Bicycle Mechanics - Cant keep my Cateye working, goes from working to zero every so often!

I purchased a new cateye astrayle? Heres the problem: when riding, everything looking good (also happens right out of the shoot) the readout drops to zero, as if there is no connection. So I sit there moving the unit in its base - finally it connects to the leads and the readout comes back on. The problem is the connection between the unit and the base its clicked into. Has anyone else had this problem, seems rather lame to have to adjust after every bump!

Yes, that sounds rather annoying. I have 2 Cateye Astrale computers (the old model) and neither ever had a problem like you described. I wonder if your problem concerns the magnet on the wheel spokes not being detected by the sensor? Does the cadence function work otherwise?

Bring it back to the store you bought it from, or request a replacement from whom you ordered it. I would.

I purchased a new cateye astrayle? Heres the problem: when riding, everything looking good (also happens right out of the shoot) the readout drops to zero, as if there is no connection. So I sit there moving the unit in its base - finally it connects to the leads and the readout comes back on. The problem is the connection between the unit and the base its clicked into. Has anyone else had this problem, seems rather lame to have to adjust after every bump!

Are you sure its not the wheel sensor that is misreading. Sometimes if they are just at threshold level of closeness and you get over a certain speed it can stop reading. Mine has a couple of time just over 29mph, but comes back on below and always reads consistently below.

If you are certain its the base/head contact (sounds like you are) - are the contacts clean and all look the same (that is one is not a tiny bit lower, or not spring loaded)

Or you could have stressed where the wires come into the base unit - especially if they are or were pulled tight, so you have an intermitten connection which a bump and wiggling could affect. Check that too.

Otherwise since its new can you exchange it?

Al

I'd exchange it if it's new. The problem is probably oxidation on the contact points. I use rub the contacts with a pencil eraser (mildly abrasive) to polish them up. Works for me.

Isn't that a b!tch when you have to exchange it AFTER you've installed it! Well, if indeed the problem is the contact points between the head and the base, look at both. If it's pretty clear it's the head, the store MIGHT let you exchange heads, so you don't have to R&I the base and wiring. My LBS let me do that with a computer I bought there a coupla years ago.

I purchased a new cateye astrayle? Heres the problem: when riding, everything looking good (also happens right out of the shoot) the readout drops to zero, as if there is no connection. So I sit there moving the unit in its base - finally it connects to the leads and the readout comes back on. The problem is the connection between the unit and the base its clicked into. Has anyone else had this problem, seems rather lame to have to adjust after every bump!

I was getting something similar with my Cateye Mity. It turned out that there were two programming settings on mine A and B. The B setting was for mountain bike riding, I set mine for B and the problem was solved. I'm not sure if the one you have has the dual settings. If not there's probably nothing wrong with your computer, it's just made for a road bike.

Check your manual and see.

Best,
John

Huh? What says that it's not a road bike? Why couldn't you use an Astrale on something other than a road bike anyway?

I purchased a new cateye astrayle? Heres the problem: when riding, everything looking good (also happens right out of the shoot) the readout drops to zero, as if there is no connection. So I sit there moving the unit in its base - finally it connects to the leads and the readout comes back on. The problem is the connection between the unit and the base its clicked into. Has anyone else had this problem, seems rather lame to have to adjust after every bump!


I have this problem from time to time. I thought it was the magnet at first but it's definaltly the unit/base connection. It doens't happen very often and my contacts look shiney. I had been meaning to get some dielectric gel stuff (or whatever it's called) to put on the contacts but hadn't gotten around to it yet. It only happens to me every now and then, if it's happening to you every bump then that's too much!

I'd exchange it if it's new. The problem is probably oxidation on the contact points. I use rub the contacts with a pencil eraser (mildly abrasive) to polish them up. Works for me.

I had the same problem with oxidation on my Cat Eye OS 1.1, did the same thing, cleaned the contacts and everythings working well.

I had that on my 8 I found the rear sensor had slipped back a bit too far. put it back in place and all is well. I thought the mount was loose again (first one failed) so check to make sure they are lined up and saying lined up.