What could go wrong?

I had this idea for a collection thread where we literally list everything that can go wrong. Street build, offroad build and everything in between.

We could then reference it for troubleshooting or helping new people to identify issues in their build.

Spread out into sections like:

Mechanical:

  • Wheels
  1. Urethane
  2. Bearings
  3. Core
  4. Spacer
  5. Speed rings
  6. Tires
  7. Tubes

and so on…

If we as a group collected a complete list of everything that might go wrong with each part it would make future troubleshooting very easy and perhaps even open some of our regular’s eye’s to the crazy stuff that can happen when you’re hurtling down the road on a vibration plank.

If you’re interested in contributing just start saying random shit that’s happened to you and I’ll collate it all and then tidy it into sections. Say whatever comes to mind, we don’t need a system really. Eventually we’ll get everything!

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  • radio interference while braking

  • thermal runaway

  • direct drive / hub motor axle failure

  • direct drive / hub motor urethane slippage / failure

  • phase to phase short circuit

  • system over-volt from back emf by using 2 different kv motors

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if using BMS for discharge, if battery sag brings voltage down below bms lower-cutoff, BMS will shut itself off.

battery’s sagging because you’re drawing current from it, meaning you’re on the throttle, so a sudden cutout will throw you off the board.

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Motor bearing failures

Unplugged wire/s from a bump and no tools on me to open up enclosure and fix (zip ties fix)

loose screws in drive train and no tools on me to fix (loctite fix)

Dead remote battery (charge it up before ride fix)

EDIT:

Magnets? How do they work? They like to shatter sometimes.

3 Likes

Electrical:

  • Over Erpm

  • Over current draw on battery cells killing them/unbalancing pack. (Can be caused by too much rolling resistance when something is going wrong)

  • Sparking XT60s when plugging in.

  • Too thin of guage/nickel on battery

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Write something useful Brad, you penis.

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-Proper remote calibration during vesc setup
-setting up battery cut out below bms threshold “when discharge feature is being used”

1 Like

Alien Power Systems remote:

  • Don’t press the trigger as you turn it on, as that sets up the failsafe in case of interference / disconnect. It can also make the value jump suddenly, causing full acceleration when braking.

Remotes in general:

  • Remember to set them up in vesc tool with them in fast mode, not slow mode.

Board doesn’t want to remain straight: change your pivot cups

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I feel like a list of what will go right would be easier :thinking:

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Hard to troubleshoot with that list :man_shrugging:

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True. I usually go from left to right and top to bottom during my pre-ride checklist

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I shall add an obvious to the list.
“My battery doesnt charge fully”
Troubleshooting tip:
“Is there any obvious signs of burn or melting?”
“Have you checked the charger output voltage?”
“Have you checked every p-group voltages?”
“Have you checked all connections?”
“Does your bms read the same as the pack?”

This exact problem coupled with these exact troubleshooting tips have been seen so many times here :slight_smile:

1 Like

For me I experienced the below before…

  1. Bent truck axle causing bearing seizing
  2. Wheel lock nut getting loose mid ride and the whole wheel fly out
  3. Remote interference, disconnected in the middle of a very busy intersection
  4. Small rocks on the ground that got jammed between the truck and the ground
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Clicking noise (not otherwise specified)

-Likely coming from rear motors (if ur a 4wd fuck)
-clicking From heavy foot (your heal side), check your bearings
-clicking on any wheel regardless of motor at low speeds only with turns? Bearing is wobbling around in hub bearing seat (hello evolve, wanna race?).
-no clicks at low speed? Check your magnets. How do they work?
-

-have you overheated your magnets? The epoxy holding them in place can cook and weaken. Stop now damn it and open ur motors.
-concentric Ground out rings on all the magnets means it time to battle harden your shit.
-let’s get hard together
@anon54720240

9 Likes

:man_shrugging: 5? I’m guessing 5.

I’ll bring my motors to California and a camera. I’ll even pat your back when it’s all done and hold your beer.

Lol just realized you must have unblocked me :laughing:

This thread is literally deconstructing Murphy’s law. Since the first word of that law is “anything” I think we’re going to be here for a while…

1 Like

I’ve had all these happen personally except ( * ) starred ones are theoretical or from reports of other folks

wheel bearings squeak/squeal
wheel bearings stick
wheel bearings explode
wheel pulley wobbles
belt skips
belt breaks
motor mount moves
motor pulley slips
motor pulley falls off
truck hanger bends
truck hanger breaks
truck baseplate moves on deck
wheels chunk
battery series connection breaks
ESC dies
remote falls from hand onto roadway
nylock nut backs off axle ( * )
motor goes full-throttle randomly (ended up being smashed PWM wire to radio receiver)
remote cuts-out in certain spots (radio interference)
remote charge port breaks
remote power switch breaks
remote battery dies
motor sensors fail
enclosure breaks from blunt force
bushing binds up on kingpin, then suddenly lets go
snow packs wheel pulley
water fries ESC
phase wires touch each other
forgot to charge board
left board turned on for months
board auto-shutdown at traffic signal
antispark fails closed
forgot to grab remote
grabbed remote for another board
forgot to charge remote
rock enters belt system
deck breaks
flat tire
water inside enclosure
USB port breaks off ESC
motor can rubs
motor loose on mount
belt came untensioned
idler full of gunk
idler became loose
battery no longer lasts very long
board turns on but won’t respond to remote
motor bearings squeak/squeal
motor bearings stick
motor bearings won’t turn backwards anymore, only forwards
motor extremely noisy
broken magnet
slipping motor axle on rotor/can/bell
motor axle pulling out of rotor/can/bell
motor pulley stuck, cannot remove from motor
motor circlip scraping mount plate
pulley bearing fails
ESC power connector pulls apart
radio receiver falls off board
radio receiver antenna falls off
radio receiver becomes disconnected
accidentally shorted charge port
charger broken
charger port broken
loopkey mount pushes into board
remote failsafe not set
clicking magnets
bent motor mount
motor gear slips on grubscrews
broken stator ( * )

I’m sure I’ve forgotten something

18 Likes

I’m ok with this. Those crazy things that have happened will eventually happen again. I’ve already learned a few things here haha

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I’ve got to go through this thread and collate knobholes :joy:

Please keep hard drama to the hard drama thread or I’ll get Damon in here to derail

3 Likes