Road Bike Racing - Powertap SL Battery Replacement

I posted this in the normal road cycling forum but need answers soon so I thought I would post here too.

How do you replace the batteries in the rear hub? Please give instructions that a moron could follow. I have read the manual and checked the Saris website but still don't know. Help please. Thanks

RB

Get a bench vise and gently clamp the cap's flats into the vise (not tight enough to squeeze it out). Carefully but firmly turn the wheel counter-clockwise while keeping it perfectly flat. This is a lot like removing a freewheel if you've done that before.

If you're the type of person who doesn't have a bench vise, you're likely to not have the tools or materials to do the following, but I'll tell you anyway. You can make a hardwood "wrench" in about 2 minutes to remove the cap. Get two longish pieces of oak or another hardwood (1x2 is perfect). nail some scrap plywood strips to hold these boards the right distance apart, on both sides so that they will meet the faces of the cap. Clamp your wheel in your lap and use the wrench to remove the cap.

The cap just unscrews as you'd expect. Once it's exposed, pull the battery carrier out of the hub. Pull it straight out from both ends. It's in there firmly, but it will come out without tools, and you're not going to hurt it.

Change batteries, and reverse the process above. Give it a little kiss before you close it up. It likes that.

Get a bench vise and gently clamp the cap's flats into the vise (not tight enough to squeeze it out). Carefully but firmly turn the wheel counter-clockwise while keeping it perfectly flat. This is a lot like removing a freewheel if you've done that before.

If you're the type of person who doesn't have a bench vise, you're likely to not have the tools or materials to do the following, but I'll tell you anyway. You can make a hardwood "wrench" in about 2 minutes to remove the cap. Get two longish pieces of oak or another hardwood (1x2 is perfect). nail some scrap plywood strips to hold these boards the right distance apart, on both sides so that they will meet the faces of the cap. Clamp your wheel in your lap and use the wrench to remove the cap.

The cap just unscrews as you'd expect. Once it's exposed, pull the battery carrier out of the hub. Pull it straight out from both ends. It's in there firmly, but it will come out without tools, and you're not going to hurt it.

Change batteries, and reverse the process above. Give it a little kiss before you close it up. It likes that.

got it. thanks for your help.

RB

Give it a little kiss before you close it up. It likes that.

I thought I was supposed to scratch it just behind the ears.

I thought I was supposed to scratch it just behind the ears.

Yeah, and how much does yours tell you your FTP is? ;)

Get a bench vise ... You can make a hardwood "wrench" in about 2 minutes to remove the cap.


Saris also makes a little plastic tool that fits over the cap and screws it off.

They kept sending me one everytime I sent the PT back for service. Took me awhile to figure out what the heck the thing was.

merlin, does that mean that you have an extra that you're willing to part with? I'd be happy to pay a modest fee...

To add to the discussion, I like to use the handles to a pair of pliers. Stick the handles in the little grooves, and use them to unscrew the cap.

It's a helluva lot easier to just use the tool from Saris. That said, I was away from home last summer and needed to change out a battery and found that if you use one of those rubber jar opener things available at the supermarket you can get a good grip on the cover and turn it open.

woops.. posted to wrong thread. damn tabs