Originally Posted by
steelbikeguy
this is an interesting topic! I watch some of Louis Rossman's videos that are about electronics repair, and can see both sides of the argument. Electronic components have gotten so small that it is incredibly difficult to manually solder some of them. There are other issues too, but I'm very much in favor of fixing whatever can be fixed. In fact, I was trying to fix a nice Epson scanner that was dying. I managed to find the schematic on the web, and figured out that the motor controller had failed. The only problem was that the part was no longer in production, so I still couldn't fix it.
I spent many years designing electronics for big yellow machines produced locally, and the parts business was known to be a key portion of corporate revenue. There are small businesses that do refurbish mechanical subassemblies for the machines, and I don't think there is a problem with that. One area that is pretty sensitive is engine controllers, where a small change in software settings is all that is needed to increase the horsepower and torque ratings. Software is also where a lot of proprietary info is located, so that stuff is controlled tightly, as well as any service tools that can make these sorts of changes.
I don't know that this has been an issue in the bike world.... yet. I've been able to buy old SunTour derailleurs in order to keep my lovely Cyclone GT's running, and was able to buy a SunXCD clone of the T.A. Cyclo-touriste crank when I needed some lower gears. I suppose it might be different for the electronics shifting stuff, though.
Steve in Peoria
this is where the issue is for farm equipment and "right to repair" often time a local implement repair place or the farmer them selves can do the part replacement or repair, but need dealer to do the software part.
the problem is say if you combine goes down in the middle of wheat harvest, you often don't have a couple of days or even hours to be idle waiting for a software update.
some farmers are just keeping older combines, tractors and the like and repairing