Basic Scooter Care and Maintenance
The Motor
Electric Scooter Repair
Common Problems
Very Important Reminder
The Motor
Scooters may occasionally run into problems. Everything does. Of
course, the best measure to take with any scooter is to maintain and
care for it so that it is in the best condition. It’s like a car: if
you keep up with the maintenance, like the well-known oil change for
every 3,000 driven miles, then your car will be in better shape and
there’s less chance that the car will run into problems and break
down.
If you ever notice that your electric scooter not running properly,
you can check for telltale signs. Here are some examples:
● Armature - Overheated windings (discolored), loose laminations
● Bearings - Dry, loose, tight
● Brushes - Pitted, burned, chipped, worn
● Commutator - Brush debris between segments, wear and tear, erosion, oxidation
● Magnets - Loose, scored by contact with armature
● Springs - Discolored, dissimilar pressure
●
Commutator: If you need to clean
the commutator, you will want to be very gentle. A good thing to do
is use emery paper. Remove all of the debris that may have settled
down in the segments with a toothpick. Be very careful not to break
off the tips.
●
Brushes, Springs, Bearings: If you decide to replace the
brushes, make sure that they are identical to the original brushes.
This is true as well for the replacement of the springs; however,
there will be times when a stronger spring would be recommended. For
the bearings, you might be able to lube them; however, the best and
common option is to simply replace them.
Tip: If you are not sure where to find small motor brushes,
check with your local automotive shop that handles electrical parts.
Another good place is a shop that rebuilds generators and
alternators. If you are not comfortable making these changes
yourself, you can always bring your scooter into the shop where you
bought the scooter. They may service your scooter or refer you to
someone who can.
Electric Scooter Repair
It is quite expensive fixing your electric scooter using a mechanic.
Although this may be the only option you have with some breakdowns
and problems, if you feel comfortable being a bit handy, you can
probably fix many of the problems with your scooter as long as you
have the proper tools, replacement parts and patience. Remember,
patience is a virtue!
To get replacement parts, you should check with a local retailer
selling that sells your particular model of scooter. Another great
option that can save you money is to look on the Internet; there are
retailers of replacement scooters parts online and often, you can
get a better deal with them since they do not have the same overhead
as a retailer in your town.
Here are the most common problems that arise with Electric Scooters:
● Battery replacement
● Throttle replacement
● Belts / Chains replacement
● Flat tires
● Fuse replacement
● Motor replacement
● Controller replacement
You should get to know as much as
possible about your electric scooter – by doing so, you will have an
advantage. Many times, people will fix what they know and what they
can fix (or they will repair the smaller problems) and then hire a
qualified mechanic to fix the other repairs that are major and more
problematic. For example, you may find it no problem with replacing
the controller or fuse but you feel uncomfortable taking on the
motor replacement.
To follow up with this example, here’s how you can replace the fuse
on an electric scooter:
When the fuse blows, there is a bigger problem underlying it. Be
prepared to search for a replacement since some fuses are very
difficult to find. Again, after checking with your local scooter
retailer, expand your search to the Internet. Once you have your
fuses, you may want to start the diagnostics.
Start by disconnecting the battery pack from the motor and
controller. Make sure that the switch is in the "off" position!
Insert the new fuse and then turn the switch to the "on" position.
If the fuse blew, this means you have a short in the wiring. Look
around for black or darkened spots that could still be warm to the
touch. If the fuse does not blow, turn the switch back to the "off"
position, connect the controller, and move the switch back to "on."
If the fuse blows at this point, this is a sign that the controller
is bad and will need to be replaced. Move the switch to "off",
replace the controller, and then move the switch back to "on." On
certain types of electric scooters, the controller is embedded
within the motor housing. If this is the case, both the controller
and the motor housing would have to be replaced.
If the fuse does not blow for the controller, turn the switch to
"off", connect to the motor, and again move the switch to the "on"
position. If the fuse blows at this point, that means you have
either a bad motor or bad wiring. You would go through the same
exercise of turning the switch to "off", replace the motor and/or
wiring, and then turning the switch back to "on."
TIP: A good thing to do is use your sense of smell while
you’re doing the diagnostic. If you smell a burning or hot smell,
then you can be certain something is wrong.
Never replace the fuses with a higher amp fuse than what you are replacing.
With some good common sense, you can handle most of the problems yourself. You can always contact the manufacturer or use the power of the Internet to learn how to maintain your electric scooter or bicycle.
It's time to join the latest craze; Electric Scooters! You can find them everywhere these days. On TV, in the movies, kids zipping up and down the block on them. Even their parents use them to run local errands to the store, post office, etc.. People commute to work or the local bus, train or subway station on electric scooters. Students and Professors zoom across campus on electric scooters. Vacationers keep electric scooters on board their RV or boat. Active seniors use electric scooters to help them get around town. As a matter of fact, you find people young and old having a ball riding electric scooters for all sorts of reasons.
