Motor shaking of elderly three-wheeled scooters

Motor shaking of elderly three-wheeled scooters: a complete analysis of causes, effects and solutions
In today’s aging society, elderly three-wheeled scooters have become an important tool for many elderly people to travel. It not only provides a convenient means of transportation for the elderly, but also helps them maintain an independent and active lifestyle. However, during use, some users may encounter motor shaking problems, which not only affects the driving experience, but also may bring safety hazards. This article will deeply explore the causes, effects and solutions of motor shaking of elderly three-wheeled scooters, aiming to help elderly users and their children better understand and maintain scooters to ensure travel safety.

I. Common causes of motor shaking

(I) Failure of the motor itself
Carbon brush wear: Carbon brushes are vulnerable parts in the motor. When the motor is running, the carbon brushes are constantly rubbing against the commutator. When the carbon brushes are worn to a certain extent and the contact is poor, the motor power output will be unstable, causing shaking. Generally speaking, contact problems may occur when the carbon brushes are worn more than half, and they need to be replaced in time.
Motor bearing damage: The motor bearing supports the normal operation of the motor rotor. If the bearing is worn, lacks oil or is damaged by impact due to long-term use, it will increase the running resistance of the rotor, making it rotate unsmoothly, and then cause the motor to shake. For example, when encountering bumpy roads during driving, the motor is subjected to strong vibration and impact, which may cause slight deformation or damage to the bearing, affecting its normal operation.
Motor winding failure: Short circuit, open circuit or grounding of the motor winding will cause uneven distribution of the magnetic field inside the motor, destroy the normal electromagnetic balance of the motor, and cause abnormal shaking of the motor during operation, which may be accompanied by abnormal noise. In the case of improper maintenance or water ingress and moisture in the motor, the winding is prone to such failures.
(II) Controller-related issues
Reduced controller accuracy: The main function of the controller is to adjust the speed and power output of the motor. As the use time increases, the electronic components inside the controller may age and the parameters drift, resulting in the output control signal being inaccurate. This will prevent the motor from running according to normal instructions, resulting in speed fluctuations and shaking. For example, long-term use in a high temperature and high humidity environment will gradually reduce the performance of the controller.
Controller and motor mismatch: If the output power of the controller does not match the rated power of the motor, it will also cause the motor to shake. When the power output of the controller is too large, the motor may be overloaded, generating a large current shock, causing shaking; and when the output power is too small, it cannot meet the normal working requirements of the motor, causing the motor to run weakly and shake.
(III) Battery problem
Battery voltage is unstable: The battery is the power source of the elderly three-wheeled scooter. When the battery is aged, sulfided or insufficiently charged, its output voltage will be unstable. When the motor works under voltage fluctuations, the power output will also change, causing shaking. For example, using a poor quality charger may cause uneven battery charging, causing the voltage of some batteries in the battery pack to be too high or too low.
Insufficient battery capacity: As the battery age increases, its capacity will gradually decrease. When the battery capacity drops to a certain level and cannot meet the power requirements of the motor during normal driving, the motor speed will decrease, and shaking may occur, especially when starting or climbing, etc., when a large power output is required.
(IV) Other mechanical failures
Tire problems: Insufficient tire pressure or uneven tire wear will increase the resistance of the vehicle when driving, and the contact between the tire and the ground will be unstable. This will cause the motor to overcome greater resistance when driving the vehicle, resulting in shaking. In addition, poor tire balance will also generate centrifugal force during vehicle driving, causing the body and motor to shake.
Brake system failure: The brake return is poor, and there is always a certain degree of friction between the brake shoe and the brake drum, which increases the driving resistance and increases the load on the motor, causing shaking. Or improper adjustment of the brake lever will cause the brake system to not be completely released when the vehicle is driving, which will also cause the motor to run unsmoothly.
Loose body connection parts: The body of the elderly three-wheeled scooter is composed of many connecting parts, such as screws, nuts, etc. If these parts are loose during driving, the body structure will be unstable, causing shaking and abnormal noise when the vehicle is driving. This shaking may be transmitted to the motor, causing the motor to shake.

2. The impact of motor vibration

(I) Impact on driving comfort
Motor vibration can cause obvious vibration when the vehicle is driving, making the elderly feel uncomfortable during driving. Long-term driving may cause physical fatigue, and even cause discomfort symptoms such as dizziness and nausea, which seriously affects the driving experience of the elderly and reduces their willingness to use mobility vehicles.
(II) Reduce driving safety
Affect vehicle controllability: vibration can cause steering wheel vibration or unstable vehicle driving, making it difficult for the elderly to accurately control the direction and speed of the vehicle, increasing the risk during driving. In an emergency, they may not be able to make effective avoidance or braking operations in time, which is easy to cause traffic accidents.
Accelerate component wear: Motor vibration will increase friction and wear between various vehicle components, such as tires, shock absorbers, axles, etc. This will not only shorten the service life of the components, but may also cause other mechanical failures during driving, further affecting driving safety.
(III) Reduce motor life
When the motor has a vibration problem, it means that the motor is in an abnormal working state. Long-term operation under shaking conditions will cause additional stress and wear to the internal parts of the motor, accelerate the aging of the motor, reduce the performance and efficiency of the motor, and eventually cause damage to the motor, requiring the replacement of the motor, increasing the maintenance cost.

3. Detection and diagnosis methods of motor shaking

(I) Preliminary inspection
Observation method: During the vehicle startup and driving process, carefully observe whether the appearance of key components such as the motor, controller, and battery is abnormal, such as whether the motor has odor or smoke, whether the controller indicator light is normal, whether the battery connection is loose or oxidized, etc.
Touch method: After the vehicle stops, put on insulating gloves and gently touch the motor housing to feel the temperature and vibration of the motor. If the motor temperature is too high or the vibration is abnormal, it may indicate that the motor is faulty.
(II) Diagnosis with professional detection tools
Multimeter detection: A multimeter can be used to detect the battery voltage, the motor resistance, and the output signal of the controller. By measuring the static voltage and dynamic voltage of the battery, determine whether the battery is normal; measure the resistance value of the motor winding to determine whether there is a short circuit or open circuit; detect the output voltage and current of the controller to see if they are within the normal range, so as to determine the location of the fault.
Oscilloscope detection: The oscilloscope can more intuitively display the waveform output by the controller and the operating current waveform of the motor. Under normal circumstances, the waveform output by the controller should be stable and regular, and the current waveform of the motor should also fluctuate within a certain range. If the waveform is abnormal, such as the waveform output by the controller has burrs, the waveform of the motor current is not stable, etc., it can be preliminarily determined that there is a problem with the relevant components.
(III) Fault code diagnosis
Reading fault code: The controllers of many elderly three-wheeled scooters have a fault self-diagnosis function. When the vehicle fails, the controller will store the corresponding fault code. Read the fault code through professional diagnostic instruments or the fault indicator on the controller, and then query the corresponding fault cause according to the fault code manual to quickly locate the problem.
Analyze the meaning of the fault code: For example, a fault code indicates a motor phase failure, which may be caused by a motor winding open circuit, loose wiring, or a controller motor drive module failure; another fault code shows that the battery voltage is too low, which may be caused by battery aging, insufficient charging, or a battery management system failure.

4. Solutions to motor jitter

(I) Solutions to motor failure
Replace carbon brushes: When the carbon brushes are severely worn, replace them with original or reliable carbon brushes in time and install them according to the correct installation method to ensure good contact between the carbon brushes and the commutator. After replacing the carbon brushes, they need to be run-in so that the carbon brushes fit better with the commutator to restore the normal operation of the motor.
Repair or replace motor bearings: If the jitter is caused by motor bearing damage, for slightly worn bearings, you can try to add an appropriate amount of lubricating oil to improve the lubrication condition of the bearings and extend their service life; if the bearings are severely damaged, such as ball cracks, inner and outer ring wear, etc., new bearings must be replaced, and attention must be paid to keep them clean during installation to prevent impurities from entering the bearings and affecting their performance.
Repair motor windings: When the motor windings are short-circuited, open-circuited or grounded, professional maintenance personnel are required to repair the motor. For partial short circuit or open circuit, you can use methods to repair the winding, such as rewinding the coil, welding the breakpoints, etc.; for severely damaged windings, you may need to replace the motor winding or directly replace the motor.
(II) Solutions for controller problems
Update controller software: If the output accuracy of the controller is reduced due to software problems, you can contact the manufacturer to obtain the latest controller software version and have professional technicians perform software updates. After updating the software, the controller needs to be re-debugged to ensure that its output signal is accurate.
Adjust controller parameters: When the controller does not match the motor, you can use professional controller debugging software to adjust the controller parameters, such as output power, speed limit, etc., to match the performance of the motor. In the process of adjusting parameters, it is necessary to gradually optimize according to the actual use needs of the vehicle and the characteristics of the motor to ensure that the vehicle’s driving performance reaches the best state.
Replace controller: If the controller hardware is damaged, such as the power module, drive module, etc., and the problem cannot be solved by software updates and parameter adjustments, a new controller needs to be replaced. After replacing the controller, it is necessary to strictly follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions for connection and debugging to ensure the compatibility and stability between the controller and the motor, battery and other components.
(III) Solutions for battery problems
Replace the battery: For aged and severely vulcanized batteries, their performance can no longer meet the normal use needs of the vehicle. High-quality batteries of the same specifications and brand should be replaced in time. When replacing the battery, pay attention to correctly connect the positive and negative poles of the battery to avoid reverse connection and damage to the controller or motor.
Optimize the charging method: Use the original or high-quality charger that meets the battery requirements to charge, and avoid overcharging or undercharging. It is recommended to charge when the battery power is 20% – 30% remaining, and disconnect the power supply in time after charging to 100%. At the same time, regularly balance the battery to extend the battery life and maintain the stability of the battery voltage.

(IV) Solutions for other mechanical failures
Check and adjust the tires: Check the tire pressure regularly to ensure that the tire pressure meets the requirements of the vehicle manual. If you find that the tires are worn unevenly, you can swap the tires, such as swapping the front wheels with the rear wheels to make the tires wear more evenly; for poor tire balance, you need to perform dynamic balancing and correction on the tires, and add balance blocks to the corresponding positions of the tires to restore the balance of the tires.
Repair the brake system: If the brake return is poor, you can check the gap between the brake shoe and the brake drum, and adjust the length of the brake lever or the tension of the brake shoe to enable the brake system to return normally; for the problem of improper adjustment of the brake lever, you need to readjust the free travel and brake force distribution of the brake lever according to the vehicle’s maintenance manual to ensure that the brake system can be completely loosened when the vehicle is driving and does not affect the normal driving of the vehicle.
Tighten the body connection parts: Regularly check the body connection parts, such as screws, nuts, etc. For loose parts, use tools such as wrenches to tighten them according to the specified torque. During the tightening process, be careful to avoid over-tightening to avoid damaging the connection parts or body structure.

5. Measures to prevent motor vibration

(I) Regular maintenance
Develop a maintenance plan: It is recommended that users of elderly tricycles perform routine maintenance every 3-6 months, including checking the condition of key components such as motors, controllers, batteries, tires, and brake systems, and promptly discover and solve potential problems.
Cleaning the vehicle: Clean the vehicle regularly, especially the heat dissipation holes and surfaces of components such as motors and controllers, to prevent dust and debris from accumulating and affecting the heat dissipation effect, causing components to overheat and malfunction. During the cleaning process, be careful to avoid water entering the interior of electrical components to avoid short circuits and other damage.
(II) Correct use of the vehicle
Smooth driving: When driving a mobility scooter, the elderly should try to maintain smooth acceleration, deceleration, and turning movements, avoid sudden acceleration, sudden braking, and rapid steering, so as to reduce the impact and load on the motor and other components of the vehicle, extend the service life of the motor, and reduce the probability of vibration.
Reasonable control of load: Avoid overloading the vehicle, because excessive load will increase the burden on the motor, causing the motor to overheat and vibrate. When carrying goods or passengers, make sure the load is within the rated load range of the vehicle.
(III) Choose high-quality accessories and maintenance services
Buy genuine accessories: When replacing accessories such as motors, controllers, batteries, etc., be sure to choose genuine accessories from the original factory or well-known brands. The quality and performance of these accessories are more guaranteed, and they can better match other parts of the vehicle and reduce the vibration caused by the quality of accessories.
Choose a professional maintenance point: When the vehicle breaks down and needs to be repaired, you should go to a professional elderly three-wheeled scooter maintenance point and have it inspected by maintenance personnel with rich experience and professional knowledge. They can accurately diagnose the cause of the fault and provide appropriate maintenance solutions to ensure the quality of the repair.

6. Summary

The motor vibration problem of the elderly three-wheeled scooter is a phenomenon that cannot be ignored. It involves the travel safety and use experience of the elderly. By deeply analyzing the various causes of motor vibration, including motor failure, controller problems, battery problems and other mechanical failures, we can have a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of this problem. At the same time, mastering effective detection and diagnosis methods, such as preliminary inspection, professional detection tool diagnosis and fault code diagnosis, can help us quickly and accurately locate the fault.
According to different causes of failure, taking corresponding solutions, such as replacing carbon brushes, repairing motor bearings, inspecting motor windings, updating controller software, adjusting controller parameters, replacing batteries, checking and adjusting tires, repairing brake systems, and tightening body connection parts, can effectively solve the motor shaking problem and restore the normal driving performance of the vehicle. In addition, taking preventive measures, such as regular maintenance, correct use of vehicles, and choosing high-quality accessories and repair services, can reduce the probability of motor shaking and extend the service life of the vehicle.
For elderly users and their children, it is very important to understand the relevant knowledge of motor shaking of elderly three-wheeled scooters. In daily use, the elderly should pay attention to the operating status of the vehicle and perform regular maintenance and maintenance; while children should give more care and support to the elderly, help them solve problems encountered during the use of the vehicle, ensure that the elderly can use the scooter safely and comfortably, continue to enjoy the happy life of free travel, maintain a positive and optimistic attitude towards life, better integrate into society, and enjoy a happy old age.
I hope this article can provide more valuable information and help for the majority of elderly three-wheeled scooter users. If you have other questions during the use or maintenance of the vehicle, please feel free to consult professionals or in related platforms Exchanges and discussions were held on the stage to jointly ensure the safety of elderly people’s travel.