TQ Motor cost? Out of warranty

[JP-NZ]

Hi all,

Looking at a 2nd hand EX-E with 980km on it. Just thinking for worst case scenario... Has anyone had to buy a motor out of warranty and if so what is the cost? Or does TQ sell new motors or only through LBS?

Thanks

 

[Mteam]

Been wondering the same myself, I think my motor is on the way out and is now out of warranty.

Trek list the high pivot version of the motor for sale on their site in the UK for £1499, which seems a bit pricey, and it does specifically state high pivot, so I guess is in some way incompatible with the fuel-exe.

You can find the regular hpr50 for sale in the us for about $870 usd, link below.

TQ Systems GmbH HPR50 Drive Unit Set | Tree Fort Bikes

www.treefortbikes.com

I reckon if you took an out of warranty bike to your trek dealer they'd sort you out with a new one, but no idea on the cost, I'm guessing around £700, based on that us price

 

[mmcengineer]

Been wondering the same myself, I think my motor is on the way out and is now out of warranty.

Trek list the high pivot version of the motor for sale on their site in the UK for £1499, which seems a bit pricey, and it does specifically state high pivot, so I guess is in some way incompatible with the fuel-exe.

You can find the regular hpr50 for sale in the us for about $870 usd, link below.

TQ Systems GmbH HPR50 Drive Unit Set | Tree Fort Bikes

www.treefortbikes.com

I reckon if you took an out of warranty bike to your trek dealer they'd sort you out with a new one, but no idea on the cost, I'm guessing around £700, based on that us price

I wonder if bikes are included in the right to repair legislation

 

[Mteam]

I wonder if bikes are included in the right to repair legislation

They are not, I checked. Or at least were not about 12 months ago when I checked

 

[mmcengineer]

They are not, I checked. Or at least were not about 12 months ago when I checked

What 'Right to Repair' means for e-bike sellers and manufacturers

Repair will become the standard for all electronic consumer goods in the EU. What does this mean for the electric bicycle industry?

www.bike-eu.com

Is the reason I asked

About June this year article ?

 

[Mteam]

When I last looked, the right to repair mostly applied to household appliances, washing machines, dishwashers, TV etc, it didn't apply to bikes/ebikes.

It looks like the EU changed the laws recently to include more product types like mobile phones , but I still don't think (from a quick google) ebike motor systems are included Possibly li-ion battery packs are now included though...

 

[mmcengineer]

When I last looked, the right to repair mostly applied to household appliances, washing machines, dishwashers, TV etc, it didn't apply to bikes/ebikes.

It looks like the EU changed the laws recently to include more product types like mobile phones , but I still don't think (from a quick google) ebike motor systems are included Possibly li-ion battery packs are now included though..

I did a bit more reading up on it now and it seems like the blocker is the actual bike companies a couple of which are trotting out the non serviceable line ,

Having said that maybe it's just easier to buy a tqTQ as pin rings ( harmonic drives are a bit more highly strung than meshing gears) maybe we can both find out when my TQ fails I'll pull it to bits

 

[FuelEXe_fan]

My fuel EX-e has 5300Km, and the TQ motor works just fine.

 

[FuelEXe_fan]

Been wondering the same myself, I think my motor is on the way out and is now out of warranty.

Trek list the high pivot version of the motor for sale on their site in the UK for £1499, which seems a bit pricey, and it does specifically state high pivot, so I guess is in some way incompatible with the fuel-exe.

You can find the regular hpr50 for sale in the us for about $870 usd, link below.

TQ Systems GmbH HPR50 Drive Unit Set | Tree Fort Bikes

www.treefortbikes.com

I reckon if you took an out of warranty bike to your trek dealer they'd sort you out with a new one, but no idea on the cost, I'm guessing around £700, based on that us price

What makes you think your TQ motor is "on the way out"? I have 5300 km on my Fuel EX-e and it is working just fine, I asked Trek and TQ for any maintenance required and I have not heard back from them, does anybody know what kind of maintenance is needed? how often?

 

[Mteam]

What makes you think your TQ motor is "on the way out"? I have 5300 km on my Fuel EX-e and it is working just fine, I asked Trek and TQ for any maintenance required and I have not heard back from them, does anybody know what kind of maintenance is needed? how often?

The main bearing (the one that the chain ring rotates on) is really noisy and feels rough when it rotates, it makes the sound a wheel bearing makes when it has lost all it's grease and has gone slightly rusty.

Plus there is more resistance when you turn the cranks than it used to have.

The motor still seems to be working fine, but it doesn't sound or feel good.

 

[Mteam]

What makes you think your TQ motor is "on the way out"? I have 5300 km on my Fuel EX-e and it is working just fine, I asked Trek and TQ for any maintenance required and I have not heard back from them, does anybody know what kind of maintenance is needed? how often?

I don't think there is any maintenance you can do, it's a sealed unit. As far as I know it's not user serviceable.

 

[Jatem]

It is easy to side the axle out of the TQ towards the right side, when the chainring has been removed. The right main bearing isn’t sealed, and can let water into the crankshaft sprag clutch. The sprag clutch has a plastic carrier, and is breakable, so you can’t get a bearing puller behind the main bearing to slide it off the axle. I replaced the right main bearing with a 3d printed clamp in a vise, holding the outside of the bearing.

 

[Mteam]

It is easy to side the axle out of the TQ towards the right side, when the chainring has been removed. The right main bearing isn’t sealed, and can let water into the crankshaft sprag clutch. The sprag clutch has a plastic carrier, and is breakable, so you can’t get a bearing puller behind the main bearing to slide it off the axle. I replaced the right main bearing with a 3d printed clamp in a vise, holding the outside of the bearing.

That's interesting, got any pictures of the process to replace the main bearing?

Or could you describe the process in more detail?

 

[Jatem]

That's interesting, got any pictures of the process to replace the main bearing?

Or could you describe the process in more detail?

Here’s the non sealed bearing that comes in the right side of the hpr50. They should have used a double sealed 2rs version.
With the chainring and lockring removed, and the two wavy washers removed, tap the axle gently towards the right.
Need to use the blue axle cover to safely reinstall the lockring when done.


Don’t wedge the bearing off the axle with a screwdriver or similar, you will damage the plastic sprag clutch.
I couldn't fit a bearing puller between the bearing and the sprag clutch, so I designed & 3d printed some clamps for my vise that grab onto the outside of the 6806 bearing, and I tapped the axle out of the cartridge bearing.