I've got a Tosheng tsdz2b mid-drive motor that I am attempting to fit to my Pinnacle Lithium 3 hybrid bike. I've already come to the conclusion that I've probably bitten off more than I can chew, as it took two weeks and the purchase of several special tools to remove the crank and bottom bracket, but now I've hit another issue and would like some advice.
The motor fits quite snugly to the frame with only a few mm clearance under the frame. At the point where the motor mounts, the internally routed cables emerge from the frame to go to the back brake and gears. I think there would actually be enough room for the cables once the motor was in place but there is a raised bit of plastic that the retaining screws fit into and this is blocking me sliding the motor into the bottom bracket cavety (see photos).
It strikes me that there are a couple of potential solutions. The simplest would be to remove the motor cover, which has the protruding plastic bit and re-fit it once the motor is mounted. This will void the warranty, but would allow me to retain the internally routed cables. If I did remove the motor cover, is this likely to damage any weather sealing? I don't really want to invalidate the warranty or end up with a motor that dies because water gets in, but it does look like the easier option.
Alternatively, I could remove the brake and gear cables and run them externally instead. This would mean bleeding and refilling the hydraulic disc brake system, which I've not done before. It would also mean readjusting the gear mechanism, to which I've only made minor adjustments before. I feel pretty nervous about the potential of screwing things up in either situation, although I am very much a 'have a go and learn something along the way' type of person.
The final option would be to pay for someone to fit the motor but that would probably cost quite a bit and I don't know if I could find someone to do it quickly as I was hoping to take it on holiday with me in 9 days time.
Has anyone encountered a similar problem or do you have any thoughts about what would be the best approach? Like I say, I'm willing to give most things a go and learn on the way but if you think either option is a terrible idea for someone with decidedly amateur bike maintenance skills, then please let me know.
The motor fits quite snugly to the frame with only a few mm clearance under the frame. At the point where the motor mounts, the internally routed cables emerge from the frame to go to the back brake and gears. I think there would actually be enough room for the cables once the motor was in place but there is a raised bit of plastic that the retaining screws fit into and this is blocking me sliding the motor into the bottom bracket cavety (see photos).
It strikes me that there are a couple of potential solutions. The simplest would be to remove the motor cover, which has the protruding plastic bit and re-fit it once the motor is mounted. This will void the warranty, but would allow me to retain the internally routed cables. If I did remove the motor cover, is this likely to damage any weather sealing? I don't really want to invalidate the warranty or end up with a motor that dies because water gets in, but it does look like the easier option.
Alternatively, I could remove the brake and gear cables and run them externally instead. This would mean bleeding and refilling the hydraulic disc brake system, which I've not done before. It would also mean readjusting the gear mechanism, to which I've only made minor adjustments before. I feel pretty nervous about the potential of screwing things up in either situation, although I am very much a 'have a go and learn something along the way' type of person.
The final option would be to pay for someone to fit the motor but that would probably cost quite a bit and I don't know if I could find someone to do it quickly as I was hoping to take it on holiday with me in 9 days time.
Has anyone encountered a similar problem or do you have any thoughts about what would be the best approach? Like I say, I'm willing to give most things a go and learn on the way but if you think either option is a terrible idea for someone with decidedly amateur bike maintenance skills, then please let me know.
