Backtobiking1

Okay, I am getting back to biking after being off my bike for about 8 years (new child joined the family). I replaced my Shimano Flight Deck SC-6501 batteries, followed the set-up instructions, mounted it to my bike and see that the rear gears are displaying in reverse. So when I have the chain on the smallest gear (all the way to the outside of the bike) the computer is showing that the chain is on the largest gear - close to the tire? Can anyone tell me how to fix this?

I know, I know, it is a very old cycle computer, but it should still work shouldn't it?

backtobiking1

coupster

My guess is that the head uniit was programmed backwards. Clear it by resetting and program it from scratch.
You should replace the battery(s) while your at it, those units were known for eating batteries.

Backtobiking1

Thank you for your response, coupster! I believe I tried to program it in reverse and it would not allow me to make the small gear on the computer - as large as the large gear on the bike. I will double check though to see if I can do this.

Backtobiking1

Okay - I tried to reprogram the Flight Deck computer with the gears entered in reverse and the computer would not allow me to do so. I could not get the small gear on the computer to take the large gear cog count of 23. Now, I did find the user manual which had a response to trouble shooting this situation, but I can not figure out what they are talking about.

"Gear Indicator (bar) does not display correctly. Lift up the plate spring that the sensor is mounted on as shown in the illustration."

I have read through the entire manual and do not see where a "plate spring" or see a "sensor" that looks like the one in the picture are located any where on my bike.

Does anyone know what Shimano is talking about here?

Thanks!

coupster

The plate and sensor that they are referring to is located on the inside of the right shifter. Peel up the shifter hood from the handlebar and you should see a plastic plate with the mode control buttons and a single phillips-head screw. If you remove the screw, the plate is removable revealing the assembly they show in the picture. However fiddling with that should only impact the overall display, not the discreet data in the display. Shimano had problems with the early flight decks and issued a 'fix' that consisted of a thin piece of peel and stick plastic that you were supposed to place in the sensor to reduce the distance between the actuator and the the sensor. I doubt if you'd ever find the Shimano 'fix' but given what it was trying to accomplish I also doubt if it would have an impact on your problem. Sorry but you've plumbed the depths of my knowledge and experience, maybe someone else can help more.

Backtobiking1

Thanks for your reply. Perhaps it is time to get a new bike computer

Retro Grouch 

What are you using for a rear derailleur? If you have a rapid rise mountain bike derailleur, that's just the way it's going to be.

Backtobiking1

Retro Grouch you are a genius!! I had the computer incorrectly set to rapid rise. I went in and changed the set-up to standard derailleur and now it works perfectly!!!

Thank you so much for posting to my thread!! You saved my computer and made my day!!!!! THANK YOU!!!

Retro Grouch 

coupster

Today was a good day all around. I learned something new. Thanks.

Phil_gretz

Am I the only curmudgeon here? Why does anyone need a computer to tell them what gear they're in? sounds like a solution to a non-existent problem...

Maybe this computer does something else, too? What was it's intended purpose?

Bill Kapaun

Maybe the OP has it for the other functions it possesses and just wants it to work correctly fol all its functions?

I use the gear that my legs tell me I need, but I still occasionally look at my trigger shifter to see what gear I'm in.

Hopslam

Well if you have brake/shift levers & your on a TANDEM. And as a added bonus you get virtual cadance

cheers

Hopslam

Question on flight deck , while we're here
do the road brake/shift Ultrega levers 2004 vin that i have on a set of handlebars that have FD 6501 installed on work on XT brake shift 2003 vin
or do they take different wire harness. I have the the former & would like to use it on the XT
Sorry no model # I'll bet I may need different harness or they won't work at all as in not compatable

Cheers

Retro Grouch 

I'm not sure that I understand your question but Ultegra brifters and XT's require a different wiring harness. That's the bad news.

Here's the good news: If you need a 9-speed mountain bike harness, let me know. I'm not positive but I think that I have one.

Oops, guess not. I do have a NIB 9-speed head and a road bike wiring harness if anybody is interested.

Hopslam

Ok for clarity , I got model # I have a SC-6502 head unit on a set of ultegra b/s levers that I don't have any use for .shifters are 9sp 2004 last year for 9 'sp . I wish to put this head unit on the flat bar s/b levers SH-STM750C if your cable is like a SM-6501-MD or SM-6501-M

I'm interested

coupster

As the captain of a very mismatched power producing tandem team, I need to stage climbs or risk mis-shifts followed by serious complaints from my stoker. Its much easier to do this when I can see where in the gear range we're actually at. Sadly looking back between my legs tells me nothing. Overall the computer is ergonomically poorly designed and its functions are organized somewhat haphazardly. I'd take my Cateye Micro over it anyday.

dicktill

I'm interested (at least) in the wiring harness and 6500 brifters: dicktill@hotmail.com

Thanks, Dick

dicktill

Another great feature of having this computer is that it gives you cadence, and pseudo-cadence. What this means is that it gives you what the cadence would be in that gear even if you aren't pedaling. Hence when you go over the top of a climb and start coasting down, faster and faster, you can pick a decent gear so that you don't just start pedaling and find you're in WAY too low a gear, and spin crazily.

Regards, Dick