Kalkhoff Proconnect S Bracket failure.

[Dynamic Position]

Half way through today's commute to work I had to stop after hearing an unusual sound coming from the bike

It was apparent that the rear mudguard was not sitting right and it was rubbing on the wheel. It did not take long to spot the cause - an alloy braket had failed through fatique! I had not hit any pot-holes so assume that it was caused by the vibration of the rear mud guard?

50 Cycles are to send me out a new part under warranty

Other Kalkhoff ProConnect S owners should check this bracket on their bikes.

Photograph attached.

 

[lemmy]

That looks like constant shaking and heavy vibration has fatigued it. I don't see how it can be avoided with our roads in their present 3rd world condition.

Maybe we'll need to use rubber washers between brackets and bike in future.

 

[Dynamic Position]

A replacement pannier rack was provided by 50 Cycles.

The new one was rated at 30Kg instead of 25Kg.

Easy job to swap out?

The replacement did not fit so I had to fit the old one again with a few cable ties added to hold the mud-guard up.

Hopefully 50 Cycles will get things sorted out next week?

 

[flecc]

There appears to be two carrier types on the Pro Connects, on this webpage three bikes have the type with four mainstruts, one with six main struts.

However, carriers are generally universally adjustable for fitting and those illustrated are both like that. What is it that makes the new one not fit?
.

 

[Neil]

Pro connect also

I had a simular brake on my Pro Connect. Also got a replacement rack.

 

[Dynamic Position]

There appears to be two carrier types on the Pro Connects, on this webpage three bikes have the type with four mainstruts, one with six main struts.

However, carriers are generally universally adjustable for fitting and those illustrated are both like that. What is it that makes the new one not fit?
.

Flecc,

Four main struts.

The load bearing struts are about an 1 1/4" too short. It was not possible to secure the bottom fixings of the carrier. Attempts at adjusting the top fixings in order to secure the bottom fixings were not fruitful because the best that could be achieved resulted in the mudguard pressing against the tyre.

 

[flecc]

Sounds like it's a 26" wheel version for one of the small frame option Kalkhoffs, sent out in error Dynamic. Hopefully they'll have the other size in stock for you.
.

 

[Dynamic Position]

Good news, I received a replacement rack after 3 1/2 months.

This time, just to be on the safe side I measured the rack before attempting to fit it.

It's is 14 1/2 inches long where as the original is 15 1/2 inches long (measured from the top along the forward support to the bottom)!

Why can't the 50 Cylcles bicycle mechanics use a measuring tape to make a comparison between a rack on a new ProConnect S and a replacement rack they post out to customers? It makes me wonder how they manage to service e-bikes!

To get the rack length wrong once can be forgiven as a mistake, but I would have thought that 50 Cycles would have checked to make sure second time around?

Perhaps it will be 3rd time lucky?

 

[flecc]

Some racks can have extension plates and some eZee bike models have that type, the multi-hole lower plates allowing height adjustment over quite a large range.

A pity their racks aren't like that, since it seems you've again got the rack for the 26" wheel small size model. It could be a parts number mix-up somewhere along the line, a not uncommon cause of such repeated errors.
.

 

[Dynamic Position]

Jim at 50 Cycles pulled out all the stops.

I have now got a replacement cycle rack fitted.

Just need to go for a good cycle run to test it out.