Electric Bikes - Crystalyte controller issue?

After storing my ebike for the winter, I got it out, cleaned it up and hooked up the battery. It goes a couple of feet, then stops. Is that the controller? Is there anything I can do, or just replace the controller?

where the Batteries charged every few months over the winter? get a voltmeter and test the cells.

It may not be your controller. If you were using SLA's, they should be stored fully charged, if not you may damaged the plates. A volt meter will probably show a usable voltage but that does not mean that they have the capacity to provide any usable ah's. Also, check all your connections, you may have some corrosion that will limit the amount of current that can pass through them.

Sorry guys, it's a well maintained NiCad set up carrying a full 42V on a 36V system.

I still feel it may be your batteries. I raced RC electric boats a number of years ago and NiCads can be a problem. They will show a voltage but they can still be bad. One thing you might try is placing another load across the batteries only. We used 12v headlamps to completely discharge our RC NiCads before recharging. The fellows at endless-sphere.com may have some ideas for you.

I still feel it may be your batteries. I raced RC electric boats a number of years ago and NiCads can be a problem. They will show a voltage but they can still be bad. One thing you might try is placing another load across the batteries only. We used 12v headlamps to completely discharge our RC NiCads before recharging. The fellows at endless-sphere.com may have some ideas for you.

I failed to say that while I'm fixing this bike, I'm running the same batteries on another bike and they work fine. To me that means either the motor or the controller. The motor starts, but cuts off after about a second, so my best bet is the controller.

Ok