Grinding feeling

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petetomo
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Joined: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 06:24
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Grinding feeling

Hi Everyone,
I have an older Trek 930 with a 250 watt Bionx system which is only a year old. I unpacked the bike after winter storage in the basement and I've been riding to/from work for the past 2 months. Starting this spring, I am getting a grinding feeling most of the time when the motor kicks in. Because it seems to come and go, I tried to figure out what the pattern is. It turns out, if the front wheel of the bike is turned even slightly to the left, the grinding happens. If I am steering right, it goes away. If I zig zag, it comes and goes as I go left and right.

I'm pretty sure the problem has something to do with the Bionx system since it feels like it is coming from the back and disappears if I turn the system off.

Any thoughts?

davew
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Re: Grinding feeling

Is it possible the regen is kicking in? The most common problem I have had with my Bionix is the cabling. Occasionally a connection will come loose and cause inconsistent behavior. In this case I'd pay close attention to the magnetic switch on the hand brake that engages the regeneration. That could easily become sensitive to handle-bar movements if loose or misadjusted.

"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"

petetomo
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Last seen: 11 years 4 months ago
Joined: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 06:24
Points: 6
Re: Grinding feeling

I don't think it's the regen. I unplugged the handlebar control which disabled regen and I still get the grinding feeling. It also has a different feel than the braking regen.

petetomo

pcarlson1979
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Re: Grinding feeling

I had this on my home built electric bike. If I turn left I get a grind (feels like rubbing sand on paper). It sound like your left bearing has become dirty. I don't know this bionx system but if you look at your front wheel, in the middle you will find bearings on the left and right of the hub (motor or not). You can try adding a good amount of sewing machine oil to lube and flush out any dirt. But if the ball bearings inside the bearing are gone then you will need to replace the whole bearing. Bearings usually only cost about $9. Mine did. But I had done 5800km on my electric bicycle though. So I just bought 2 new bearings. If you are unsure take it to a bike shop.

------------------------------
eRider 8000w Scooter - PDT Version
72v 50AH CHL battery
350A Sevcon controller

24km: Delivered - 24 September 2011
2490km: Installed dual 35w HID lights Bi-Xenon Projectors - 27 November 2011
8313km: Installed BMS -

pcarlson1979
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Last seen: 2 years 8 months ago
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Points: 465
Re: Grinding feeling

Ok my bike had a front hub motor. I just read ur post again and googled bionx and it is a rear hub motor.

I also see you only get the problem WHEN the motor is turned ON. This nearly eliminates bearings (but not totally). Points to maybe mistimed hall sensors but ONLY when you turn left so that eliminates hall sensors. So basically it only happens when torque is applied and turning left. Hmmmm. Maybe a bearing works under pedal power but can't handle the power from the motor anymore? Hopefully that's all it is.

Another possible cause is that one side of the magnets inside the hub motor touch the rotor when power is applied. This will also give a grind feel only when power is applied. It will only happen for a few weeks or months then the hub will stop working. I've had this happen too.

------------------------------
eRider 8000w Scooter - PDT Version
72v 50AH CHL battery
350A Sevcon controller

24km: Delivered - 24 September 2011
2490km: Installed dual 35w HID lights Bi-Xenon Projectors - 27 November 2011
8313km: Installed BMS -

petetomo
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Last seen: 11 years 4 months ago
Joined: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 06:24
Points: 6
Re: Grinding feeling

It's possible that it could still be a bearing. The extra torque created by the power assist might be adding to the grinding. I also might not be going fast enough without the power assist to feel it.

I took the bike back to the Bionx dealer on Saturday and he said he couldn't feel anything unusual. I assured him that this feeling is recent. He agreed that most bike riders (or car drivers for that matter) can feel problems sooner since they are more 'in-touch' with their vehicle. He recommended taking the wheel off and adding lube to the bearings. I haven't had time to do so yet. I guess this might make sense since I rode in New England into November last year after the roads had been salted. I did rinse my bike but maybe wasn't thorough enough around the bearings.

petetomo

petetomo
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Last seen: 11 years 4 months ago
Joined: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 06:24
Points: 6
Re: Grinding feeling

Well, I have a resolution to my problem and I'm almost ashamed to admit what it is. Last biking season (2011), I got so many flats on my rear slick tires that I changed to my older knobby mountain bike tires. If my knobby tires are not inflated to max pressure, I get that 'grinding feeling' especially on the left edge (AKA, making a left turn). I only figured this out because I went a few weeks without pumping my tires and the grinding got progressively worse. As soon as I inflated my tires, it got better. Once I inflated to the uppermost pressure allowed, the problem disappeared altogether.

Now I know how important my tires are.

petetomo

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