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Where to buy a 46-tooth nylon gear for Norco Fluid VLT?
- Thread starter chaz
- Start date
@chaz, welcome to the forum. The 46-tooth nylon gear you're after is almost certainly the internal reduction gear inside the motor unit itself, not a chainring. Which motor is fitted to your Fluid VLT? The older Fluid VLT models ran Shimano STEPS (E7000 or E8000 depending on year), while the newer ones use Bosch SX. The part and sourcing will be completely different depending on which you've got.
If it's a Shimano STEPS motor, that nylon gear is a known weak point and Shimano do sell it as a service part, but it's technically dealer-only and meant to be fitted by a Shimano-certified workshop since it involves opening the motor. Some independent bike shops will do it if they're confident, and the part itself is relatively cheap (we're talking under £20 for the gear). Your best bet is to contact a local Shimano service centre or an eBay search for "Shimano STEPS nylon gear" which sometimes turns up the OEM part or aftermarket replacements. A few sellers on AliExpress also stock them, though quality can be hit and miss.
If you want to go the upgrade route, some riders replace the nylon gear with a steel or brass aftermarket version to avoid the same failure happening again. There are a few cottage-industry suppliers doing exactly this, and it's worth a search on eBay or specialist eMTB parts sites.
It's worth noting that the nylon gear is actually there by design as a sacrificial component to protect the rest of the drivetrain, so fitting a harder metal replacement could transfer stress elsewhere. Something to weigh up.
If you can confirm the exact motor model (there should be a label on the motor casing), I can narrow down the exact part number and where to source it.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thank you so much for your knowledge. I'll have a look later today when I get home and let you know the details.
Thanks again
No worries at all, @chaz. Once you've got the motor details, drop them in here and I'll point you in the right direction for the exact part. The model and year should be on a label somewhere on the motor casing, usually on the underside or the drive side.
- Thread starter
- #5
Hi Greg the sticker has rubbed off a bit but it is a DU-E7000 VLT shimarno STEPS motor I hope this is enough information for you
- Thread starter
- #6
Hi Greg it's a norco flulid vlt2 . I've been real busy.
- Thread starter
- #7
Hi Greg I finerly got all the specs on my norco fluid. Vlt2 it's
Year 2020 10 speed mid drive peddle assist
Shimano STEPS DU-E7000 MOTOR
250W 60NM
I was hopeing to find out where I can purchase a 46tooth internal reduction nylon gear or even just a part no.
Year 2020 10 speed mid drive peddle assist
Shimano STEPS DU-E7000 MOTOR
250W 60NM
I was hopeing to find out where I can purchase a 46tooth internal reduction nylon gear or even just a part no.
Right then, @chaz, the DU-E7000 confirmed. Now here's the slightly frustrating part: this internal plastic reduction gear is a well-known weak point in the E7000 (and E6100), and
Shimano's policy is to not offer individual internal motor parts. They'd rather you replace the entire motor unit, which is about as economically sensible as buying a new car because the ashtray is full.
That said, you've got a few options: 1. eBay repair kits - There are
Gear Wheel assembly repair kits listed on eBay UK specifically for the Shimano Steps E7000 and E6100. Search "Shimano Steps E7000 gear wheel repair kit" on eBay UK and you'll find sellers offering them. These are aftermarket parts from private sellers, not Shimano official, so keep your expectations calibrated accordingly.
2. Specialist eBike motor repair outfits - One forum member sourced the part from "The home of ebike motor parts", who had salvaged working gears from donor motors. Worth checking if they're still operating and have stock.
3. 3D printed replacements - There's a replacement gear model on MakerWorld specifically for the E7000 and E6100, recommended to be printed in nylon for durability, with a hydraulic press needed to seat the axle. If you know anyone with a decent 3D printer that can handle nylon filament, this is a viable route.
4. Community machined parts - There are people on our own forum working on improved solutions, noting the original plastic is "made from a weak plastic that can snap under extreme force."
Some members have had success machining metal-braced replacements on a lathe, and at least one member has offered to share costs on machine shop runs. Before you order anything, it's worth confirming whether the gear has actually failed or is on its way out.
The classic symptoms are a loud clacking noise under load, particularly in Trail or Boost modes, while Eco still functions. If yours is making grinding noises or you've lost assist entirely, you're almost certainly looking at that nylon gear.
One word of caution: with a 2020 bike, you'll be well outside Shimano's warranty window, so you've nothing to lose by opening the motor yourself.
Members report it's straightforward to open up and replace the gear. Have a look at the threads on our forum (Replacement parts for DU-E7000 motor and E7000 broken cog aftermarket replacements) for step-by-step photos and discussion from people who've done exactly this repair.
TheKaiser
Active member
In addition to the suggestions that Greg Watts made, I just wanted to let you know that you can now get brand new Shimano motors for pretty reasonable prices on Aliexpress. I just looked up the E7000 and there are 2 vendors on there selling them for $290usd (not sure of your local currency and exchange rates). For me they are showing a shipping price of $106usd, which is a little steep, but some of that may be due to tariffs to the USA or something, so check it out for your location to be sure.
Even with the shipping, under $400 is pretty reasonable as getting a professional rebuild/refresh of your motor, or buying a (new to you) used motor is easily over $300, so if you are pressed for time and don't want to wait for one of the repair methods Greg mentioned, it is worth considering. Then you could still repair your original one inexpensively at your leisure and keep it as a spare.
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