Replacing XB-500 controller

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ArcticFox
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Pertains to AztecFem. You should see her service ticket. :(

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AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Hmmmm.....not the best of news. I just ordered my XB-600 Wednesday.

Laurie(rocs)

You'll be fine . . . as long as you don't have any problems with it . . . May all the powers that be help you if you do.

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Pertains to AztecFem. You should see her service ticket. :(

My ticket in case anyone feels like reading a novel . . .

http://tinyurl.com/6o42z4

(edit by reikiman: I changed it to a tinyURL because the direct URL had the email address encoded in it...)

sparc5
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Holy cow! I read the novel, and sadly it wasn't the first one I read like this. I asked them for a replacement disk for my breaks a week ago, they have no word yet on when it will be in stock.

XM-3000...
-DC-DC converter replaced with a Dell D220P-01 power supply.
-72V mod
-Expensive bank charger until I come up with something better... Still trying.
-

laurierocs
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

OMG!!!!! I knew there might be some damage upon arrival, but that is ridiculous! HORRIBLE customer service! What good is the warranty? They definitely should have shipped you a new scooter! WOW! I'm really scared now to get my XXB-600. I did soooo much research before I settled on THIS scooter...

Laurie(rocs)

ArcticFox
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Should anything be amiss with your order, contact me immediately. Please also post any information about your delivery and/or customer service experiences with X-Treme here on the forums.

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AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Received the new lock washers but the old brake still doesn't fit right with the new wheel; with the nuts tightened the brake locks against the wheel preventing it from moving. I know from my original pictures that I've put eveything back the way it origianlly was. I've even tried a couple of different configurations, to no avail. The new brake I ordered is as pictured on the XB-500 parts site but I didn't realize at the time that it's not the same as what I originally had (thus leading me to believe there's been a redesign and I got one of the previous design).

So OK, folks, talk me out of this: The cost of shipping the defective scooter plus even finding shipping material to begin with is just daunting to me. What I've now proposed to them via my epic service ticket is that I order a new one (from ArcticFox) and send the old one back with that packaging material. If I can get them to prepay the return shipping, I will send them as many new parts as possible (like mirrors, trunk, floor mat, pedals) such that they end up making money in the deal.

Thoughts?

laurierocs
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Aztec-FemBone, I'd say start over. Hopefully if you order(I'd get an XB-600) from Arcticfox, an authorized dealer, I would think you would be allowed to send yours back in the newly shipped bike packaging. I don't know where you would find packing to send yours back first. You truely got screwed with a lemon and I would hope X-treme would finally give you customer satisfaction with a NEW XB-600! (Customer satisfaction in my book goes a long way) X-treme being the "Hot topic"[if they only knew they were sitting atop a gold mine!!!] as it is on these boards, they should send you the 600 with no upcharge! I've noticed many new members and lots of visitors here on a daily basis. I think it would help their sales even more if they did this for you.

Good luck!
Laurie(rocs)

boyelectric
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

AztecFemBone... it's hard for anyone to give you advice, to say the least. I would be ticked if I had gone through what you are going through. That being said, I got an XB-600 and found it lacking for my hill climbing needs (I weigh 225), so I sold it to a friend. This was before I found out about all the nifty mods that would probably have let me keep it. I am now strongly considering an XB-700li because I need the lightweight batteries for removal and lugging upstairs for charging. Getting one of these models keeps me from having to insure and license it as a moped.

I think these machines have only a mediocre quality control, but then again, it is hard to top their inexpensive price, as well as a width and breadth of features. You could get a gas moped for about $2K, but that isn't really the same thing, as you have to insure and license it, not to mention it is far more complex and needs 'that' kind of maintenance. I like the electric because it is a far simpler system to maintain, as well as being easy to modify, if I choose; okay, I've always liked the idea of EV motoring, in that it is clean, quiet, and simple.

If I were you, I would probably get the XB-700li, if I could afford it (although it does not yet have a track record), or an XB-600 which is a more known quantity.

Good luck!

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Still in limbo right now because I've had no response yet from X-Treme. It's fairly clear to me at this point that they don't care about customer service. The only person I talked to who agreed with me that the frame was damaged mysteriously stopped working for X-Treme after he talked to me. What a surprise.

I thought long and hard about getting the XB-600. The problem is that it would cost me an additional $250 PLUS the return shipping of the lemon. My proposal to them that I get the new XB-500 and return to them as many new parts as possible in exchange for them paying the return shipping actually puts them on the plus side of this deal.

What I predict will happen is that I will not hear from them until Tuesday, after my RMA authorization number "expires"; I expect to be told that because I didn't return ship by August 11, I'm out of luck. The bottom line is I just want what I paid for.

boyelectric
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Yeah, that's the sort of thing that keeps me from really 'recommending' these to anyone. Still, I would do it all over again. I sincerely hope reputable dealers will salvage this industry while it is in its infancy, though it may be financially costly to them (maybe even impossibly so).

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Mon Aug 11 11:10 AM PST, just checked my ticket because yet again (and again and again) no response from X-Treme. **THE TICKET WAS CLOSED!** Their attempts to sandbag are no doubt deliberate. I reopened the ticket and asked someone, anyone to call me.

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Iowa Attorney General, here I come. >:(

andys
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Some people were mad at me for bad mouthing Xtreme last month,(from my experience with them that wasn't even as bad as what is described in this post) and the way they make you work your butt of to fix a broken piece of junk they sent you, terrible communication, customer pays return shipping cost on DOA parts, etc. My belief is still that unless people stop putting up with this kind of service, it will not improve. Well it has been 1 year since I went through this, and it doesn't seem like they are doing any better of a job. When they send out an item that goes bad on the first ride or so, they need to send a prepaid call tag for the bad scooter and send out a replacement. Your bike was so messed up, they should have just let you keep it for parts and shipped another one out ASAP. You would have been happy and singing their praises, and the company would be a out a few bucks that they can afford to spend on goodwill advertising.

In my opinion, consumers in the US are too willing to put up with terrible customer service in order to get items at a low cost. I am including myself here as well, although I am learning to spend a bit more and get something better. Unfortunately,Xtreme has been very successful to the point they have basically put many of their competitors (who had better but more pricey products) out of business, not leaving many choices for people looking for a small 2 wheel EV.

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

For the record, I have been contacted privately by someone who's situation very closely parallels mine. Twice his long-standing ticket has been closed as well.

I'm returning the entire wheel assembly and requesting one that matches that new brake. Fingers crossed but I'm not holding my breath.

hyperob
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Hey Aztec,

Every time I read your latest post, its like watching the news....I get more and more depressed.

Hang tough and hopefully this whole saga will turn into a lovely human interest story about perseverance....:)

I've had a couple of issues with X-Treme regarding parts and stuff and I can see how you could fall into the black hole of customer service. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you.

Cheers

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Edit: who'swhose

/I'm a fricken copy-editor for cryin' out loud!

richardb
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

I looked back at some of your entries that included pictures, and I noticed something that seems to confirm that your XB-500 was assembled incorrectly, possibly with some parts left out.
I have a fairly new XB-500 which I received only about a month ago, and I took some pictures of my rear wheel mounting. Upon comparing them to your pictures from your posts on Wed, 06/18/2008, and a second post on the same day, there is a definite difference. My bike seems to have some sort of torque washer installed inside the dropout on both sides, as shown on the two photos I'm including here:
HubMotorMounting-right.jpg
This first one is a view of the right side of the hub motor mount. Note that there seems to be a washer inside the dropout with big tabs that are bent so as to keep the washer from rotating because the tabs fit nicely in the dropout slot.
HubMotorMountingLeft.jpg
The same arrangement seems to hold true on the left side. None of your photos seem to have this washer installed, so there was a significant difference between the way your bike was assembled and the way mine was assembled.
Since I am not having any troubles with my bike, I hesitate to disassemble my rear hub just to find out exactly what's there. But those washers with tabs on them are definitely not included on your bike, and I would think that is the root cause of your original problem... Those washers most definitely were meant to keep your rear axle from spinning, and when they were left off, the torque from your hub motor twisted your axle, causing it to loosen, which allowed it to spin within the mount, thus twisting and damaging the wires going through the axle to your motor.
I also noticed that on your post of Thu, 07/10/2008 - 17:29, your picture does show something that looks like a washer with tabs on it, and that in your next post of Thu, 07/10/2008 - 22:29, you said that the "inside ring of the old locking washers was damaged by the spinout and I'm reluctant to reuse them." I assume you mean the washer with tabs to fit the slot in which they are mounted. If you don't have new washers whose inside flats fit very snugly around the flats of the axle, don't re-assemble your unit till you have received new ones.
Upon further reading, you seem to have received new tab washers.
Good luck.
Dick B.

Dickey_b
Waste Not, Want Not

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Yes, I did originally have the same setup as you show on yours. They sent new lock washers with the new wheel but the metal on those washers is so soft that when I tighten everything, rather than it tightening up to the junction between the threads and the rounded part of the axle, the washer slips up and over the smooth rounded part (past the threaded part) thus locking against the brake. There's absolutely no way I can prevent that washer from going past where it's supposed to stop. I'm thinking design flaw. I asked Bill @ X-Treme to call me so we can go through everything (yeah, right!). Thanks so much for the input. I appreciate it.

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Still waiting for them to call me...

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Finally! Had a very fruitful conversation with John. The brake I ordered does match the Web site but is wrong on both accounts. Returning it for a refund. Also, they (China) keep modifying things such that a brake for a particular version doesn't fit the next generation. He took my original wheel and found a brake that fits that one and it's now in the mail. Dare I cross my fingers???

reikiman
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Well, if you cross your fingers you might have a hard time playing that trombone. But sounds good.

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Well, if you cross your fingers you might have a hard time playing that trombone. But sounds good.

My deal sounds good or my trombone playing sounds good with my fingers crossed . . .? ;)

richardb
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Hope you finally get the right parts and get your scooter going. I have had mine now for just over a month, and have enjoyed using it around town, and on my commute to work (about 10 miles each way) I read in another thread about doing the shunt mod on the controller. The thread was for the XB-600, but can be done also on the XB500, which is a different controller. At this time, I have done that mod, and am enjoying the extra power to get up some of the hills near my home. I will eventually post a blog on how to do this, as I have taken pictures of each step, and am currently in the process of testing to determine the results.
I would like to also modify my scooter to get higher speed. In Michigan, the Moped law allows a top speed of up to 30MPH, and a maximum of 2 horsepower (about 1500 watts). I would feel a lot less self-conscious of using the roads if I could come a little closer to keeping up with traffic, yet stay within the legal limit for a Moped. I believe there must be a way of modifying the controller to allow additional speed without adding extra batteries, as most people believe is the case.

Dickey_b
Waste Not, Want Not

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Baby steps: received brake today as well as the spacer that goes between the brake and the wheel! Brake fits perfect but WHAT SPACER?!?! There was never a spacer there to begin with!! That is probably the source of the whole problem . I'm asking them to send me another set of lock washers though because these have loosened in the process of me putting them on and taking them off again. Won't be able to ride till Sunday but I'm now hopeful that will happen. :)

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

WOOT! I'm back in business. Installed everything yesterday very, very carefully. Picked my son up from school today. Everything's pretty much flawless. I bought 7/8" wrenches for the axle bolt and after I tightened them with the Loctite, I had my husband give it another tug. Tempered enthusiasm though, because I'm terrified it'll break down again. For now I'll just leave it for picking up rather than dropping off so he's not late to school! Thanks everyone for all the help. :D

(RichardB, check your messages, please)

win32forth
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Yaaah!!!!

Very exciting!

Tom

richardb
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Good to know that another XB-500 rider is up and running. Now that you have gotten through your problems working with warranty issues with X-treme, I hope you have fun with your bike. I have been having quite a good time with mine. Ride it to work every day (10 miles). I have put up a group of pages on my website at:
http://www.bergerweb.net/xb500
Some notes there on assembly, modifications, things like that.
Dick B.

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Waste Not, Want Not

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Oops. Not so fast. Blew the blade fuse for some reason. Off to Radio Shack tomorrow. IF that is indeed the problem...

AztecFemBone
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Re: Replacing XB-500 controller

Fuse is fine. Today when I set off, my throttle was cutting in and out, fortunately just as I started away from my house. I am not in good enough physical shape right now to have to push this thing the next time it dies. I'll disconnect and reconnect the controller tomorrow and see what good that does. :rolleyes:

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