Word of warning.

[Crossroads Rail]

Hi all, new boy sharing a concern.......having taken the motor protection plate off my 2020 rail 9 for a spring clean I found 2 small areas where something had eaten 2mm deep into the right hand engine casing right at the lowest point of the motor. I imagined rock salt from the road in winter, I can’t imagine what else could do that to....what is it made from...a real light weight aluminium....cheese.
It had not gone right through casing but must have been well on the way as I don’t imagine the casing to be that thick.

It was a kind of rust eaten away/oxidation, most unexpected....although being on my 4th Trek ebike in 5 years and 12000 miles I’m well wear all these bikes are made out of cheese.... Would anyone like to start a thread on which kind of cheese? So maybe the holes were made by mice?
As much as I love my bike ....maybe it’s me that’s a bit agricultural for its race horse abilities or have been spoilt by Honda engineering...they don’t make em like they use to.
Anyway I gave the areas a good clean and filled the holes with 2 part jb weld. Looked ok and kind of just in time? Everything inspected at regular intervals boy and girls.
Nice to be here to share the joy of 2 wheels.

 

[Zimmerframe]

There was another thread about a bosch motor corroding/vanishing .. If I can remember more of what they said I might be able to find it in the search.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I remembered .. Sorry, brain's not firing on all cylinders today :

Damaged motor case

I took the bash guard off my 2 month old bike and notices some damage to the motor. The casing looks like it's disintegrating and turning to powder. Only a small amount of mud behind the guard. Motor is Bosch performance line cx. Any advice greatly appreciated.

www.emtbforums.com

 

[Planemo]

Yeah salt will absolutely crucify anything made of alloy or steel, which is why you find as little as possible of either on boats (all fittings are stainless). If I was to use my bike on UK salted roads (I don't) I would be hosing it down religiously, but even then, getting into all the nooks and crannies wouldn't be easy

Did you take a pic prior to repair? Just curious thats all.

 

[Crossroads Rail]

Ahh interesting, that’s just what I’m talking about....oh I feel much better knowing I am not alone and also going through various different types of cheese in my head. I’ve brought shares in the manufacturers of thread lock...I’ll never tighten anything ever again....try getting a helicoil into red leister.
Years of engineering, “I don’t need a torque wrench.” until I brought a new bike.....oops I chimped it again.

 

[Planemo]

Years of engineering, “I don’t need a torque wrench.” until I brought a new bike.....oops I chimped it again.

I'm with you, never used a torque wrench on a pushbike in my life. I do sometimes wonder though just how many screws, nuts and bolts I must have turned in my 45 odd years working on all sorts of vehicles. I've never stripped/snapped/had anything come undone yet (theres always a first haha)

 

[steve_sordy]

I'm with you, never used a torque wrench on a pushbike in my life. I do sometimes wonder though just how many screws, nuts and bolts I must have turned in my 45 odd years working on all sorts of vehicles. I've never stripped/snapped/had anything come undone yet (theres always a first haha)

I was the same. I did an engineering apprenticeship and I reckoned that I was calibrated on steel, cast iron and aluminium. Then I bought a carbon fibre framed bike! Oh dear, my confidence went when it came to clamping onto CF. So I bought a torque wrench.

 

[Planemo]

Thats a fair shout, I think I would chicken out with anything carbon related too....!

 

[Zimmerframe]

I was thinking of buying a carbon fibre torque wrench .... but I'm worried it will break ..

 

[Third-Reef]

I think the motor housing is magnesium and it is more subject to corrosion the typical aluminum. You could try something like Boshield T-9 Aresol spray. it is Boeing's replacement for WD40 and works wonders. I have had boats in salt water and just douse things with the T-9 when clean and new and then whenever i was done working on them and it really helped

 

[Kernow]

The sort of corrosion described here sounds like what happens on boats , electricity salt water creates a severe corrosion . They fit sacrificial anodes on marine stuff , apart from washing well I don’t know what the answer is . Removing the battery when not in use is a good idea I guess Just a thought m Iam sure there’s someone here who can describe what Iam. Explaining better