Oxygen eMate MTB Motor Noise & Vibration

[Warwick]

I'm used to the rather loud whine of the motor on my Oxygen. It's a RWD machine, so the worst of the noise is behind me, so no big deal.

However, since I got the machine very wet a couple of weeks ago, I've noticed that there is often a short, rasping noise when I lift off the power by stopping pedalling and a vibration that passes through the drivetrain and is clearly felt. With the Ice Spiker tyres I've had on the bike, I might, just, have been able to miss the noise - although it is quite loud - but not the vibration I can clearly sense.

It seems to be a clutch engaging/disengaging. At least that's my guess. Does the motor have a clutch mechanism and is it a weakness of the model? The power seems to be feeding in fine, but if it's a sign the motor is going to disintegrate, I'll d something about it.

TIA

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Most likely the free-wheel in the cassette hub is sticking. Try and get some 3-in-one oil down the back of the cassette to where the hub goes into the motor. Water can get in there and it makes the pawls go rusty.

 

[Warwick]

Sorry Dave, I don't think this is the cassette. This is far too loud a noise for that and makes quite a distinct judder through the drivetrain. I don't think the cassette would make such a noise nor vibration.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The only way you can feel anything at the pedals when you're free-wheeling is when the cassette free-wheel is not working properly. Other than that, we need a new description of the problem.

 

[Warwick]

OK, the freewheel works fine, but when I lift off the power whilst pedalling there is a short, rasping noise (like a clutch engaging/disengaging). The best way I can describe the noise is that it sounds like a donkey with a sore throat! Only not quite as loud. The sound itself may be hard to describe, but the action itself is powerful enough to send a small jolt through the drivetrain that I can pick up through the pedals.