All you need to know about how to do a ebike service yourself

When you own any piece of equipment that has some kind of mechanical parts then it will eventually have to be serviced or even repaired at some point, particularly with a bicycle. ebike service is very important, and it’s not only available in the ebike shop. Take a look at some useful tips to get you started…

 

How often should you repair your ebike?

Over time your ebike will go through a lot of wear and tear. Sometimes it’s only when we come face to face with a mechanical problem that we realise how fragile a ebike can be. Even the small failures can make a huge impact on the functionality of the ebike. Little problems such as moved brake pads can subtly cause your braking power to decrease.

Aim to get your ebike checked over every few months. Obviously, this is all dependent on how often you cycle. During the winter season the ebike can get in a bad state from the debris picked up off the wet and muddy conditions, so pay particular attention during this time.

How to repair your ebike

There are a couple of options to keep your ebike in a safe road worthy condition. The majority of ebike owners take it to a ebike shop. The other option is to fix it yourself. This may be a daunting thought to some, but there are so many of the typical common repairs that are fairly simple to fix yourself. It’s surprising how much a good set of tools can fix. Read on and, we’ll teach you how to perform your own ebike service.

 

How to replace…

Brakes pads

Brake pads are heavily used and they come with wear indicators, such as circles or lines. If these have disappeared from the pads wearing down, it’s time to replace them. All that’s needed is a 2.5 and 4 mm Allen key.

 

 

1. Loosen off the brake calliper using the lever and remove the wheel.
2. Using the 2.5 mm Allen key, unscrew the grub screw that stops the pad from sliding out. You don’t need to completely remove it, just enough to slide the pad out.
3. The new pad will have a directional arrow and the right/left indicator on it. Then just slide it in.
4. Tighten up the grub screw and then repeat this process on the other side.
5. Once the wheels are back on, close the calliper and adjuster to set the pad position relative to the rim. You can adjust their position using your 4 mm Allen key.

 

Gear Cables

Over time brake and gear cables can stretch with frequent use. Cables are made out of stainless steel and are under tension when you pull on the brakes or change gear. Stretched cables cause your gears to suddenly change or slip due to the slackened tension.

 

 

 

 

 

The majority of the time it‘s only the inner cable that needs replacing. Here is how to replace the inner cables.

1.Shift to the smallest cog in the rear. Shift to the smallest chain ring up front. Cut off the cable ends using cable cutters.

2. With an Allen Key (Hex Key) loosen the shifter cable anchor bolts and pull the cables out of the derailleurs.

3. Reset the rear derailleur barrel adjuster and the shift lever barrel adjusters. This will give you a broader range for fine-tuning once the new cable is in.

4. Pull the cables out of their housings and remove from the shifters. Most shifters have an access cover or a plug that needs to be removed before you can pull the cable out of the shifter.

5. Remove the cable housings from the ebike if you prefer. Spray some lube such as WD-40 through the housings to remove dirt and grime.

6. Reinstall the cable housings. Insert new cables into the shifters and route them through the housing and to each derailleur.

7.Pull each cable tight using your fingers only and tighten the cable anchor bolts. Cut off the excess cable. Put cable ends on to stop it from fraying. Check the shifting performance and fine-adjust if needed.

 

 

Chain

Aside from tires, your ebike chain is a frequently used component that should be replaced before it’s too late. You can measure your chain with a chain measurer tool to see how worn it is. To replace the chain you will need to find the quick link and unlink the chain. If you don’t have a quick link to do this then you can use a chain tool. Use your old chain to measure the correct length against the new one. Take out links to match the length. The length all depends on the gearing.

Before installing the new chain, shift the gears to the smallest ring on the rear cassette and the biggest on the front. Feed the new chain through the front cassette and onto the rear and through the derailleur. To link it together you use a quick link that attaches to two ends. Sometimes the gears may need a slight adjustment and this can be done with the barrel adjusters.