I've been reading this section of the forum for the last few days absorbing as much info as I can and while searching for more info and debating a purchase, I ran across an add for an xb-500 for sale on craigslist.
I purchased a used non-working XB-500 recently from people that were fed up with the lack of customer/tech support at extreme. They were not willing to pay the shipping to send it back for repair. So, I took it off their hands at a discounted price. I believe all it needs is a new controller.
The story I was given from the previous owner is that it made a loud pop sound while going down a steep hill. Then it was completely dead. Now it blows fuses as soon as they are inserted, even if it is turned off. In fact I had to replace the in line fuse with a new one because of the damage from previous attempts to replace the 30amp fuse.
So here is what I have done in addition to replacing the in line fuse holder and new fuse. I unplugged the controller from the circuit, and now it does not blow the fuse when the battery is connected. So I have at least isolated the rest of the circuits from the problem. I believe this means that it has to be the controller or possibly the motor. I inspected the motor though and it is in great shape. No evidence of spinning the hub mounts or sheared wires. In fact all of the wiring looks good. There is no evidence of water exposure either on the undercarriage and inside the panels.
Here is where I ask for your experience help. I've read as much as I can on the forum here until I have run into posts I already read, so I have a few questions that I have not found a definitive answer to.
1)Does the xb-500 have a regenerative controller? Is it possible that when going down the steep hill the previous owner fried the controller from going to fast, thus generating too much power back through the controller?
2) Instead of replacing the controller with a new one of the same model, is there another model I could use instead from Xtreme, like the XB-600 controller or even the XM-2000 etc . . . Has anyone tried this yet?
3)Has anyone tried replacing the motor with a another higher watt motor? I know that the XM-2000 and up have smaller wheels, but . . . has anyone found another vendor online with a possible substitute?
Thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking forward to experimenting with this and making perform to it's peak. I have short 2.5 mile route to work I plan to use this for, but would like to get it running at it's full potential so I can be safe and accelerate my way out of trouble or harms way when needed. Oh well, and of course just go as fast as I can too !!!
Whome
No it is not regenerative, and I suppose if you rode it down a hill at about 40 mph, then that might cause the motor to generate enough voltage to fry the controller. This is only a guess, but he would have had to be going really fast.
i don't know if the XB-600 controller is the same as the one for the XB-500, but it is likley that it would be compatible. It might be bigger physically though, so It might not fit where the controller needs to go.
Nope, haven't tried this, but if the wheel size is the same for the 500 and 600, then it would probably work. Biggest problem is batteries. I think the 500 only has 12 amp batteries, so it will run down pretty quick, especially if you do the shunt mod and boost the voltage as you would need to if you want it to go any faster.
Good luck,
Tom
Be sure to order whatever you need directly from ArcticFox, ever present on many of these threads. :D
Did you replace your fuse holder with a heavy-duty one like I did?
Thanks for the info.
So if the XB-500 is not regenerative, then the posts I have read about the motor braking is only on the XB-600?
Well I opened up the controller tonight, and I am afraid I did some damage to it in the process. However it did not appear to have any electrical damage inside. All of the components looked like they were in good shape. This means I may have a long bout of troubleshooting ahead and I need a new controller for sure now. What else besides the fuse could have made a pop sound.
Does anyone know how to test the motor to see if it is good without the controller and bike powered up?
I did replace the inline fuse with a heavy duty one I had on hand from Radio Shack. Looks exactly like the one pictured in your post. It still blew the fuse when I plugged in the batteries though.
Did actually email Arctic Fox(at the store email address), but have not heard back . . .The website appears to be under construction.
Whome
The XB-600 does have motor braking, but it is not regenerative. It just slows you down without wearing out the brake drum, at least as long as you only squeeze the right brake lever hard enough to trigger motor braking and not hard enough to actually engage the mechanical brake. I suspect the XB-500 has the same arraignment.
Good luck with your repairs,
Tom
The XB500 does have dynamic braking. The controller shorts out the motor during braking with the right hand grip. The Left hand grip will shut down the power to the motor, but will not engage dynamic braking.
Dickey_b
Waste Not, Want Not