Electric bike maintenance：The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Electric Bike Working Efficiently

This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about electric bike maintenance.

 

Whether you just bought an e-bike or are thinking about it, you should find out more about the features that come with today's models.

 

You may already be thinking about what it takes to maintain your bike's battery, motor, and other components.

 

Electric bike battery life is unknown. Speaking of electric bikes, how long does the motor last? What does the replacement cost? When do I need to replace it with a new one?

 

You can extend the life of your e-bike and motor with some preventative e-bike maintenance guidelines. Even though the best e-bikes don't need much maintenance, you should still treat it like any other bike and learn a few simple repairs to make sure it's always in great shape.

 

Here are some best practices for e-bike maintenance that can extend the life of your bike and its parts.

 

How Often Should You Maintain Your Electric Bike?

 

In many ways, the maintenance of an e-bike is similar to that of a regular bicycle. Certain parts, such as the drivetrain (cranks, chains, and sprockets), experience more stress and wear than others. Keeping your e-bike clean and well-maintained is essential if you want to get the most out of your e-bike.

 

If an e-bike is clean, it's more likely to be cheerful. When dirt and mud mix with water and grease, they can make a sticky paste that slows down the e-bike at best and wears out parts faster at worst.

 

The most important parts of your e-bike will last longer if they work better and are more reliable.

 

It is important to maintain a clean and smooth-running powertrain to maximize battery life and power output. Clean, well-oiled gears and a well-oiled drivetrain make riding an e-bike more enjoyable and let you get the most out of it.

 

If your drivetrain is dirty, you can wipe it down with a cloth or use a degreaser to clean it well (usually black slime can build up on the chain, especially on electric mountain bikes where the rear derailleur pulley has a dirt tight hold on to it). The manuals for our e-bikes and how to clean their chains can be bought separately.

 

Chains on e-bikes should be oiled more frequently than chains on conventional bikes. Regularly smearing quality oil on your chain will prolong the life of your transmission and improve its performance. This should be done after every ride after you have cleaned and dried the e-bike.

 

If not, check out our brochure for what to look out for when buying and applying chain lubricant to your e-bike.

 

Applying grease to an e-bike isn't always a simple matter. Since most e-bikes don't let you pedal backward, you'll need to lift the back wheel off the ground (or have a friend do it for you) to turn the pedals and let the lube run down the chain.

 

Use the "walk" mode on your e-bike to turn the crank (and the back wheel) gently. This will make it easy for you to lubricate the chain.

 

The pressure on your electric tire bike is another thing you should be concerned about. Tires that are not properly inflated are not only dangerous because they will burst, but they also drain the battery faster and waste more power. In the same way, over-inflated tires make driving less comfortable and less easy to control, especially on rough terrain.

 

First, always inflate the tire to the range specified on the tire sidewall. Next, try different pressures to see which one works best for you and has the least effect on the car's overall weight, ride quality, traction, and gas mileage.

 

Clean your e-bike

 

We've already talked about how keeping your bike clean can make it run better and last longer. Now, let's go into more detail about how to clean an electric bike.

 

It's a good idea to turn your e-bike upside down before washing it to make cleaning the drivetrain easier. Don't just flush with the hose. Water can cause rust on e-bike components, which can drastically shorten the life of the drivetrain. Get a clean, dry cloth, an old toothbrush, a special soft-bristle brush, and a drivetrain degreaser. Spray the e-bike from top to bottom, taking care to avoid electrical components and bearings. The next step is to spray the bike cleaner onto the frame, taking care not to get it on the electronics.

 

You can quickly and easily clean your e-bike by washing it with water from a bucket or low-pressure hose, a soft cleaning brush, and a cleaner made for bikes.

 

Leave the battery in its case to protect it from dust and water, but turn off the e-bike system and make sure it's not charging before cleaning. Before you clean, take out the long-life battery, which is an extra battery you can connect for longer rides, and clean the connections with a soft, dry brush.

 

The charging port is prone to dust accumulation. Make sure the inside is clean and remove any debris with a dry cloth or brush. When cleaning the bike, make sure the port is closed.

 

After washing the bike, dry it with a clean cloth, but don't touch the disc brakes. Doing so could spread oil or other dirt from the cleaning process.

 

Sometimes you may need to clean the battery contacts. You can do this with a soft dry brush, a clean dry towel, and (optionally) some switch lubrication.

 

Magnets on the hub of an electric bike may measure your speed. Don't risk any damage; wipe with a soft cloth instead.

 

Pour some degreaser into a clean cloth and gently scrub the length of the chain with a brush to remove any accumulated debris. After cleaning the drivetrain, lubricate the chain, gears, and other moving parts with a few drops of oil. Wipe off excess grease with a clean towel to avoid dirt buildup.

 

Electric bike battery maintenance

 

Please charge and store your e-bike battery properly!

For best charging results, read the manual provided by the manufacturer. Improper charging can negatively affect battery life and performance.

 

Also, lithium batteries tend to be very fragile. If the battery is fully discharged, it may lose a lot of power or stop working entirely. So make sure the battery is fully charged before putting your e-bike away for the winter. Electric bike batteries should be charged at least every two months.

 

Keep the battery charger in a cool, dry place. If you want your battery to last as long as possible, you should avoid leaving it fully charged or fully drained for extended periods.

If you don't plan to use the e-bike for a while, you can remove the battery. Regular charging is required as its charge will inevitably decrease over time.

 

Charging an electric bike at 30% to 60% is the best option for long-term storage. Electric bike batteries are not durable enough to withstand extreme temperatures. Keep the battery pack of your e-bike away from sunlight and in a cool, dry place.

 

If you want to ride your e-bike in the winter, especially when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius, make sure the battery is fully charged and stored at room temperature.

 

Another thing to think about is how extreme temperatures affect the life of batteries. Because the chemistry inside an e-bike battery is sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, charging and riding in extreme conditions can hurt performance.

 

This is a common problem with e-bike batteries because they are used all year for commuting and riding for fun, no matter the weather. This means that special maintenance needs to be taken to reduce the effects of riding and temperature.

 

Electric bike motor maintenance

 

When riding an e-bike, it is common to hear the sound of the motor. Motors require little maintenance, but they should be cleaned and any squeaky connections should be greased from time to time.

 

If you try to take the motor out, it could be damaged. Don't remove the motor and then try to reinstall it; this could damage the cable. You should tighten the bolts that hold it in place.

 

Check your e-bike disc brakes regularly

Maintaining effective and reliable brakes should be the number one priority for any electric bike. Unreliable brakes present a great risk to the rider, especially on slopes. If grease or oil gets on the wheels, brakes, or rotors, they can squeak and shorten their lives. Improperly aligned brake pads can also cause unpleasant noises and increase repair costs. Make sure your brakes are in good shape before you start riding. Check for signs of wear and replace any rotors or pads that are damaged right away.

 

Take care of your e-bike tires

 

To continue riding your e-bike safely, you should frequently check the condition of your tires. Electric bikes require wider and stronger tires than conventional bikes. However, a flat tire can still occur. Therefore, it is recommended that you check your tire pressure before you start riding. Even though the e-bike tires made by Shengmilo are among the strongest, punctures can still occur. Keeping the right tire pressure will make the ride more comfortable, reduce the chance of a flat, and get the most out of pedaling and the battery.

 

Cleaning and Lubricating Electric Bike Drivetrains

 

Use a degreaser if you want a clean chain and sprocket. Use a stiff brush to remove as much grease as possible from the chain. Remember to refuel the chain and allow the pedals to spin a few turns to distribute the oil. Depending on the weather and terrain, you can use dry lube or wet lube on your e-bike chain.

 

Pedals, sprockets, cranks, chains, derailleurs, and gears are the components of an e-bike drivetrain. It works the same as any other traditional bike with a chain drive. The drivetrain converts the force applied to the pedals into forwarding motion. This causes a lot of friction between the various moving parts, so regular oiling is required to prevent premature wear. Unfortunately, greasy substances attract dirt and grime. If you don't clean the drivetrain before storing your e-bike for the winter, you may find dirt embedded in it after a few months.

 

Properly store your e-bike after riding

 

The most important thing you can do when storing your e-bike is to make sure it stays dry, fully charged, and dust-free. The best way to do this is to check that the e-bike is in good working order before each ride. Always make sure it is clean and in good condition.

 

There is no need to remove the battery from the e-bike before putting it away. Removing the battery while charging is a good habit for many people. Electric bike parts can rust and break down if they are kept in a damp place.

 

Never hang greasy rags near battery chargers or batteries, as the heat from these devices can cause a fire. Never hide batteries or chargers. Make sure there is enough space around the bike charging point.

 

Finally, avoid letting the battery drain completely before storing it.

 

In conclusion,

 

Following the daily maintenance guidelines for your e-bike will make you smile from ear to ear. All in all, here are some key points to keep your e-bike in good working order:

 

Keep your bike spotless with a well-lubricated drivetrain and pneumatic tires.

 

Always keep an eye out for parts that are broken or missing by doing regular, thorough checks.

 

Storing the battery in a cool, dry place while still having some charge will extend the battery life. Do not store dead batteries in warehouses. Never attempt to charge the battery with a different charger than the one included.

 

Remember that if your e-bike isn't working right or you think there might be a problem with the frame, wheels, chain, or brakes, you can always go to Shengmilo's website for free service after the sale.