procrit

My powertap started acting a bit finnicky a couple of days ago on a ride, dropping data here or there going into the '---' mode. Then it worked great for two rides. Then yesterday I go out for a couple of hours and I get nothing. I replace the batteries in both the hub and head unit, still nothing. I pull the axle out of the hub, regrease, re-tighten, check for anything broken (everything looks fine), but still no transmission icon. I tried moving the head unit around, cleaning the contacts, still nothing. I am a bit lost right now.

My head unit and receiver have 21,xxx miles on them, but the hub was freshened by Saris 8,000 miles ago last winter. It's obviously not under warranty.

What are the chances that it is the hub, and what are the chances that it is the receiver or head unit? Does one usually break before the other?

procrit

Oh yea, the head unit will still connect to the pc and work with WKO and Power Agent.

substructure

Could be a bad wire.

I've only had problems like then when it was really cold out.

Brian Ratliff

I'll put my money on a broken wire.

Grumpy McTrumpy

sounds like a bad sharkfin or wire or mount.

Jynx

if it is wired (which it sounds like it is) i would bet a new wire setup would fix it. Usually there is nothing to go wrong in the head unit (unless you drop it) or the hub (unless you get it soaking wet (and even then it would probably just be a calibration issue). A transmission issue is going to be the wiring.

procrit

As I was just pulling off the head unit from the usb cradle, it shot out and hit the ground and ricocheted off a wall... and now it's almost unreadable, lots of the bars/lines for the numbers/letters don't work. Holy crap it's been a long day. =/

Looks like I'm going to have to buy a new head unit AND a wire thing. Dang. You know anyone that sells them for cheap?

Jynx

pm patentcad. I know he was selling his wired zipp 404 setup but he had 2 headunits and 2 wire setups. maybe he will sell you one headunit and wire kit although I do not know if the wired head units have to be reporgrammed or anything for the hub.

waterrockets 

Holy crap dude, unlucky turn of events. I have dropped mine in a group (pushed it off at the end of an interval). One guy ran over it, and it still worked fine. I've bumped it off with my chin on a 55mph descent, and had it work fine.

So, one time I dropped it while parked, trying to put it in my helmet to carry, I got a foot under it to soften the blow. It comes up unreadable. Ugh.

Anyway, ebay is usually a good place to hunt for head units and harnesses. If you buy a used harness, buy two. I'm surprised yours has lasted this long. Anyway, I'm sure it's the harness, as others have mentioned.

Today I rode in a pretty heavy downpour for my lunch ride, and later in the day, my head unit was unreadable (like some water shorted a connection somewhere). I've got the battery cover off it now, and it's taped to a plugged in power brick to give it some heat over night. We'll see if drying it out can save it.

<sigh>

I've been really happy with the PowerTap overall, but it does seem pretty fragile sometimes. I'm sure the wireless is better since you don't have the harness to worry about. This is all making me think a little harder about the Vector when it comes out. I'd still need a head unit solution though... and a new rear wheel. <sigh>

ridethecliche

My Srm head unit has water in the display.

It still works fine. Lol.

waterrockets 

My head unit dried out and works normally now. It's a Septembermas Miracle!

Lithuania

ugh my head unit popped off on a ride the other day and when I picked it up it was all unreadable too. head units on ebay range all over the place depending if you just want a pro or 2.4 unit.

try posting on a local racing listserv if you have one. lots of people have upgraded to wireless so you might get lucky and find someone willing to let theres go for cheap.

procrit

Sent pcad a message... Thanks the help guys...

I fell a bit lost without power... Got to get it back quick lol...

chrisvu05

for future reference if any of your electronics get wet, put them in a bucket of rice for 48 hours minimum...it'll absorb all of the water and you should be alright if you don't power them back on until after the rice treatment

MtnRide

If you are handy with a soldering iron you can crack open the harness and save some money. I'm a cheapskate so discovered this after Leesville claimed my harness, among other things.

substructure

I emailed Saris after dropping mine and it going haywire. They sent me a new one - I only paid to ship the busted one to them.

They also have a deal to upgrade your wired unit to a wireless for cheap. Just ask. I would have done this but I'm kinda poooooor right now.

NomadVW 

Wired to wireless is $800-900?ish, I think. Hardly cheap. I laughed at the rep when I asked them about it this summer before sending the hub in for warranty repair. (I've sent the SL in twice in 3 yrs, but the pro hasn't been in once in 2yrs 4 mths, SL has ~45,000km, while the pro has a little under 20,000 - I think.)

Sounds like a wiring harness issue on the OP. Note: NEVER use zip ties on the wire. Tape only, and it will prolong the life of the harness.

saratoga

There's nothing cheap about that wireless upgrade.

Mine started acting funky and wouldn't go to zero instantly when I stopped pedaling, it would "wind down". Long story short, it was also the wire... a zip tie pinched it enough over time. New wire/mount setup, $30 later and all is back to normal.

procrit

Just FYI, after some research found the wired head unit and harness for pretty cheap:

https://www.bikesonline.com/PowerTap-...Pack-Comp.htm#

$122 shipped.

substructure

Have you contacted Saris?

They may give you one if you send the other back to them.

procrit

I sent them a couple of emails, they never replied. I don't expect them to give me another one for free though, it's had quite a bit of use and was pretty busted up looking. And for $122 shipped, I'm actually getting two of them, one for my TT bike, one for my road bike. =)

Electric_Elvis

I recently called saris about some HR issues on my wired unit & chest strap. They offered me a new computer & strap for $100 shipped. Not sure if that includes the harness or not.

92degrees

I've posted this before but contact Saris, tell them your head unit doesn't work, send it back, and they will send you a new one. I've had mine come off in crashes -- they replaced it. Recently my "select" button started getting wonky and working intermittently -- they replaced it. Call Saris.

Erik B

My hub required a rebuild when it went into that mode. Mine had about 600 miles on it when it broke. would work, then not work then work , then sense that it was raceday so not work...good luck.

procrit

I'll try calling them today. I hope it's not the hub. It's only got about 10 months of use since it was rebuilt last time. Thanks for the help guys.