Addition to Kalkhoff Review Pages

[flecc]

With the collection of the bike delayed, I've had a chance to investigate changing the motor sprocket further, this being the one wearing part on the Panasonic unit which the owner may wish to change. It's not a force fit as I at first thought, so I've added a repairs section to the "Extra" page with a link to fully illustrated instructions for changing the sprocket.

Those may also be useful to a cycle dealer nervous about working on a motor aspect of the bike.

Here's the link to the Repairs addition.
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[prState]

Yay, for this! Does it apply to the LaFree as well?

(If so, now I'm down to just worrying about the circuit controller board replacement)

 

[flecc]

Only in a way. The sprocket is also splined and held with a circlip, but to change it means taking of the right hand crank and stripping off the more complex housings on those models.

The other problem is getting the 14 tooth sprockets for the Lafree. Giant are supposed to have them at a very high £30 each, but last I'd heard they'd run out. Try them first though, via a Giant dealer. They can be bought from Europe at an even higher price, and the details on that and other spares are on my website in this page.
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[prState]

Oh, well, at least they saw fit to address that issue with the newer version. There's no need for a replacement to be overly difficult.

 

[flecc]

Yes, it's a huge improvement on the Lafree, mainly thanks to Kalkhoffs clever one bolt chainguard, and the other advantage is that with five makes using this unit in Europe, there's more sources for sprockets.
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[John L]

Hi Flecc

Many thanks for the addition. It is very reassuring to know that the bike can be easily worked on. Nice tip re worn sprocket!

John

 

[flecc]

Thanks John. That tip again reveals a big improvement on the old Panasonic unit. The sprocket on that was flanged on the inside, so although it could be reversed to keep going once slipping had started, the circlip couldn't be put back on, so it relied on the chain line to keep it in place.
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