The Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter M365 has proven to be a reliable and practical vehicle for urban driving. However, even the most durable wheels are subject to wear, puncture and damage, especially given that the rear wheel in this model is part of the electric motor. The need to remove the wheel often occurs when replacing the camera, installing single tires or repairing the rim. Many owners are afraid to take this procedure themselves, for fear of damaging the wiring or disrupting the tightness of the motor wheel.
In fact, the dismantling process does not require specialized equipment, if you know the right sequence of actions and have a basic set of tools at hand. The key here is to carefully handle the phase wires that go from motor to controller and properly remove the locking rings. In this article, we will discuss each step in detail, from preparation to final assembly, so that you can perform the replacement without going to the service center.
It is worth noting that the design of the M365 involves a tight fit on the rim, which sometimes requires the use of physical force or special detachers. It is also important to understand that when you remove the wheel, you have access not only to the rubber, but also to the insides of the gearbox, so keeping clean and order during disassembly is critical for the further operation of the scooter.
Tools and workplace preparation required
Before starting disassembly, you need to organize a comfortable workplace. You will need a flat surface, good lighting and sufficient space to accommodate the parts. Since the rear wheel of the Xiaomi M365 is heavier than the front wheel due to the built-in motor, make sure that the scooter is securely fixed or flipped to avoid falling during operation. Lack of proper preparation can lead to scratches on the frame or loss of small fasteners.
To do this successfully, you'll need a standard toolkit, which often comes with a scooter, but you'll better have professional tools for convenience. The main tool will be a hexagonal key, usually 5 mm or 8 mm, depending on the modification of the wing and motor mount bolts, and you'll also need a tyre or mounting blades if you're planning to work with rubber.
- 🛠️ Set of hexagonal keys (mandatory presence of 5 mm and 8 mm).
- 🔧 Flat and cross screwdrivers for working with clamps and small screws.
- 🔨 Rubber keel or hammer with wooden handle for knocking out axle.
- 🧤 Gloves to protect hands from lubrication and sharp rim edges.
Special attention should be paid to cleanliness. Inside the motor wheel can be lubricated residues and metal shavings, so prepare rags or paper towels in advance. If you are planning to replace the camera, the new camera is better checked immediately for defects, so as not to assemble the structure back with a defective part. Proper preparation reduces the repair time by half.
☑️ Preparation for the removal of the wheel
Dismantling of external elements and wings
The first step is to free up access to the engine mount. On the Xiaomi M365, the rear wing is fastened quite rigidly, and it needs to be removed or pushed as far as possible. Start by unscrewing the bolts that hold the wing above the wheel itself. There are usually two or four of them, and they are symmetrically positioned relative to the rotation axis.
⚠️ WARNING: When unscrewing the wing bolts, hold it with your second hand so it doesn't fall sharply down and damage the wiring or plastic reflector.
Once the upper mounts are removed, the lower part of the wing, which is often integrated with the mud shield, must be released. On some scooter modifications, this requires the removal of an additional plastic casing covering the brake disc and caliper. Be careful with plastic latches, which can be fragile, especially if the scooter was used during the cold season.
The important thing is to disconnect the stop light if it's built into the wing structure. The wire usually goes along the frame and connects through a connector in the footrest or deck area. Carefully find the connector, press the lock and unplug it. Don't pull the wires themselves, as you can pull the contacts out of the insulation, which will require soldering in the future.
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Stack all the bolts removed in a magnetic tray or numbered containers, as the wing and motor bolts can have different lengths and threads, and they are easily confused when assembled.
Disconnection of motor electrical connections
The most critical part is the electrical work, the M365 rear wheel is a brushless engine, and it is approached by a beam of three thick phase wires and thin signal wires from Hall sensors, which run inside the pendulum (forks) of the scooter and exit in the axis of the wheel. To remove the wheel, this cable channel must be released.
In some versions of the scooter, the wires are brought out through a special hole in the pendulum axis and closed with a rubber plug. In other cases, especially in early revisions, the wires can go inside the hollow axis. You need to carefully pull the wires out of the channel, making sure that you do not damage the insulation. Any microcrack on the insulation can short circuit and the controller fails.
If you remove the wheel for a full replacement or deep repair, you may need to disconnect the wires from the controller that is inside the deck. However, for a simple replacement of the camera or tire, just pull the wire loop out through the pendulum axis. Make sure that the connectors (if they are inside) are not clamped and do not create resistance when stretching.
| Type of wire | Color marking (standard) | Function | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase A | Green. | Transfer of energy | Fatty. |
| Phase B | yellow | Transfer of energy | Fatty. |
| Phase C | Blue | Transfer of energy | Fatty. |
| Hall's sensors. | Status signal | Thin |
Once the wires are free, check their condition, they should not be melted or rubbed, if you find damage, before installing a new wheel or assembling an old one, you need to restore the insulation with shrinkage or quality insulation, and ignoring this rule can lead to fire or breakage of electronics.
Removal of the lock rings and axis dismantling
The rear wheel attaches to the Xiaomi M365 pendulum through an axis that is fixed by the locking elements. On both sides of the axle (or on one, depending on the design of the particular batch), there are locking rings or nuts. Most often, a system with a locking ring (circlip) and a washer is used. To remove them, you will need pliers or a special detacher of the locking rings.
Carefully remove the locking ring from one side, trying not to lose it — they have the property of unpredictably bouncing and rolling in an unknown direction. After removing the ring, you need to knock out the axis. To do this, use a dugout or a long bolt of the appropriate diameter, holding it to the end of the axis on the opposite side. With light blows, knock out the axis until it comes out of the engagement with bearings.
⚠️ Warning: When you knock out the axle, hold the wheel with your hand so that it does not fall to the floor with the heavy motor when the axle is out of engagement.
If the axle doesn't come out, it may have become boiled or rusted inside the bearings, and then you can use penetrating lubricant (e.g., penetrating lubricant, WD-40), Put it on the junction of the axle and bearing, and wait 10-15 Do not use excessive force to avoid deforming the seats in the pendulum, as this will cause the wheel to skew during operation.
What to do if the axis is very rusty?
Replacement of tires and cameras: technical nuances
Once the wheel is removed, you have to replace the rubber. The tires on the Xiaomi M365 are 8.5 inches in size and are quite tight on the side, making installation and dismantling a time-consuming process. To remove the old tire, use mounting blades. Insert the first blade between the rim and the tire, bend the side, then insert the second blade next to it and lead in a circle, gradually releasing one side of the tire.
When you install a new camera, it's important to position the nipple correctly. It should enter the rim hole strictly perpendicular. Before you install it, slightly pump the camera so that it spreads but doesn't stretch. Put the camera inside the tire, then refill the sides of the tires on the rim. Here again, you'll need mounting blades. Carefully act not to pinch the camera between the side of the tire and the rim, as this is guaranteed to cause a puncture on the first injection.
- 🎈 Before installation, check the camera by pumping it and dipping it into water to look for bubbles.
- 🛡️ Use a rim band to protect the camera from spokes or sharp edges of holes in the rim.
- 💨 Pump the wheel gradually, checking the uniformity of the tire fitting in a circle.
There is an alternative to pneumatic chambers, solid polyurethane tires, which are not afraid of punctures, but much harder and heavier. Installation of such tires requires a special press or strong heating (boiling water or hair dryer), because in the cold state it is almost impossible to pull them on the rim. The choice of tire type depends on your priorities: comfort and coasting (cameras) or reliability and no punctures (cast tires).
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Properly installing the camera without pinching is a guarantee that you won’t have to take off the wheel again in a week due to a new puncture.
Assembly of the node and final inspection
The assembly is done in reverse disassembly. Put the wheel in the pendulum, aligning the axle holes. Stretching the wires across the axle, making sure they are not twisted and lie free. Put the axle to the end, then set the locking rings and washers. Make sure the wheel rotates freely, without backlashes or foreign noise. If the wheel is skewed, check that the remote washers are properly installed.
Then, put the wing in place, plug the stop light connector and fasten all the bolts. The engine and wing mount bolts are recommended to tighten with effort, but without fanaticism, so as not to break the thread in the aluminum alloy. After assembly, turn on the scooter and check the engine on weight. The wheel should rotate smoothly, without jerks and friction sounds.
The final test will be a test run, ride a scooter to check the brakes and no vibrations. If you're successful, you've saved a lot of money on service and gained valuable experience in maintaining your equipment. Regular inspection of the condition of the tires and pressure in them will extend the life of your Xiaomi M365.