So, your electric scooter or that one used by your spouse, kid or grandchild isn’t working or working right. Maybe it doesn’t start all, runs poorly, does not keep the battery charge for long, the motor gets a little too hot, or has poor braking. Like many people, you may not know where to start. You also do not want to engage an expert or specialists because they do charge an “arm and a Leg’. What can be more frustrating is that it may have been a simple problem that you could have handled yourself. In the following read, I will show you how to repair electric scooter step by step. Before you read further also check our article on How Old Do You Have To Be To Ride A Razor Electric Scooter?
A Complete Guide How To Repair Electric Scooter
How To Repair Electric Scooter Step 1: Identify the Problem
What’s the problem with the scooter? Is it that it is not starting or takes some time to start? It is not braking sharply or produces some grinding noise or the battery seems to take a longer time to charge? It pays to know exactly know what the problem is. This helps to know how to go about it.
A good understanding of the scooter and its working principles will come in handy. You should know what the motor looks like, how it operates when working okay, likely common issues and more. It’s common for two different problems to share a similar symptom. For instance a bad motor and a drained battery or poorly starter switch and bad drive train.
How To Repair Electric Scooter Step 2: Diagnose the Problem
The next step is to understand how bad the problem is. For instance, it may be intermittent where it comes and goes, or it is permanent. A problem that comes and goes can be harder to deal with in comparison to one that stays the same. The scooter may start when the battery is well charged but not when it’s partially drained. Alternatively, the brakes may work better when better using a little bit of effort.
Diagnosing a fault requires lots of patience. It can also be a time-consuming affair. When planning to do it, you should have a clear mind. You also should have a plan of attack. This shows you where to start and how to proceed.
How To Repair Electric Scooter Step 3: Find out the likely problem
Once you have examined and confirmed the problem, the next step is to ascertain what may be causing it. I mean you don’t want to Deal with the symptom yet the underlying cause remains. For instance, the battery may be getting low in charge. You may choose to replace it only to discover later than it was not the battery that was at fault but a short in the wiring system, which was draining the battery. It may also have been a bad starter switch which was still remaining on although it shows it is off.
A good approach is to note down the problem and then have several possibilities. You will then examine each and then cross out to confirm that it is not the one causing the fault. This is what is called the elimination method.
For instance, it may take a longer time to start or has a hard start. The likely problems are a bad battery, a bad switch, or a worn-out motor. You can begin by swapping the batteries or taking it to a reputable shop for testing. If it checks okay, then focus on the kill switch. If this works Okay then you will now focus on the electric motor.
How To Repair Electric Scooter Step 4: Come Up with the Feasible Solution
After discovering the problem and ascertaining the fault, you will have a good approach to dealing with the problem. Experts recommend that you reconfirm the fault and not to rush through it. For example, if you believe its poor brake cable, you should go ahead and physically inspect it. It should operate seamlessly without any drag or friction. If you have an older cable that was good lying around then you can compare the two.
A second opinion from a close friend also counts. He/she may be able to see things that you may have overlooked. For instance a corroded or loose battery connector or terminal, or a wire that seems frayed or burnt out.
For a bad brake cable, you can go for an older one, which is still good, or buy a new one. If it is the motor, you may decide to have it repaired or buy a new. You have the option of original or OEM parts.
How To Repair Electric Scooter Step 5: Undertake the repairs
The kind of repair will depend on the fault. You will be suspired that some are very straightforward, easy and effortless to tackle. For example, the motor was not getting enough power from the battery and this was making it hard to start. You then discover that the terminals or connections to the battery were loose or dirty. A simple tightening or cleaning with a wire brush and water is all what you need.
The vibration coming from the rear wheel may have been because the end nuts were not tight enough or the wheel was not properly aligned. You just need to tighten the nut(s) or align the wheel.
Some problems can be a bit challenging and will require more time and effort. A broken frame will require some parts to be removed so as the frame can be welded back together. To access the motor, you will first need to remove the wheel.
Make sure to read our article on Best Electric Scooter for Adults. I am sure you will love to read it.
Final Word
Most electric scooter repairs can be solved by the ordinary person. It may be a something as simple as a loss wire or connection. The kill switch may not be working well and hence draining the battery, or worn-out brake pads, which are easy to replace. It may also be a worn-out battery that does not keep over for a long time. By doing it yourself, you will be able to save money and also have a sense of achievement.
However, if the problem seems too big, you should consider seeking expert service. Yes may be costly but will prevent the problem from going from bad to worse. Always work with a credible and trustworthy individual.
