Ebike - Trouble removing rear wheel
 

Bike: Stunner LT (Rear hub motor)
Issue: Cannot seem to get the rear tire off to change a flat.

So hubby had a run in with a nail, and we have to change the rear tire. Seems like a simple thing. Followed several videos. No matter what we do, can't seem to get that thing to budge at all. It should be pretty strait forward. Neither of us are very mechanical, but we have removed tires before. Front no problem, the rear tire on this bike just doesn't want to work with us.

- unplugged the power to the hub
- loosened the bolts on both sides of the axle
- you'd think you should just have to pull back the Derailleur, and pop it out...but no. and no matter how much force there is no movement on either side.

Photos: (can't add or link any photos to the forum yet)

Many ebikes with a rear hub motor have special dropouts that capture the axle across the flats and have a bolt through the dropout from front to rear to keep the axle of the hub motor from torqueing the dropouts apart. Check and see if you have this bolt. You will have to remove them from both sides to remove the wheel.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...440d8ac409.jpg

Make several short posts and send pictures.

It is this type of time consuming issue that has caused some LBS to not work on E Bikes they don't sell. If they should damage something during a "simple" tire/tube replacement (like the control wiring that often enters the rear axle end) the shop is on the hook for a costly headache. Andy

I would suggest going to the the manufacturer.....and ask, chat or phone

Cautionary tale, but you might also post in the "e" forum. Also, Biktrix supposedly has good CS, including "chat"; let us know how you fare.

Torque arm(s)?
 

Maybe it has a torque arm on one or both sides that has to be removed before the wheel can be removed.

My friend had the same problem on his e-bike. The flatted axle had rotated a tiny bit in the dropout, and dug its threads into the dropout, so it was good and stuck. This was visible once we got the nut completely off. (Suggest doing so and sharing a picture). It was visibly rotated. We put an adjustable wrench on the exposed flats, rotated, and it popped free. After that point it was serviceable like any gear hub.

If you know where the nail poked through the wheel, you could patch the tube without removing the wheel from the bike. But you need to address this issue sooner or later when the tire wears out.

Just like with an IGH, an in hub E motor needs to have the axle resist the rotational force of the motor. Even there's a reaction arm in plat it can come loose from the axle or internal fitting it's held by. I shudder to think about the forces the poor drop out is seeing... hopefully the drop out is steel (saying this knowing that's really un likely:)) Andy

That is why some ebike mfgs now add the pinch bolt I showed the photo of above. If the OP ever decides to respond, maybe we will learn more.

Definitely. In the case of my friend's bike, it was an early generation e-bike, probably a generic frame rather than one of the newer ones that is built more stout. Most of the people I know who bought the early e-bikes are on their second e-bike.

At least with the IGH on my bike, it has those anti rotation washers, and, the damage is limited by the strength of the motor. ;)