Quando queries

[flecc]

Originally Posted by BertYardbrush

No there's nothing like that on my bike. Seems I've got a bike without pedelec.

Either someone has removed the parts or it's a very early one. Can you tell me if the freewheel at the rear has 18 teeth or 14 teeth?
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[BertYardbrush]

It's got 18 teeth

[flecc]

Originally Posted by BertYardbrush

It's got 18 teeth

I thought so. That's the very earliest Quando which had an 18 tooth freewheel with the 48 tooth chainwheel, giving a 54" gear. That was very low geared, making it difficult to pedal with the motor except at very low speeds.

Later models were changed to have a 14 tooth BMX freewheel, raising the gear to nearly 70" and making it possible to pedal the bike to much higher speeds, though still not easy to spin to it's maximum motor driven speed.

I don't know if the early one also had a BMX freewheel thread, but if it does you could have yours changed to the 14 tooth. It's not an easy job though since it means disconnecting the 8 motor cables and rejoining them, few cycles dealers prepared to do that, though a few of the Powabyke approved service centre dealers might.
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[BertYardbrush]

Originally Posted by flecc

I thought so. That's the very earliest Quando which had an 18 tooth freewheel with the 48 tooth chainwheel, giving a 54" gear. That was very low geared, making it difficult to pedal with the motor except at very low speeds.

Later models were changed to have a 14 tooth BMX freewheel, raising the gear to nearly 70" and making it possible to pedal the bike to much higher speeds, though still not easy to spin to it's maximum motor driven speed.

I don't know if the early one also had a BMX freewheel thread, but if it does you could have yours changed to the 14 tooth. It's not an easy job though since it means disconnecting the 8 motor cables and rejoining them, few cycles dealers prepared to do that, though a few of the Powabyke approved service centre dealers might.
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That's very helpful, I'm in North Derbyshire, so that's either Rotherham or Derby. I'll let you know how I get on.

[flecc]

Thanks, I'd be interested to find out if you have any luck with that.
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[BertYardbrush]

Originally Posted by flecc

I don't know if the early one also had a BMX freewheel thread, but if it does you could have yours changed to the 14 tooth. It's not an easy job though since it means disconnecting the 8 motor cables and rejoining them, few cycles dealers prepared to do that, though a few of the Powabyke approved service centre dealers might.
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Flecc,
How about cutting the cable to the motor and rejoining it afterwards with push fit connectors into a block, then tape it all up with waterproof tape? It would then be relatively simple to change the freewheel. I've sent an email to ezee to see if they know the 18T thread type.

[flecc]

Originally Posted by BertYardbrush

Flecc,
How about cutting the cable to the motor and rejoining it afterwards with push fit connectors into a block, then tape it all up with waterproof tape? It would then be relatively simple to change the freewheel. I've sent an email to ezee to see if they know the 18T thread type.

Later models have a five way plastic connector for the 5 Hall sensor leads, (a DIN inline plug and socket would be ok, but Maplins will have something), and three bullet connectors for the 3 power phase leads, and those are tucked away under the battery/bottom bracket/controller area with a heavy layer of insulation over them. With any luck yours will have the same, but you'll have to cut away the insulation to find out.

If it hasn't, cutting is fine if you use a five way light and reliable connector for those thin Hall wires, but for the three thick power wires, you need something that is up to handling current of up to 20 amps. Those car type bullet connectors are fine for the job, and you'll probably find some in car accessory shops that you can crimp or solder on.
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[BertYardbrush]

[quote=flecc;35881]Later models have a five way plastic connector for the 5 Hall sensor leads, ... and three bullet connectors for the 3 power phase leads, and those are tucked away under the battery/bottom bracket/controller area with a heavy layer of insulation over them.

It does have the connectors as you describe and is insulated with heatshrink. All has gone well apart from the fact that the thread on the old Quando is NOT BMX. (There are 2 sizes of BMX, the 14T being smaller than 16+, the old Quando is neither of these). It would seem that the best I can hope for is a 16T freewheel. Unfortunately I still do not know the thread size, does anyone have any enlightenment on what it might be? It is very close to a BMX, it will take it for half a turn before going tight.