After some 3000 km, this mid-drive motor is grossly overdue for some maintenance. I can see the specks of eroded metal mixed in the dark, gunky remains of whatever factory grease they used in here.
I don’t know where locally to get the Mobilegrease 28 that everyone recommends, but I did find some high-temp white lithium from the auto store. But just removing the old grease has already consumed half a roll of paper towel. And I can’t exactly dunk a motor into gasoline as degreaser.
I’ll carry on wiping.
I should clarify that when I say “motor”, I mean the motor housing plus the stator, as I can easily remove the electronic control board, the rotor, and the intermediate and final gears. The housing appears to be cast aluminum so that alone could be submerged, but it’s the stator that I’d rather not have in gasoline.
I have no idea if the insulation on the windings or the glue attaching the stator to the housing would dissolve in gasoline. And removing the stator seems to be more effort than a toothbrush and brake cleaner.