Well, in all honesty, my DIY bikes have been very reliable over the years, only a couple times have i had to pedal home without power.. over 1000's or rides..
Today, a nice and sunny, blue skies kinda day.. I found a post on FB about fresh honey crisp apples on sale from Nova Scotia, 10$ a bag .. Figured it's a perfect day to take the trike and Sandy for a ride... so i load up and head out.
8km from home i get to the apple guy, grab a bag, and decide it's such a nice day i may as well keep on rolling.. when suddenly.. pouf.. no more throttle response.. uh oh... i try a few more times just in case.. but nope.. she's dead.. i look down at the CA and it's lit, showing 96v - 7.85 km - 1.2 ah .. so lots of battery left.. damit..
Well, i'm always telling people I DO PEDAL .. all the time.. and i do.. but with the motor helping :wink: I turn around and start pedaling the old fashion way ..son-of-a-bitch ....... cranking a heavy trike with an X5 on the back, and trailer with 40 Lb dog in it + gear and a big bag of apples.... without power....= NO FUN
Actually not too terrible on the flats but the way home is a steady incline. and against the wind.. so bonus challenge points added.. argh.
So about 3 km of this and my legs are on FIRE ... desperation is the mother of all inventions as they say.. i decide to pull over and have another look at this problem.. all connections solid, no smoke or bad smells, battery is good, pulled the ebrake and 3 speed switch wires in case.. no luck..
This leaves the damn throttle, i've kicked it a few times getting into the seat and the top of the shell was broken, but it's been fine like this for months now... so why not.. i ripped the wires out of the throttle assembly.. stripped the casing back with my teeth and tried shorting them out.. and voila .. we have POWER !!!!...
So there i am, sketchy throttle on a 100v 100 amp X5 ... with no regulation.. all or nothing .. .. and i much prefer the all vs nothing at this point !
Now comes a decision, the shortest way home is thru a dirt trail, and it's been raining for 7 days straight, but with this throttle thing going on i rather stay away from rush hour traffic, specially with sandy in the trailer... ..
I'm pedaling at times, then resting my legs i boost the throttle a few times.. and repeat, getting home much faster now.. woot.... but i'm steering with one hand and pinching wires with the other making this a difficult multi-task.. still . i'm getting home.. until.. i reach a spot in the trail with a big sign " Trail Closed.. under construction " .. wtf... like.. really ?... of all days for this to happen.. sonofabitch.......
Figured i could get around it, usually can, but 200 meters later i'm sinking out of sight into soft sand, they are ripping up the trails, laying sand and have not packed it down yet.. so all 3 wheels of the trike sinking, back wheel spinning.. and the trailer dragging behind.. at this point i can smell the motor..
And i reach the work crew, trail is really blocked and no getting around.. F^%$#.... so i turn it around and head back.. this leaves one way home, thru the muddiest trail in town.... a few kms of this :
Today, a nice and sunny, blue skies kinda day.. I found a post on FB about fresh honey crisp apples on sale from Nova Scotia, 10$ a bag .. Figured it's a perfect day to take the trike and Sandy for a ride... so i load up and head out.
8km from home i get to the apple guy, grab a bag, and decide it's such a nice day i may as well keep on rolling.. when suddenly.. pouf.. no more throttle response.. uh oh... i try a few more times just in case.. but nope.. she's dead.. i look down at the CA and it's lit, showing 96v - 7.85 km - 1.2 ah .. so lots of battery left.. damit..
Well, i'm always telling people I DO PEDAL .. all the time.. and i do.. but with the motor helping :wink: I turn around and start pedaling the old fashion way ..son-of-a-bitch ....... cranking a heavy trike with an X5 on the back, and trailer with 40 Lb dog in it + gear and a big bag of apples.... without power....= NO FUN
Actually not too terrible on the flats but the way home is a steady incline. and against the wind.. so bonus challenge points added.. argh.
So about 3 km of this and my legs are on FIRE ... desperation is the mother of all inventions as they say.. i decide to pull over and have another look at this problem.. all connections solid, no smoke or bad smells, battery is good, pulled the ebrake and 3 speed switch wires in case.. no luck..
This leaves the damn throttle, i've kicked it a few times getting into the seat and the top of the shell was broken, but it's been fine like this for months now... so why not.. i ripped the wires out of the throttle assembly.. stripped the casing back with my teeth and tried shorting them out.. and voila .. we have POWER !!!!...
So there i am, sketchy throttle on a 100v 100 amp X5 ... with no regulation.. all or nothing .. .. and i much prefer the all vs nothing at this point !
Now comes a decision, the shortest way home is thru a dirt trail, and it's been raining for 7 days straight, but with this throttle thing going on i rather stay away from rush hour traffic, specially with sandy in the trailer... ..
I'm pedaling at times, then resting my legs i boost the throttle a few times.. and repeat, getting home much faster now.. woot.... but i'm steering with one hand and pinching wires with the other making this a difficult multi-task.. still . i'm getting home.. until.. i reach a spot in the trail with a big sign " Trail Closed.. under construction " .. wtf... like.. really ?... of all days for this to happen.. sonofabitch.......
Figured i could get around it, usually can, but 200 meters later i'm sinking out of sight into soft sand, they are ripping up the trails, laying sand and have not packed it down yet.. so all 3 wheels of the trike sinking, back wheel spinning.. and the trailer dragging behind.. at this point i can smell the motor..
And i reach the work crew, trail is really blocked and no getting around.. F^%$#.... so i turn it around and head back.. this leaves one way home, thru the muddiest trail in town.... a few kms of this :