What are the symptoms of water ingress in a tricycle motor?
2 Answers
There are three types of reactions when a motor is exposed to water. Visible faults: The motor fails to operate, and symptoms may include bearing damage, increased noise, severe coil burnout, and even a noticeable rubber burning smell. Hidden faults: Parts of the motor may rust extensively, leading to magnetic pole short circuits and reduced insulation performance of the coils. The motor's current will continuously increase, secondary faults will accumulate, and eventually, the motor will need replacement. Treatment methods: Remove the motor, dry it thoroughly (either by baking or sun-drying), eliminate rust, polish the rotor and stator with the finest sandpaper to prevent friction, and inspect the bearings.
I once had an issue with water entering the motor while riding a tricycle. When starting the vehicle, the sound was extremely loud, buzzing like an old cow mooing, and it also stalled when trying to move forward—it was even hard to push. After driving for a while, the motor became so hot you could fry an egg on it, and some white smoke started to appear, which scared me into stopping immediately to check. That time, I forgot to take precautions after going through a puddle post-rain, and the water caused a short circuit. The coils are prone to burning out, and once the fuse blew, the entire system shut down. My advice is to avoid driving through standing water. If water does get in, disassemble and dry it out before trying again to avoid costly repairs. If left too long, rust can spread, and the motor will be ruined.
