The chain is slack because it’s not sitting on the front chain ring (the one that’s attached to the right pedal). I did that to prevent the chain from interrupting me while I install the wheel.
I cannot independently move the axle on both sides. Turning it on one end does so on the other end. It seems that the flat sections of the ends of the axle and not facing the exact same direction. That means that when one end of the axle is aligned with the dropout and inserts to the end, the flat section of the other end of the axle prevents it from getting into the dropout on its side. It’s like the axle was twisted but remained perfectly straight otherwise. It’s really weird. There are no signs of damage as far as I can tell. It seems like a case of cheap Chinese crap (sorry), and this motor is both.
The chain is slack because it’s not sitting on the front chain ring (the one that’s attached to the right pedal). I did that to prevent the chain from interrupting me while I install the wheel.

I cannot independently move the axle on both sides. Turning it on one end does so on the other end. It seems that the flat sections of the ends of the axle and not facing the exact same direction. That means that when one end of the axle is aligned with the dropout and inserts to the end, the flat section of the other end of the axle prevents it from getting into the dropout on its side. It’s like the axle was twisted but remained perfectly straight otherwise.

It’s really weird. There are no signs of damage as far as I can tell. It seems like a case of cheap Chinese crap (sorry), and this motor is both.

Anyway, I wonder how they ever got the axle into the dropouts in the first place.