Troubleshooting / help with non working e bike

electric_avenue

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
80
4
Chorlton, Manchester
Hi all

not so long ago I bought a Montana E-Glide second hand. The bike was only a few months old, supposedly bought from Halfords although no receipt to prove this.
It worked fine for a couple of months and all the family were enjoying using it.

Last week the chain came off, when it was put back on the bike no longer worked. It still lights up when you turn the key, but the motor no longer kicks in when its pedalled. I suspect the chain coming off is a red herring because it doesn't seem to have caused any damage.

I can't find any shops locally (Manchester) who can help including the local halfords (not that I really expected much from them).

Can anyone suggest possible causes or someone who can test it for me?
 

JuicyBike

Trade Member
Jan 26, 2009
1,671
527
Derbyshire
Hi EA
Does your bike have a black, hard plastic disk on the crank axle, between the pedals?
If so, this disk needs to be no more than 10mm from a small sensor that reads the small magnets in the disk.
See if the disk has moved along the shaft. If you think it is too far from the sensor move it back into position using finger and thumb.
That's the most likely cause.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,559
30,848
If you don't find the problem easily, don't be tempted to spend on it. These 24" wheel bikes are listed as kids bikes by one seller and on the link below are only £69.99 for new ones:

Montana e-glide
 

electric_avenue

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
80
4
Chorlton, Manchester
Juicybike. Yes it does. And its quite feasible that the chain coming off could have moved it. However, because of all the plastic bodywork its not going to be so easy to get at. It certainly wasn't about to 'slide along'.

I'll report back. Thanks for this suggestion.
 

electric_avenue

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
80
4
Chorlton, Manchester
If you don't find the problem easily, don't be tempted to spend on it. These 24" wheel bikes are listed as kids bikes by one seller and on the link below are only £69.99 for new ones:

Montana e-glide
I agree about not spending, but that ad is for a back wheel only, not a bike. I don't want to start buying parts until I have a diagnosis, I've heard stories of a lot of money leaving the pocket that way.
 

electric_avenue

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
80
4
Chorlton, Manchester
Its looking like Juicy is right. There's a black plastic disk, with little magnets that's present and correct. Next to it is a mounting with nothing connected to it, so I guess the sensor got knocked off when the chain came off. Is there any chance of this being a generic item, and not bike-specific?
 

JuicyBike

Trade Member
Jan 26, 2009
1,671
527
Derbyshire
A very good chance, and should be the lowest cost component to replace, so, in a way, you've been very lucky...

We have some. If you can wait 'til tomorrow I'll have a price for you.
 

electric_avenue

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
80
4
Chorlton, Manchester
Tonight a miracle has occured. First I found the sensor still attached and tucked into the frame cover, reattached and reassembled with hope in my heart. When I turned the key, no power lights and no front and back lights. But I gave it a pedal anyway, just in case, and it worked! Well, the bike power worked.

So then I went back in and found a wire had broken off the controller chip that's behind the key - which presumably had fatigued free with all the on and offing of the frame cover. In the course of soldering this back on I shorted it and !bang! put it back together to put away for the night and this is the miracle part. Now the front and back lights do work, so does the bike, I'm just missing the battery charge indicators. Good enough for now!
 

JuicyBike

Trade Member
Jan 26, 2009
1,671
527
Derbyshire
And your lottery numbers are...?
 

kitchenman

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 9, 2010
1,309
7
Aberaeron, West Wales
Tonight a miracle has occured. First I found the sensor still attached and tucked into the frame cover, reattached and reassembled with hope in my heart. When I turned the key, no power lights and no front and back lights. But I gave it a pedal anyway, just in case, and it worked! Well, the bike power worked.

So then I went back in and found a wire had broken off the controller chip that's behind the key - which presumably had fatigued free with all the on and offing of the frame cover. In the course of soldering this back on I shorted it and !bang! put it back together to put away for the night and this is the miracle part. Now the front and back lights do work, so does the bike, I'm just missing the battery charge indicators. Good enough for now!
Try and upload some photos. It would be nice for members to see your bike (while its still working!) ...
 

electric_avenue

Pedelecer
Aug 13, 2011
80
4
Chorlton, Manchester
Try and upload some photos. It would be nice for members to see your bike (while its still working!) ...
Photo's, of this jalopy? Well, if you like. Here's the bike itself (scooter behind might help you to reckon the size) one of the pedal sensor that got knocked off when the chain came off (circled blue) and one of the chip which when !BANG! but now the bike works without it. Although without the LEDs, obviously.




 

kitchenman

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 9, 2010
1,309
7
Aberaeron, West Wales
Thanks for doing that. It really helps to see the bike that is being discussed. Even that Jalopy. What an word Jalopy is. Great to here and say it again ...
I've been thinking of creating a new thread with a subject of "the only ones" so that we can list those members who are the only ones to have a certain bike. I think you might be the only member who has a Montana E-Glide! ...
 
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