Dropping the motor out isn't that big a job. If you're not Rod (perfectionist), you might be able to get the 6 motor bolts out without removing cranks and front sprocket. I've had the motor out so often (tinkering with electronics), I hacksawed down the RHS middle bolt a shade so it came out even more easily against the chainring. I bought a second set of motor bolts from Orbea, so if I want to put neat, un-damaged bolts back in at some point, I can. I've even got that special chainring tool but have never used it.
If you're happy with above, it's a genuine 10 min job to get the motor in or out and all you need are Allen keys with ball ends and some grippy pliers.
- Turn the bike upsidedown.
- Get a table or bench chair the same height as the BB,so you've somewhere to rest the motor next to the bike when it's out but still wired in.
- Undo the two chain guide bolts carefully, so as not to lose the washers (washers go between bike and guide).
- Lift the chain off the front sprocket, and past the pedal to the back of the bike so its out the way.
- Undo the 6 bolts on either side of the motor. Pay attention to the washers and the spacer on one of the rear bolts.
HERE'S THE BODGE
5. If doing the Will-Bodge(TM), use round-headed allen keys to carefully rotate the two bolts that are hard to reach. Do them last. For the rear, I use pointed-pliers / molegrips alongside the allen key to undo that one. For the tricker middle bolt by the chainring, be patient, and only turn the allen key head a little at a time before reseating the allen key, so as to minimise rounding the bolt head - After some turns, the remainder can be undone with fingers. This bolt can be squeezed out past the chainring, with a bit of motor wobbling. If you've time, hacksaw 2-3 mm off the end to speed that up for next time.
6. The motor is now ready to lift out carefully and place on the chair/table.
Reverse the above for reassembly, with a couple of items of note:
1/ Clearly you can't torque the 'Will-Bodge(TM)' two motor bolts, so you just have to do them up as tight as you can without rounding anything!
2/ Careful when putting the motor back not to trap a wire, particularly in the bolt flanges.
3/ Don't drop the spacer when you reinsert that bolt, as that may fall back into the motor area.
4/ Don't drop those tiny spacer of the chainguide as they may fall back into the motor area - And that's ANNOYING.
Hope that helps.
