Levo Gen 2 Specialised Turbo Levo Regular Maintenance

[nictom]

Maybe this can help

Understand Some Turbo Family Components Wear Differently (Levo Retailer Technical Guide)
Some riders will experience what they consider to be "accelerated wear" and will attribute this to the additional weight and power of the Turbo Family bike. The reality is that wear is function of distance rather than time, and on a Turbo or Levo riders will typically cover 25-50% more ground per ride.

The best way to address this is to pro-actively promote regular maintenance and service intervals. Since this is a new platform with new technologies the typical rider objections are easier to overcome, especially if communicated as a way to protect the rider’s investment in the equipment and ride experience.

Examples of maintenance services to actively promote:

1. Suspension air spring services: 1-3 per year
2. Suspension damper services: 1-2 per year
3. Chain replacement: 2-5 per year
4. Derailleur Hanger Alignment: monthly
5. Brake caliper clean and bleed: annually
6. Command Post basic service: 1-3 per year
7. Wheel tension and true check: monthly
8. Motor belt replacement: 9500 miles/15000km

These services have value to the rider if they are pro-actively sold as ways to maintain the Turbo or Levo ride experience, not just the bike itself.

Rider Best Practices
Help your riders with the little actions that prolong the life of the bike and provide the best ride experience:

- Turn off the battery before unplugging and charging
- Shift earlier than on a traditional bike
- Charge the battery to 50-60% for long term storage
- Ease up on pedaling power when shifting
- Charge the battery at room temperature
- Spin lower gears on technical climbs
- Store the battery at room temperature
- Lower the Command Post slightly on technical climbs
- Transport the battery in a vehicle in sub-freezing temperatures
- Use a tire pressure gauge (especially with 6Fattie tires)
- Do not use high-pressure water or solvents around the motor/crank area
- Remove the battery and feed the Command Post cable when adjusting saddle height
- Wash the bike with the battery installed and with the harness plugged in. Since the connection is waterproof, washing the bike with the harness plugged in minimizes the chance of contamination in the contacts.

 

[Donnie797]

1. Suspension air spring services: 1-3 per year
2. Suspension damper services: 1-2 per year
3. Chain replacement: 2-5 per year
4. Derailleur Hanger Alignment: monthly
5. Brake caliper clean and bleed: annually
6. Command Post basic service: 1-3 per year
7. Wheel tension and true check: monthly
8. Motor belt replacement: 9500 miles/15000km

WHAT??
Is it just me or is this overkill? Sure, it depends on the distance - like the article above said "wear comes from distance not time" - so i find it strange that the given service intervals are just based on time and NOT the distance ?

 

[Surge]

Tori - make sure the dealer uploads the latest firmware patch from Specialized.
Some bikes with older firmware are speed limited to 15-17mph rather than 20mph.
A test ride at the dealer should confirm that everything is in order.
I believe kcarbon (member on this site) is down your way and may be able to offer advice.

Hi, can you elaborate on this? I am running motor FW 5 and I can’t get above about 28kph, which is 17 mph.
What firmware version is the latest, and have you actually reached 20mph on your Turbo Levo?
Thanks

 

[Dax]

The speed limit is dependant on the legislation in your region. North America speed limit is 20mph, UK is 15mph. If your bike has a different top speed to before, check that it has the correct region’s firmware.

 

[Surge]

Yes, I understand that. Tori said that earlier firmware limited it to 15-17mph but that has now been corrected to 20mph.

I’m in N America. Does anyone know if v5 is the latest firmware? I assume it’s the motor firmware.

The speed limit is dependant on the legislation in your region. North America speed limit is 20mph, UK is 15mph. If your bike has a different top speed to before, check that it has the correct region’s firmware.

 

[Surge]

I find that the screws around the motor work themselves loose after every ride or two. Not loose to the point they fall off, but they need tightening. I worry it will strip the threads in the plastic soon. Is this common? Maybe the 2019 will be better in this regard.

 

[JayB]

Yes, I understand that. Tori said that earlier firmware limited it to 15-17mph but that has now been corrected to 20mph.

I’m in N America. Does anyone know if v5 is the latest firmware? I assume it’s the motor firmware.

I'm in SE US and had my Levo S-Works updated about a month ago. Motor firmware is 5.0.4 and the Battery firmware is: 10.23.1. The battery is where the processor is, that controls mph limits.

 

[Peko]

I find that the screws around the motor work themselves loose after every ride or two. Not loose to the point they fall off, but they need tightening. I worry it will strip the threads in the plastic soon. Is this common

The screws shouldn't work themselves loose. I have ridden my Levo for nearly 3000km and never had this problem. Did you tighten them with the correct torque of 25Nm? Some Loctite 243 on the screws will help in addition.

 

[Mountie]

The screws shouldn't work themselves loose. I have ridden my Levo for nearly 3000km and never had this problem. Did you tighten them with the correct torque of 25Nm? Some Loctite 243 on the screws will help in addition.

Is he talking about the plastic motor cover screws or engine mount bolts?

 

[Surge]

Is he talking about the plastic motor cover screws or engine mount bolts?

The screws that go into the plastic motor cover. You never want to use loctite when the screw goes into plastic.

 

[Peko]

Ok... My fault. Not the engine screws

Do we talk about a carbon Levo?
Try to put an o-ring under the screw head. I did so to stop the clicking noise in my 2017 aluminium Levo. Unfortunately it did not help, but the screws didn't unthighten themselve until now.

 

[Surge]

Good idea @Peko! Yes, it's the carbon frame. The screws are the ones that go into the plastic surrounding the motor. They are not 'loose', but after 1-2 rides they are definitely not tight. I worry about over-tightening and stripping the threads, but so far that hasn't happened.

 

[Peko]

I worry about over-tightening and stripping the threads, but so far that hasn't happened

Yes, the nice looking carbon wants to be handled carefully. And an o-ring will be the best way to do so.

Probably you know:
If a thread needs to be repaired, helicoil is good tool to do that.

 

[Surge]

Yes, the nice looking carbon wants to be handled carefully. And an o-ring will be the best way to do so.

Probably you know:
If a thread needs to be repaired, helicoil is good tool to do that.

The screws I'm referring to go into plastic, not carbon. It's the same for all of the Levo models. All the screws around the crank, basically.

 

[Peko]

Ok, now i'm confused. Maybe it's my humble english...

There are three plastic covers around the motor, two on the left and one on the right side. They are fixed with several M4 screws tightened in the frame. We are talking about them, aren't we?

 

[Surge]

Ok, now i'm confused. Maybe it's my humble english...

There are three plastic covers around the motor, two on the left and one on the right side. They are fixed with several M4 screws tightened in the frame. We are talking about them, aren't we?

Yes. My impression was these thread into plastic, not the frame?

 

[Peko]

Ok...the screws are going through the covers and are tightend in frame. So the threads needs to be in the frame.
How else should the cover be fixed on the bike?
Have a look at the upper left one. It's easy to dismount.

 

[Surge]

Ok...the screws are going through the covers and are tightend in frame. So the threads needs to be in the frame.
How else should the cover be fixed on the bike?
Have a look at the upper left one. It's easy to dismount.

Ah, ok. I assumed the screw was going into the plastic cover on the other side.

 

[Peko]

Remove the cover and you will see.

 

[Ron]

i have never taken my motor out on my current levo but I do remove the covers to inspect and so far it seems pretty clean I found if I do the cover bots up too tight it makes them creak so now I just nip them up with a spot of threadlock, seems to work for me.
I pay particular attention to the battery plug and socket to make sure they are cleaned and dried. Something to watch out for, when you remove the plug after a ride check to see if there is any water on the face of the plug, if there is the seal is not working properly and Its worth investigating further.
I would check your chain with a gauge on regular intervals and replace as needed, they do take a beating on an ebike
one thing I dont like about my levo is the wheelset its heavy and to my engineering mind they dont have enough spokes for a heavy bike but I guess specialized know what they are doing. Anyway i replaced my wheels for some stronger lighter ones, made loads of difference to the feel of the bike
hope that helps

What wheels did you get?
Also do you ride tubeless or with tubes?

 

[ccrdave]

I have just got a set of 27.5 ethirteen rims on novatec hubs set up tubless with 2.6 hillbillys
So far they are really good

 

[Wiltshire Warrior]

Doesn’t taking the motor out void the warranty ?????!!!! Don’t pick my levo up till Monday & im wondering if I’ve made the write choice.....

No, drilling holes in it will though

 

[Paul Carruthers]

I find that the screws around the motor work themselves loose after every ride or two. Not loose to the point they fall off, but they need tightening. I worry it will strip the threads in the plastic soon. Is this common? Maybe the 2019 will be better in this regard.

Try some PTFE tape.

 

[Murf]

i have never taken my motor out on my current levo but I do remove the covers to inspect and so far it seems pretty clean I found if I do the cover bots up too tight it makes them creak so now I just nip them up with a spot of threadlock, seems to work for me.
I pay particular attention to the battery plug and socket to make sure they are cleaned and dried. Something to watch out for, when you remove the plug after a ride check to see if there is any water on the face of the plug, if there is the seal is not working properly and Its worth investigating further.
I would check your chain with a gauge on regular intervals and replace as needed, they do take a beating on an ebike
one thing I dont like about my levo is the wheelset its heavy and to my engineering mind they dont have enough spokes for a heavy bike but I guess specialized know what they are doing. Anyway i replaced my wheels for some stronger lighter ones, made loads of difference to the feel of the bike
hope that helps

What wheels did you replace the stock ones with?

 

[Tribey]

Didn't he answer in post #81 ?

 

[Murf]

Didn't he answer in post #81 ?

thanks

 

[paulmoir]

650 kms... no measurable chain wear, rear sprocket and front chain ring no visible wear. Keep it washed and cleaned, retensioned spokes twice during the first few weeks. Last week removed all the rear end linkage bolts and cleaned up and re-greased all linkage bolts, seals and bearing faces and reassembled - all looked good and retorqued everything back to recommended settings. Removed engine covers and inspected and cleaned out, again all good. Replaced a worn rear tyre last week... apart from that, love riding my Turbo Levo!

 

[Mountie]

View attachment 14353
650 kms... no measurable chain wear, rear sprocket and front chain ring no visible wear. Keep it washed and cleaned, retensioned spokes twice during the first few weeks. Last week removed all the rear end linkage bolts and cleaned up and re-greased all linkage bolts, seals and bearing faces and reassembled - all looked good and retorqued everything back to recommended settings. Removed engine covers and inspected and cleaned out, again all good. Replaced a worn rear tyre last week... apart from that, love riding my Turbo Levo!

Do you have any other information on the. Hub please ?

 

[paulmoir]

Do you have any other information on the. Hub please ?

Mountie... have a look at the video (link below). Any more questions feel free to ask.

 

[atcspaul]

Mountie... have a look at the video (link below). Any more questions feel free to ask.
How much heavier then stock set up?