LEVO

[JohnJohn]

Difficulty in replacing the battery screw.
Is it just me ?

 

[Mikerb]

difficult only if you do not have the battery firmly in place so that the screw lines up properly.

 

[JohnJohn]

difficult only if you do not have the battery firmly in place so that the screw lines up properly.

It

difficult only if you do not have the battery firmly in place so that the screw lines up properly.

Yes ! That's the problem ! It is awkward to line them up . The hole in the frame should be larger

 

[Mikerb]

Had you taken the rockguard off by any chance? If that is not fitted correctly the screw hole will not line up.

 

[JohnJohn]

Had you taken the rockguard off by any chance? If that is not fitted correctly the screw hole will not line up.

No , not touched it. Didn't know you could.

 

[Mikerb]

Maybe check nothing is obstructing the hinge pin on the rockguard and it is clean

 

[JohnJohn]

Thanks mate I'll check it.

 

[McInner1]

The holes of my battery are only aligned when I pull the battery out again by about 1 mm after inserting it.

 

[Colin-T-Woods]

They are a pain to get back in in both of our levo's. I just visually line the holes up by wiggling the battery and then rotate the scew back and forth until it squares up. Always a worry about cross-threading as the female looks like it's brass.

 

[JohnJohn]

Yes, they are a pain to get back in. I thought about drilling the hole 2 or 3 mm wider . Not sure if it's a good idea though.

 

[Mikerb]

No...not a good idea but you can use something like a bic biro or a pencil to insert and gently help the alignment.

 

[JohnJohn]

No...not a good idea but you can use something like a bic biro or a pencil to insert and gently help the alignment.

 

[JohnJohn]

How do you mean mate ? How do you do that?

 

[Mikerb]

Get something that is a material softer than brass...like plastic or wood...hence a biro or pencil...that is nearly the same diameter as the screw and use that inserted into the rock guard screw hole through to the brass thread in order to get a straight alignment. You can judge that both by the angle of the biro tube or pencil etc you use and when satisfied it looks square hold the battery in place and check by eye that everything looks aligned. The screw should then go in straight and you avoid the risk of cross threading it.

 

[JohnJohn]

Yes, see what you mean now ! I'll have a bash at that.
Thanks...

 

[Oldnomad52]

First thing you want to check is which hole is out of alignment if any. With the battery out of the bike look through the bolt hole in the rock guard (which is hinged to the bottom of the battery) and the brass nut in the battery should be in the center of the hole as per first pic. Make sure that the rock guard is against the battery body as per second pic. If this looks ok then it might be the hole in the down tube that's out of position, unlikely but possible.
Now tip the bike upside down and slide the battery back into the down tube and look through the rock guard again and see if they all line up now.
I have two batteries and swap them out on the trails on a regular basis and have found that the best option is to change the battery with the bike upside down. I've had trouble on a couple of occasions but this was due to mud and dirt stopping the battery from sliding all the way into the down tube. What ever you do don't force the bolt or it will end in tears for sure. I actually found a rubber plug that fitted onto the hollow securing bolt as mud and water can get right into the brass nut which is a bad design I think. I'm thinking of putting some silicone in the bottom of the bolt to stop the crap getting in.
Anyway good luck.

 

[Mikerb]

the bolt is hollow because it goes into the brass threaded part which is sealed at the end. So without the hollow section in the bolt you would be screwing the bolt in against a compressed column of air. To prevent ingress of dust etc just use some grease under the bolt head.

 

[JohnJohn]

First thing you want to check is which hole is out of alignment if any. With the battery out of the bike look through the bolt hole in the rock guard (which is hinged to the bottom of the battery) and the brass nut in the battery should be in the center of the hole as per first pic. Make sure that the rock guard is against the battery body as per second pic. If this looks ok then it might be the hole in the down tube that's out of position, unlikely but possible.
Now tip the bike upside down and slide the battery back into the down tube and look through the rock guard again and see if they all line up now.
I have two batteries and swap them out on the trails on a regular basis and have found that the best option is to change the battery with the bike upside down. I've had trouble on a couple of occasions but this was due to mud and dirt stopping the battery from sliding all the way into the down tube. What ever you do don't force the bolt or it will end in tears for sure. I actually found a rubber plug that fitted onto the hollow securing bolt as mud and water can get right into the brass nut which is a bad design I think. I'm thinking of putting some silicone in the bottom of the bolt to stop the crap getting in.
Anyway good luck.

View attachment 18599

View attachment 18600 This is how mine lines up. I've worked out a way to do it now but it really is a bad design. Thanks for the help mate.

 

[JohnJohn]

This is how my battery screw holes line up. I've worked out how to do it now but surely it should be better than this !!

 

[Oldnomad52]

I

This is how my battery screw holes line up. I've worked out how to do it now but surely it should be better than this !!

That's not looking good mate. Looks like the hole in the down tube is out of position. I would take it back to the bike shop you brought it from and ask them to comment. When you look at the hold in the down tube with the battery removed does it look off center??

 

[JohnJohn]

Yes mate, I'm going to have a word when I take it in for it's first service. I'm sure something is wrong. I would of thought that in this day and age the holes would be drilled by machine. So little room for error. Could be wrong though. Thanks for your help ! Ill let you know what they say.
Cheers mate...

 

[Oldnomad52]

Yes mate, I'm going to have a word when I take it in for it's first service. I'm sure something is wrong. I would of thought that in this day and age the holes would be drilled by machine. So little room for error. Could be wrong though. Thanks for your help ! Ill let you know what they say.
Cheers mate...

Its disappointing when you shell out your cash and find this, on the bright side specialized stand behind there products so you should not have a problem getting this resolved. Dont let the bike shop file the hole, new frame is the only way to fix this ?

 

[Mikerb]

it could just as easily be a wrongly fitted rockguard or a bent hinge pin in the rockguard. Its very unlikely the hole in the frame is in the wrong place.

 

[JohnJohn]

Yeah, I'll take it into the shop and see what they say. I bought it from an actual Specialized shop so hopefully their reputation for good after sales service will be up held.
Thanks for your interest and help.

 

[Oldnomad52]

it could just as easily be a wrongly fitted rockguard or a bent hinge pin in the rockguard. Its very unlikely the hole in the frame is in the wrong place.

I cant see how you could fit the rock guard incorrectly it either fits or not, and to bend the hinge pin would take a lot of force and from the photo john posted the guard looked like new.

 

[Mikerb]

I did! I took it off to clean it and had a big gap when I tried to refit the battery! It has to be spread a little to get it seated correctly.
If a washer or both are omitted that could cause misalignment as well. Another possibility is the battery to motor cable not seated properly and pushing the battrry to one side.

 

[JohnJohn]

I've found tha

 

[JohnJohn]

I've found that if I put my thumb in the recess in the rock guard and push directly away from the bike and hold it there. I'm able to insert the screw. Takes quite a lot of pressure to do it though. I've inspected everything that as been suggested as a potential problem. Everything seems fine to me. I'll point it out at the shop when I'm next in. Thanks again to all for helping !