Servicing Schedule

[CameraDealer]

My wife and I have a Woosh bike each, with which we're very pleased. We only use them on our motorhome holidays in Europe so they get less than average usage and wear. I charge the batteries every six weeks and keep the chain and sprocket wheel lubricated with the correct oil.

They are now coming up to three years old. All is well but what do you experts recommend as far as extra servicing goes, or is it a case of, if nothing is broken, leave well alone?

Mine is a Big Bear with a front hub drive and my wife's is a Santana CD with a chain drive.

 

[Emo Rider]

A basic service and a check over by any good bike shop would not hurt. An ebike dealer would be ideal. Any bike, electric or otherwise would benifit from a yearly service. Consider it an mot of sorts. Even if everything is ok, a good mechanic checks everything for tightness, brake wear, tyre pressure and tyre wear.

Hope this helps, cheers.

 

[Woosh]

If you want to do this yourself, you don't have to spend much time. Probably 30 minutes spent on each bike is all you need. It's easy and satisfying.
First job is to clean the bike with a dry brush and clean rag. You can wash the tyres with brush and a bucket of water but don't let water gets anywhere else. Pump up the tyres to 40-45 PSI (for most of our bikes).
Get a tube of white lithium grease and grease all the ball bearings: rear hub, bottom brackets, pedals, brake innercables, brake lever pivots. Avoid oil, grease stays longer.

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Weldtite-Lithium-Grease-Tube-40gm_53127.htm

Wipe the chain clean with a clean rag. Get rid of the dirt but don't put any grease on the chain, it's waxed already for life (good for 10+ years or 2,000 miles).
Check for kinks on the chain where it runs over the chain ring and rear sprockets. Grease the upper and lower pulleys' ball bearings on the derailleur.
Check and do up any spoke that feels loose when you ping them. Spin the rear wheel where we usually fit a V-brake, check that the brake pads are evenly spaced either side of the rim.
Check the gear indexing. Usually the outercable shrinks a bit over time, you may need to turn the barrel adjuster half a turn to a turn anti-clockwise to compensate.
Check the brake pads for wear. Adjust the brake reach if necessary.
Clean the disc brake rotor with a clean rag, don't touch the rotor with greasy fingers.

That's about it.
This £2 tube of grease will be enough for about 5 years.

 

[CameraDealer]

If you want to do this yourself, you don't have to spend much time. Probably 30 minutes spent on each bike is all you need. It's easy and satisfying.
First job is to clean the bike with a dry brush and clean rag. You can wash the tyres with brush and a bucket of water but don't let water gets anywhere else. Pump up the tyres to 40-45 PSI (for most of our bikes).
Get a tube of white lithium grease and grease all the ball bearings: rear hub, bottom brackets, pedals, brake innercables, brake lever pivots. Avoid oil, grease stays longer.

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Weldtite-Lithium-Grease-Tube-40gm_53127.htm

Wipe the chain clean with a clean rag. Get rid of the dirt but don't put any grease on the chain, it's waxed already for life (good for 10+ years or 2,000 miles).
Check for kinks on the chain where it runs over the chain ring and rear sprockets. Grease the upper and lower pulleys' ball bearings on the derailleur.
Check and do up any spoke that feels loose when you ping them. Spin the rear wheel where we usually fit a V-brake, check that the brake pads are evenly spaced either side of the rim.
Check the gear indexing. Usually the outercable shrinks a bit over time, you may need to turn the barrel adjuster half a turn to a turn anti-clockwise to compensate.
Check the brake pads for wear. Adjust the brake reach if necessary.
Clean the disc brake rotor with a clean rag, don't touch the rotor with greasy fingers.

That's about it.
This £2 tube of grease will be enough for about 5 years.

Thanks for the detailed advice. I always feel a bit guilty asking a traditional bike dealer to service my bikes, having cut them out and bought mail order.

I seem to recollect that you had an arrangement with some dealers who would, for a fee, assemble your bikes and check them over.

Is this still the case and are there any in Lancashire or Gtr Manchester? I'd feel happier taking it to one of those.

I'm capable of cleaning it and checking the obvious stuff but when it comes to greasing bearings etc. I'd rather pay someone who knows what they're doing.