GX AXS derailer, failed at 3 months (hit a stump) no warranty. Back to cables for me!

12/04 update. Ohlins shock was making knocking sounds, have been gradually turning in the clickers to get the same damping. I sent in for service, Ohlins said there was internal damage to the IFP and replacement parts are 8-12 weeks out

 

[keeganxt]

Bump to keep up to date

 

[Chris83]

9.7 model After 6 months started getting grinding noise in motor shop warranty it, on first ride with new motor noticed now there is less power than the old motor. I have to use full power to really feel any kind of assistance. I’ve had many problems with this bike. Had to warranty both wheels due to clicking noise , the rear end was harsh and noisy over bumps they set rear shock to fox for the updated piston and with a complete overhaul. The display stopped working and motor started to be noisy. So after all this within a year, trek decided to send me a new fuel exe and will swap all my upgrades over at no charge. This time I got it in pennyflake I wanted yellow but don’t make them anymore. We shall see how this one turns out

So trek said after all the problems they would just send me a whole new exe 9.7 I told them I can’t trust the motor I asked if they could send me a rail 9.8 Xt and they did! Its more fun and I enjoy it so far

 

[JP-NZ]

So trek said after all the problems they would just send me a whole new exe 9.7 I told them I can’t trust the motor I asked if they could send me a rail 9.8 Xt and they did! Its more fun and I enjoy it so far

Thats quite an upgrade! Good on Trek

 

[CJaMTB]

Just over 3,000kms and no problems. Well, in some seriously extreme weather, water entered the remote and the bike shut down. Trek sent a new remote, but I simply dried the old one, blocked the port where the water got in, and it's been good as gold ever since (plus, I now have a brand new spare remote!). I do get the odd weird noise from the motor, kind of feels like it over-runs at low cadence and speed, when not under a high load. Other than that though, it's as quite as it was on day one! Genuinely love this bike to bits, just so, SO fun to ride!

 

[ragetty]

2023 9.8 XT, 650kms - Motor ‚seems‘ to show ‚pedal resistance‘ when going to lower mode after e.g. turboing long uphill. Motor also seems noisier. First service next week, so I will report back …

 

[Stoli5481]

Feel free to summarize your issues, if it was warrantied/repaired, etc.

Controller Screen died after only 2 months and motor started making noise after 8 months. Motor Replaced. Best guess is water intrusion into controller screen on frame and on the motor it probably had some water or dirt intrusion that jammed up release springs or something because the motor felt like it wasn’t letting go completely when off power. So, under light pedaling it was making some sounds and felt still engaged when it should have been fully disengaged. Pinion rings were probably not retracting like they should.
Lesson learned here… great bike if you don’t get it wet and dirty. ?
On another note… just went through replacing almost the entire drivetrain due to a gear ratcheting sound, which usually is a B screw tension thing where the jockey wheels are up against the cassette. After replacing both Derailleur and Cassette and Chain AND spending weeks at the shop it never got fixed. I finally figured it out that the eThirteen Chainring that comes stock on the bike with a stock Shimano chain is NOT compatible with Shimano HG Chains. So, the sound was the chain getting somewhat chain sucked onto the chainring. I have NO idea how TREK nor the shop thought that would be OK, but it is what it is and now I am running a SRAM chain on a eThirteen chainring with a shimano cassette and Shimano derailleur and everything is running great!

 

[ohiomoto]

My wife and I have Fuel Exe and TQ-powered Scott gravel bikes. All are over a year old and have between 200-600 miles and we've only had one issue so far. The display button wouldn't power the bike on but function properly otherwise (plugging in a charger will turn the screen on). Trek replaced the display.

 

[SinglePointSafety]

Total loss of power in last 3 rides, error codes displayed. Fixed by turn off/on, but today's ride, total disaster. No amount of turn off/on or even reset would clear the codes and restore assistance, so had to use it like a meat bike for the last 10 km.... Bike with LBS

 

[SinglePointSafety]

Update: LBS updated the TQ firmware and checked the connection between the controller/screen and motor. This is evidently stages 1 and 2, stage 3 will be controller replace, stage 4 motor replace, as specified by Trek/TQ
Good news is that during a 2 hour ride today, no issues at all, so here's hoping.....

 

[Canyon Shawn]

At about 1,200 miles. I got an error. I can’t rememeber the error code. I was able to clear it. The bike worked fine. When I took it to my girlfriend’s bike shop for an update, they saw the error and Trek decided to replace the motor. Replacement was quick. The new motor seems to be a little stronger. And, another about 1,200 miles have gone by without any problems.

 

[abprops]

My wife and I have Fuel Exe and TQ-powered Scott gravel bikes. All are over a year old and have between 200-600 miles and we've only had one issue so far. The display button wouldn't power the bike on but function properly otherwise (plugging in a charger will turn the screen on). Trek replaced the display.

I had the same problem with a 2023 Domame + 7 SLR. TQ diagnostic system claimed no problem but the Control Panel was replaced under warranty. That fault followed soon after the chain had to be split several times due to increasing problems with chains coming off on TWO bikes. Trek had to remove the Crank to remove the last piece of chain from between the PRAXIS chain ring and TQ motor. E-assist has not been acceptable since, but TQ still claiming the diagnostic system shows no problems. NOTE: I reported chains dropping more and more frequently on a long-term loan Domane + 7 SLR over 3 months. Then, increasing problems with my present Domane + 7 SLR over 12 months. NOTE: The long-term loan resulted from TREK not being able to deliver the first brand new Domen+ 7 SLR as they could not get the front chainring to change correctly. The first claim was a bad batch of Di2 front changers. Then a SHIM KIT was required to realign the PRAXIS chainrings due to a build-up of tolerance problems. The brand-new unused bike had to be returned to Europe. The long-term, loan followed the offer of a Domane + returned by a customer in Liverpool within the 30 days as he decided he wanted a FULL POWER e-bike MTB. TREK do not have a Full power MTB with a TQ motor! Perhaps a clue! I was offered the 30-day return bike at a substantial discount but refused as I did not want a new bike with a history of possible problems. So I sugested a loan of that bike until a brand new Domane + 7 SLR could be delivered. I might have accepted the discount had that bike not suffered repeated and increasing problems with chain drops. The chain problem was worse on the second Domae + 7 SLR. I dont have a photograph showing the problem with my bike. The photograph shows a similar chain entanglement posted by another TREK Domae + 7 owner on the Domane + Forum. I have 4 Trek bikes Fuel 80 MTB, Domene 4.5 disc, Domane 7 SLR none e-assist bikes and now the problematic Domane 7 SLR. NOTE: The chain is wrapped around both chain rings and the rear derailleur is pulled as far forward as it will go by the chain. TREK advised TQ found no problems via their diagnostic system and suggested I was changing gears incorrectly. I have 75 years experience and two other Domane's. The 2018 Domane 7 SLR none e-bike has Di2. I believe TQ have a problem with their e-assit systems. So I presently have a bike which cost over £9000 which does not do waht its supposed to do provide e-assist.

 

[Mteam]

I had the same problem with a 2023 Domame + 7 SLR. TQ diagnostic system claimed no problem but the Control Panel was replaced under warranty. That fault followed soon after the chain had to be split several times due to increasing problems with chains coming off on TWO bikes. Trek had to remove the Crank to remove the last piece of chain from between the PRAXIS chain ring and TQ motor. E-assist has not been acceptable since, but TQ still claiming the diagnostic system shows no problems. NOTE: I reported chains dropping more and more frequently on a long-term loan Domane + 7 SLR over 3 months. Then, increasing problems with my present Domane + 7 SLR over 12 months. NOTE: The long-term loan resulted from TREK not being able to deliver the first brand new Domen+ 7 SLR as they could not get the front chainring to change correctly. The first claim was a bad batch of Di2 front changers. Then a SHIM KIT was required to realign the PRAXIS chainrings due to a build-up of tolerance problems. The brand-new unused bike had to be returned to Europe. The long-term, loan followed the offer of a Domane + returned by a customer in Liverpool within the 30 days as he decided he wanted a FULL POWER e-bike MTB. TREK do not have a Full power MTB with a TQ motor! Perhaps a clue! I was offered the 30-day return bike at a substantial discount but refused as I did not want a new bike with a history of possible problems. So I sugested a loan of that bike until a brand new Domane + 7 SLR could be delivered. I might have accepted the discount had that bike not suffered repeated and increasing problems with chain drops. The chain problem was worse on the second Domae + 7 SLR. I dont have a photograph showing the problem with my bike. The photograph shows a similar chain entanglement posted by another TREK Domae + 7 owner on the Domane + Forum. I have 4 Trek bikes Fuel 80 MTB, Domene 4.5 disc, Domane 7 SLR none e-assist bikes and now the problematic Domane 7 SLR. NOTE: The chain is wrapped around both chain rings and the rear derailleur is pulled as far forward as it will go by the chain. TREK advised TQ found no problems via their diagnostic system and suggested I was changing gears incorrectly. I have 75 years experience and two other Domane's. The 2018 Domane 7 SLR none e-bike has Di2. I believe TQ have a problem with their e-assit systems. So I presently have a bike which cost over £9000 which does not do waht its supposed to do provide e-assist.

View attachment 149933

Chain drops and chain suck is nothing to do with the motor directly (usually) ,but is usually caused by any of the following:-

- Worn chain
- worn chain rings
- misaligned components (cassette, chain ring, derailleur etc), including loose chain rings that wobble, or warped/bent chain rings.I guess the motor spindle/crank could be bent and cause a chain drop, but I'd expect this to be obvious, and no idea how you would bend a motor spindle.


-mismatched components, ie new chain on worn chain ring, or old chain on new chain ring etc.

In that photo the chain ring looks a bit worn, it's starting to develop 'hooks' on the backside of the teeth, which means the chain doesn't release correctly and gets 'sucked' back round the chain ring as per that photo.

Probably a new chain ring and chain would sort that out, maybe it also needs a new cassette, depending on how long the current cassette has been using with the existing/an old chain

 

[abprops]

Chain drops and chain suck is nothing to do with the motor directly,but is usually caused by any of the following:-

- Worn chain
- worn chain rings
- misaligned components (cassette, chain ring, derailleur etc), including loose chain rings that wobble, or warped/bent chain rings.
-mismatched components, ie new chain on worn chain ring, or old chain on new chain ring etc.

In that photo the chain ring looks a bit worn, it's starting to develop 'hooks' on the backside of the teeth, which means the chain doesn't release correctly and gets 'sucked' back round the chain ring as per that photo.

Probably a new chain ring and chain would sort that out, maybe it also needs a new cassette, depending on how long the current cassette has been using with the existing/an old chain

Both bikes are just 12 months old or less. Your observations are wishful thinking and a simplistic explanation. You are stating the obvious where many such problems are found. Hopefully not on many if any high end bikes ridden by 81 year olds like me. Its also exptemly unlikley TREK would not have ifentified such problems from the actual bilkes rather than a photograph. TREK replaced the chain on my bike under warranty but FOUND NO PROBLEMS with the drive chain. Nor did TREK find any problems with the Casset. NOTE: I have 75 yeras experience of cycling and have three TREK Domanes, A 2015 Domane 4.5 Disk. 2018 model Domane 7 SLR none e assist bike and a 2023 Domane + 7 SLR. plus a Feuel 80 Trek MTB. Trek dervice them all and have done since I bought my first Trek in 2015.

 

[Mteam]

Both bikes are just 12 months old or less. Your observations are wishful thinking and a simplistic explanation. You are stating the obvious where many such problems are found. Hopefully not on many if any high end bikes ridden by 81 year olds like me. Its also exptemly unlikley TREK would not have ifentified such problems from the actual bilkes rather than a photograph. TREK replaced the chain on my bike under warranty but FOUND NO PROBLEMS with the drive chain. Nor did TREK find any problems with the Casset. NOTE: I have 75 yeras experience of cycling and have three TREK Domanes, A 2015 Domane 4.5 Disk. 2018 model Domane 7 SLR none e assist bike and a 2023 Domane + 7 SLR. plus a Feuel 80 Trek MTB. Trek dervice them all and have done since I bought my first Trek in 2015.

Age of bikes has nothing to do with it, mileage is what counts.

It could be entirely possible that trek are using low quality chain rings that wear too fast, and experience these issues too easily. But you should also be aware that ebikes wear out drive train components much more rapidly (ie in less miles) than you would wear out the same components without a motor for assistance. It's really quite surprising how quick chain rings and chains wear out on e bikes, 500 miles is not unheard of before parts(usually chains) need replacing.

Just have a think about it, how could a motor directly cause chain drops or chain suck?

I'm no trek/tq apologist, I have had the following replaced by trek, a new tq motor, a new frame, a new tq display a new tq controller. It's just really really unlikely that the motor itself is responsible for chain drops/suck unless the crank or spindle is bent and that should be obvious just by looking at it.

I'm not saying you don't have a problem, I'm just saying it's unlikely to be caused by the motor itself , it could well be that trek have an issue with frame alignment on the domain+ for example, there's loads of things that can cause it, but the motor system itself is unlikely to be the root cause. Witness the number of other bikes that use the tq hpr50 system, there are not widespread complaints of chain drops or chain suck across all these different brands and models, which there would be if the motor was directly a cause of this.

Anyway, I'm only trying to help, feel free to ignore me

 

[abprops]

Age of bikes has nothing to do with it, mileage is what counts.

It could be entirely possible that trek are using low quality chain rings that wear too fast, and experience these issues too easily. But you should also be aware that ebikes wear out drive train components much more rapidly (ie in less miles) than you would wear out the same components without a motor for assistance. It's really quite surprising how quick chain rings and chains wear out on e bikes, 500 miles is not unheard of before parts(usually chains) need replacing.

Just have a think about it, how could a motor directly cause chain drops or chain suck?

I'm no trek/tq apologist, I have had the following replaced by trek, a new tq motor, a new frame, a new tq display a new tq controller. It's just really really unlikely that the motor itself is responsible for chain drops/suck unless the crank or spindle is bent and that should be obvious just by looking at it.

I'm not saying you don't have a problem, I'm just saying it's unlikely to be caused by the motor itself , it could well be that trek have an issue with frame alignment on the domain+ for example, there's loads of things that can cause it, but the motor system itself is unlikely to be the root cause. Witness the number of other bikes that use the tq hpr50 system, there are not widespread complaints of chain drops or chain suck across all these different brands and models, which there would be if the motor was directly a cause of this.

Anyway, I'm only trying to help, feel free to ignore me

Just think about it. An 81 year old who needs an e-assist bike. wearing out a chain or drive train within months or in this case DAYS. Which is what you are suggestion. I am not suggesting you are NOT trying to help just I cannot agree with your lack of logic. The first Domane + 7 SLR loan bike had chain drop problems within a few days of my starting to use it. At that time the bike had only had 30 days of use. before I reported increasing chain drops when the bike was days over 30 days old, When I was given it on long-term loan while mynew bike could be delivered. The customer who returned the bike within 30 days changing it for a TREK MTB with a full-power motor. Rather than a TQ motor which seems to be a clue. CHAIN DEOPS. When I started to use the bike the chain drops started almost immediately and increased over the next 3 months becomming more and more of a problem. Not to the extemt shown in the photograph. Which I emphasised was not my bike or the long-term loan bike..
You suggest the TQ motor or system cannot result in chain drops. I disagree as the motor can cause the chain to overrun the chain rings resulting in the chain entanglement shown in the photographs. How can the motor do this? Overrun problems can occur due to the unreliability of the TQ E-qssist system not sensing the difference between the power the cyclists puts into the pedals which is used to determine the amount of e-assist power required from the motor. TREK has replaced the TQ Control panel Under Warranty and also the TQ Speed Sensor under warranty, The Speed Sensor along with the STRAIN seniors in the Bottom Bracket which measure the TORQUE and STRAIN (OR POWER)

The post started with a question about others experiencing POWER or E-assist problems with a TQ e-assist bike when climbing hills! When the TQ motor is applying MAXIMUM power or watts to the chain ring to drive the bike up the hill and that power suddenly drops to ZERO WATTS as described. The motor will slow down or stop turning. Meanwhile, the chain is still moving forward and can only be stopped or slowed down by the Chain ring resisting. The result is the chain will jump out of the chain teeth and come off the chainring. There is no other option! Hence as in the photograph the chain can be seen wrapped round BOTH the large and small chainrings and why TREK had to remove the crank to allow the remaining piece of the chain on my bike to be rermoved following the worst chain entanglemen. Which required the chain to be split repeatedly to remove the sections of chain which had jumped off the chain rings leaving loops of chain. That being the worst entanglement following repeated chain drops reported repeatedly over 12 months. NOTE: As I have said before! TREK found no problems or damage to the chainrings or the Cassette. But TREK had to replace the chain under warrant as it was very obviously damaged and had been cut into small pieces to allow the chain rings to turn. So the bike could be coasted down the Rest & Be Thankful Hill out of Perth and then be pushed home. Thankfully I live a short distance from the Rest & Be Thankful Climb out of Perth. The TQ e-assist sytem has not performed as it should an had before that disastrous chain drop. Since when the TQ Control Panel and the TQ Speed Sencor have had to be replaced under warranty. Leaving the Strain Sencors on the Bottom Bracket and the TQ motor as the reason the e-assist system does not provide the power or e-assist it did for almost 12 months prior to that disarterous chain entanglement.

 

[abprops]

9.7 model After 6 months started getting grinding noise in motor shop warranty it, on first ride with new motor noticed now there is less power than the old motor. I have to use full power to really feel any kind of assistance. I’ve had many problems with this bike. Had to warranty both wheels due to clicking noise , the rear end was harsh and noisy over bumps they set rear shock to fox for the updated piston and with a complete overhaul. The display stopped working and motor started to be noisy. So after all this within a year, trek decided to send me a new fuel exe and will swap all my upgrades over at no charge. This time I got it in pennyflake I wanted yellow but don’t make them anymore. We shall see how this one turns out

see video by BankBuster Productions on Utube the motor and strain Gauges were eventually replaced under warranty. The TQ system is not up to the task.