Relay Tips / Tricks

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Guys Bundle 15 makes a big difference in power delivery, the motor feels stronger than Bundle 14- Give it a go
 
Guys Bundle 15 makes a big difference in power delivery, the motor feels stronger than Bundle 14- Give it a go
Thank you, signs interesting! Just to be sure - there weren't any accidental profile changes when you updated?
 
I rode with Bundle 15 today and couldn't tell a difference to 14, to be honest. Maybe I'm not sensitive enough 🙃
 
For those of you who have a Reverb AXS dropper, what did you do with the FAZUA controller cable routing after getting rid of the steel dropper cable?

IMG_0160.jpeg
 
I have about 7300km on my relay.
The chainstay bearings drive side just developed play the 3rd time now.
(Other bearings have been play free, but I‘m about to swap them also)
IMG_7573.png

Anyone experienced the same?

The chainstay is using 2 x 6802 bearings back to back.
I made some research for longer lasting bearings for the chainstay and came along this double row bearing which is twice the width of the 6802 bearing (10mm instead of 5mm): Elvedes 3802

Seams like only Elvedes from Netherlands is doing this cage free max double row bearing in 10mm width.

I‘ll let you know how long it holds up.
The 2x 6802 lastet always around 2000-2400km.

IMG_7523.jpeg
 
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@Tmae - how have you been getting on with those new bearings? And how did the worn out chain stay bearings manifest - did you get side to side play?

Thanks
 
Good timing to ask.
Just returned from some days riding in finale ligure. And Unfortunately the Elvedes bearing already developed play after ~500km of riding 😑
So looks like 2 single bearings hold up better then 1 double row.
The pairs of bearings before all developed play also.
Next I will try to put a 0.3 thin spacer (15x21mm) inbetween the 2 bearings to ensure that only the inner rings are touching each Other.
With the current back to back setup it might be the case that the outer rings touch First which will result in axial load applied to the bearings when the pivot is tightened (which will degenerate roller bearings quickly).
If this also doesn‘t help i need to change the bearings frequently after about 2k km or ask transition if there is something wrong with my chainstay.
 
Good timing to ask.
Just returned from some days riding in finale ligure. And Unfortunately the Elvedes bearing already developed play after ~500km of riding 😑
So looks like 2 single bearings hold up better then 1 double row.
The pairs of bearings before all developed play also.
Next I will try to put a 0.3 thin spacer (15x21mm) inbetween the 2 bearings to ensure that only the inner rings are touching each Other.
With the current back to back setup it might be the case that the outer rings touch First which will result in axial load applied to the bearings when the pivot is tightened (which will degenerate roller bearings quickly).
If this also doesn‘t help i need to change the bearings frequently after about 2k km or ask transition if there is something wrong with my chainstay.
Thanks for the update - sorry to hear the experiment didn't work out.

To come back to the question of symptom - do you get side to side play around the rear derailleur?
 
When I was looking for bearings to replace my Trek Rail suspension pivot bearings I discovered that some bearings are designed for continuous rotation (as in wheel bearings) while others are designed specifically for the small movements in suspension bearings. Could this be a reason why your replacements didn't last long??
 
Yes, side to side play on the drive side chain stay bearings (next to the derailleur)only. Manifesting in a kind of knocking sound while descending, you can also feel it when wiggling hardly on the rear wheel while holding the pivot joint with your thumb and index finger.

@nickf
Unfortunately not, i always used max bearings (without cage) for high load low rotations intended for mtb suspension.
 
Spacers arrived, looks good so far.
I will fit them with new bearings in the next days.

IMG_7926.jpeg IMG_7927.jpeg
 
Update:
I just disassembeled the chainstay pivot and inspected everything.
I finally found the root cause for the play.
It‘s not the bearings developing play, it‘s the bearing seat of the frame which is too loose :(
i can press through the bearing just with my fingers.
Also the drive side pivot hardware is showing wear (non drive side no wear).

So means I likely will need a new seat stay, i already reached out to transition.

—> the double row Elvedes bearing is still ok.
 
transition agreed to send a new seat stay.
Maybe it would be better to use retaining compound loctite 641 (mid strength) or 603 (high strength, specialized is using it) instead of grease when replacing the besrings to avoid movement in the seats which will cause a loose seat finally.
Anyway, transition is not recommending it because of the fear that the seat is damaged when pressing out the bearings.
 
transition agreed to send a new seat stay.
Maybe it would be better to use retaining compound loctite 641 (mid strength) or 603 (high strength, specialized is using it) instead of grease when replacing the besrings to avoid movement in the seats which will cause a loose seat finally.
Anyway, transition is not recommending it because of the fear that the seat is damaged when pressing out the bearings.
I would avoid high strength for that reason. I've used 641 on bearing seats and also the motor bushings with good success. High strength may not be necessary.
 
I have read through the spire forum on PB, seams like some issues still persists with the relay.

I also had the issue with the shock had some play at the bottom mount which occured again and again. Using new quality shock hardware fixed it for me. (Huber Bushings).

Now I still have a very noisy kind of rattle coming from the rear.
I noticed on rough descends, that my rear triangle makes a lot of noise.
I tightened all pivots again to spec, but i have some play in bearing / pivot chainstay drive side. If I grab the rear wheel at 12 oclock and rattle it side to side while holding the pivot/joint you can feel the movement in your fingers.

I sanded down the female pivot bolt by 1mm, will try it tomorrow. (Suggestion from Transition for the Spire)

Did you also experience rattle coning from the rear when descending in the rough?
I had the same issue and had to tighten those chain stay to seat stay pivot bolts 1/8 of a turn (even though they met torque specs) and I've never heard it since.
 
transition agreed to send a new seat stay.
Maybe it would be better to use retaining compound loctite 641 (mid strength) or 603 (high strength, specialized is using it) instead of grease when replacing the besrings to avoid movement in the seats which will cause a loose seat finally.
Anyway, transition is not recommending it because of the fear that the seat is damaged when pressing out the bearings.
Turns out the reason those pivot bolts met torque spec is because someone assembling them used red loctite on them rather than blue and was ever so slightly under tightened and locked in place.
 
@Mr Tonka - still happy with your Relay and riding it? Did I hear right that you snagged a Crestline Avinox?
I still love it and will likely be keeping it as a spare and a "loaner" bike for when friends visit.

I scooped up the Crestline because I'm moving to Utah and for climbing, a full power bike makes more sense. The GEO on of the two bikes are pretty similar and I hope to be a comfortable on the Crestline as I am on the Relay.
 
Hey guys, i need your help :)

I have some play on the non drive side (left side) on my main pivot.

It‘s not the bearing, since i replaced them and the bearing seat is tight and snug.

I think it‘s the chainstay bore „floating“ on the main pivot axle head:
View attachment 174417

Is it normal that these 2 have some relative movement when axial force is applied to the real wheel?
I‘m quite sure i didn‘t had any movement there before 🤔, maybe it‘s because i put also grease on the main pivot axle head?
View attachment 174416
Should it be grease free to have a better friction to the chainstay bore when the main pivot taper nut is torqued?

the play is easily detectable by shaking the rear wheel left and right with one hand while holding the pivot joint by my thumb and index finger.

Maybe you guys can check if you can also feel any play there.

Thanks!

IMG_7981.jpeg IMG_7982.jpeg IMG_7993.png
 
That came loose on mine once and I could feel it. I just tightened it back up and went right back to riding and forgot all about it honestly.
 
I couldn‘t wait the curing time and just checked with medium strength loctite at that head pivot axle area —> play is gone. So looks like my axle/ chain stay is also worn 😩
Are your relays play free at this area without loctite?
 
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My pivot axle initially kept coming loose. Wrong install from the factory. Tightening the black axle up again and adding loctite seems to have sorted it out.

I hope your troubles go away @Tmae
 
@jever98
Thanks mate :)

My issue is the press fit of the opposite side of the axle thread which is fixing the axle to the chainstay by spreading the slotted axle head by screwing in the nut.
Axle or chainstay is worn at that contact area.
I already ordered a new axle to check that first, if still play persists I need also a new chainstay besides the seatstay which developed bearing play at the seat.

Will take a bit of time until i can test it since i had a smaller knee surgery today.
 
Squeaking noise: for the record:

After doing the bushing service with anti-seize about 4–5 times, the last time I tried the Santa Cruz method using green Loctite (638).





It lasted about 2300 km, then the creaking started. But not the typical kind that begins with ticking on the drive side—rather a classic creaking noise on both sides. It might also not be coming from the bushings themselves but from the bushing/frame interface, meaning that area may just need to be cleaned again.





In any case, today I did a new bushing service using green Loctite 603. Let’s see how long that lasts. (+ interface treated with anti-slip carbon paste)





The bushings came out just as easily/difficult as they did when using worn-out assembly paste.





So as expected, it lasts significantly longer than with assembly paste, which for me usually lasted around 200–800 km.
 
I'm on my second motor (first one had the loose silver ring). Both have always worked for me so far.

My impression is the motor is becoming a bit rougher over time - slightly noisier and slight vibrations coming through the pedals. Does anyone else have the same experience?
 
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