Encoder calibration routine

This thread has been added to the Vectrix Collaborative Handbook - please stay on topic!

Aha, very nice!

Thanks for sharing, everyone!

I would assume that the side stand needs to be up for this and the rear wheel off the ground, as you said.

Maybe someone with one of the rare centre stands could try it out?

Has anyone tried it out yet?

I have put my bike in that mode once when I was playing around with it, but I haven't actually used it to calibrate though (since mine didn't need calibration).

Matt

Seeing that cleaning of the dust from the rear housing had no effect to my running problem, I tried what's mentioned here. I jacked up the rear wheel and followed the recalibration procedure. The wheel jumped backwards a little, then went forwards slowly a few inches in stages then stopped. Meanwhile the speedo went up to "full speed" as it does when starting normally, then dropped back to zero. Unfortunately the V still has the same problem as described in my posting in the thread "Yellow Wrench" Damn, what now?

I tried it several times, but the encoder error message persisted. Dana suggested trying the adjustment first, then open the encoder to check for dirt as a second step. So, I opened the casing and, just as previously reported here, found the infamous black dust inside. I didn't remove the encoder itself, as I don't have the tool to put it back, but I did remove the mirror (it just unsnaps and snaps back in), before blowing out the whole area with compressed air. As soon as I put it back together and stated riding, the error message disappeared. We'll see how long it lasts before I have to do it again... but it was easy, and only took a few minutes.

I tried it several times, but the encoder error message persisted. Dana suggested trying the adjustment first, then open the encoder to check for dirt as a second step. So, I opened the casing and, just as previously reported here, found the infamous black dust inside. I didn't remove the encoder itself, as I don't have the tool to put it back, but I did remove the mirror (it just unsnaps and snaps back in), before blowing out the whole area with compressed air. As soon as I put it back together and stated riding, the error message disappeared. We'll see how long it lasts before I have to do it again... but it was easy, and only took a few minutes.

You may want to replace the seal - that's the source of the black dust.

Seeing that cleaning of the dust from the rear housing had no effect to my running problem, I tried what's mentioned here. I jacked up the rear wheel and followed the recalibration procedure. The wheel jumped backwards a little, then went forwards slowly a few inches in stages then stopped. Meanwhile the speedo went up to "full speed" as it does when starting normally, then dropped back to zero. Unfortunately the V still has the same problem as described in my posting in the thread "Yellow Wrench" Damn, what now?

Alot of times, this kind of behaviour is caused by one of the encoder wires being loose. On start up the motor cant tell where it is accurately so it jumps around. Check the black connector on the encoder and make sure none of the pins have pulled out. Try pushing the scooter forward before giving it any throttle. It may be able to find itself and run correctly. If so then it is very likely to be a loose wire.

Seeing that cleaning of the dust from the rear housing had no effect to my running problem, I tried what's mentioned here. I jacked up the rear wheel and followed the recalibration procedure. The wheel jumped backwards a little, then went forwards slowly a few inches in stages then stopped. Meanwhile the speedo went up to "full speed" as it does when starting normally, then dropped back to zero. Unfortunately the V still has the same problem as described in my posting in the thread "Yellow Wrench" Damn, what now?

Alot of times, this kind of behaviour is caused by one of the encoder wires being loose. On start up the motor cant tell where it is accurately so it jumps around. Check the black connector on the encoder and make sure none of the pins have pulled out. Try pushing the scooter forward before giving it any throttle. It may be able to find itself and run correctly. If so then it is very likely to be a loose wire.

Thanks guys for all the info, really.

I have had many trials and tribulations up to now. I got up "the courage" to remove the mirror to clean, what a little jewel that piece is!

Anyway, once cleaned and replaced I did the recalibration test again with the back wheel jacked off the ground. I twisted the throttle and everything seemed normal. I took the motor up to high speed, everything seemed normal except for the garage filling up with smoke!!!! There it was billowing from the motor area. Well I nearly crapped myself and felt sick to the very pit of my stomach. You can imagine, I'm sure you all have a very good idea of how I felt. What had I done....why the hell hadn't I left it alone?

I took it off the stand and went to have a cup of tea and a lie down!

It wasn't until the end of the day that I thought that it may have been the tyre rubbing on the support stand. RELIEF of all reliefs, I saw a deep groove carved in my back tyre. Never before have I been so pleased to discover such rapidly distructive wear on a new tyre!

So I took it for a test and it runs a bit better, reverses a bit better, (has much less power)but has no regen braking at all and still, after a while starts to clunk and gets confused about which direction to run the wheel. I can't be far off getting this right, but heaven knows how to get all the obviously incredibly precise alignment right with out the proper tools, bearing in mind the tiny weeny information holes in the rotor thingy.

I will look at the black wire soon on my next day off to see if that's all it is.