Computer Not Sensing Motion: Bad Wiring or Something Else?

steve_wmn said:

My year old Sigma bike computer stopped sensing motion almost completely
today. I've had the occasional problem where the sensor and spoke
magnet were too far apart and have been able to fix that without a
hitch. But this time all efforts to fix the problem by shifting the
sensor and magnet around failed to make a difference. I got them
really, really close (1-2 mm separation) and still no luck. I took the
display off the base and the contacts were clean and it still wouldn't
work after reseating it.

I haven't ridden in any rain in at least 2 weeks so if this is
corrosion it was a delayed reaction. I rode yesterday and it was fine.
The wiring looks OK as far as I can see.

Could a weak battery do this? The LCD display isn't fading as far as I
can tell.

After all the fiddling and fussing I made over it, it registered about
0.1 miles distance traveled on an 8 mile ride so it does seem to have
ticked over a few times, FWIW.

Hi Steve,

Forgive my ignorance...

Is this thing wired, or wireless?

If wireless, a weak transmitter battery could be your problem...

HTH,

--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

Kenneth said:

Hi Steve,

Forgive my ignorance...

Is this thing wired, or wireless?

If wireless, a weak transmitter battery could be your problem...

HTH,

It's wired, sorry if that wasn't clear.

steve_wmn said:

My year old Sigma bike computer stopped sensing motion almost completely
today. I've had the occasional problem where the sensor and spoke
magnet were too far apart and have been able to fix that without a
hitch. But this time all efforts to fix the problem by shifting the
sensor and magnet around failed to make a difference. I got them
really, really close (1-2 mm separation) and still no luck. I took the
display off the base and the contacts were clean and it still wouldn't
work after reseating it.

I haven't ridden in any rain in at least 2 weeks so if this is
corrosion it was a delayed reaction. I rode yesterday and it was fine.
The wiring looks OK as far as I can see.

Could a weak battery do this? The LCD display isn't fading as far as I
can tell.

After all the fiddling and fussing I made over it, it registered about
0.1 miles distance traveled on an 8 mile ride so it does seem to have
ticked over a few times, FWIW.

Dear Steve,

If it's a wired speedometer and there's no faint click when
the magnet passes the sensor, then your sensor switch is
probably shot.

It might be possible to disassemble and clean the switch.

If you can find someone with the same model, swap the
display unit and see if it works on a known good sensor (or
vice-versa, putting a known good display on your suspect
mount).

This is why I like the cheap models from Nashbar and
Performance that come with two mounts and sensors.

Good luck,

Carl Fogel

I have had problems like this in the past, and this is how I have
troubleshot (troubleshooted) it. I used a strong magnet, hand held, to see
whether I could generate a response. If that works, then you have good
wiring. If you cant's get any action with the magnet, take the cyclometer
out of its bracket on the handlebars, and short the contacts together with a
wire. If that makes it work, the problem is not in the head. If it does
not, it could be a battery or a bad computer. If this test shows the head
is good, then there must be an interruption in the wiring. This COULD be a
bad connection at the bracket--try cleaning and lots of wiggling. To test
the rest of the system, put a continuity tester across the bracket contacts,
and wave a magnet near the switch. This exhausts all the possibilities.

My feeling is, if everything I have listed fails to find the problem, buy
all new. Cyclometers are pretty cheap nowadays, so it's not worth the
hassle.

RE/

Quoted message said:

If it's a wired speedometer and there's no faint click when
the magnet passes the sensor, then your sensor switch is
probably shot.

Quoted message said:

If you can find someone with the same model, swap

This is why I like the cheap models from Nashbar and
Performance that come with two mounts and sensors.

Also, many of the CatEye models use the same mount/sensor/wire setup and
Performance sells replacement sensor/mount/wire kits for about $12
each...although your last sentence makes me wonder if the really el-cheapo
complete units would be almost as cheap.

--
PeteCresswell

steve_wmn <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Kenneth said:

Hi Steve,

Forgive my ignorance...

Is this thing wired, or wireless?

If wireless, a weak transmitter battery could be your problem...

HTH,

It's wired, sorry if that wasn't clear.

Could be computer contacks. Take computer off,clean and try again.

steve_wmn <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Kenneth said:

Hi Steve,

Forgive my ignorance...

Is this thing wired, or wireless?

If wireless, a weak transmitter battery could be your problem...

HTH,

It's wired, sorry if that wasn't clear.

Hay steve,
Simplest way to tell if the reed switch is working or not or if there
is a brake in the wires, is to take a volt, ohm, meter, & apply the 2
prods to the contacts, w/ the vom in continuity mode, while someone
moves the magnet past the swithch. If U don't have a vom & do have an
automotive screwdriver type continuity checker w/ a light, use it.
I've never done it this way, but I think it should work. W/ avocete
cyclometers, tto determine whether it's the cord or reed switch,
carefully disconect the wires & test them individually. If the holder
has 3 connection clips, just keep trying various combinations, w/ the
other person doing their think w/ reed switch & magnet. If that part
of system tests ok, put new batteries in, even if they appear ok.
After all that, if it doesn't work take it back to dealer. May warente
it or give U a brake on a new one or not;-)
Good luck, John

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 00:01:36 GMT, "(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

If it's a wired speedometer and there's no faint click when
the magnet passes the sensor, then your sensor switch is
probably shot.

Quoted message said:

If you can find someone with the same model, swap

This is why I like the cheap models from Nashbar and
Performance that come with two mounts and sensors.

Also, many of the CatEye models use the same mount/sensor/wire setup and
Performance sells replacement sensor/mount/wire kits for about $12
each...although your last sentence makes me wonder if the really el-cheapo
complete units would be almost as cheap.

Dear Pete,

Nashbar is selling its two-mount house brand for $12.95:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=6158&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Performance is selling the Sigma Sport for $7.99, though I
doubt that it has two mounts:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16143&subcategory_ID=4110

I appreciated the two-mount package many summers ago when a
hundred-yard stretch of my daily ride was flooded every year
about hub-deep for a week or two ("Caution: trail ahead may
be underwater!"😉 and sometimes ruined the sensor. Better
control at the dam five miles upstream has improved things,
but it's always nice to have cheap spares.

Carl Fogel

RE/

Quoted message said:

Dear Pete,

Nashbar is selling its two-mount house brand for $12.95:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=6158&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Performance is selling the Sigma Sport for $7.99, though I
doubt that it has two mounts:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16143&subcategory_ID=4110

That one's a "keeper" thanks.

I suspected that some complete units might be close to the extra sensor/bracket
cost...but never thought some might be substantially less.

I think I'll load up on a few of the $8.00 units....having fried mine last
weekend riding around in the remnants of one of the hurricanes...
--
PeteCresswell

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 23:54:34 GMT, "(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

Dear Pete,

Nashbar is selling its two-mount house brand for $12.95:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=6158&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Performance is selling the Sigma Sport for $7.99, though I
doubt that it has two mounts:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16143&subcategory_ID=4110

That one's a "keeper" thanks.

I suspected that some complete units might be close to the extra sensor/bracket
cost...but never thought some might be substantially less.

I think I'll load up on a few of the $8.00 units....having fried mine last
weekend riding around in the remnants of one of the hurricanes...

Dear Pete,

I picked up a spare Schwinn 2-button speedometer today at
WalMart---$9.32 plus 69 cents tax, $10.01. It used to be
$9.95 plus tax. This price is less than the others when you
include shipping, and while there's only one mount, it's
frankly a better mount.

It's offset so that it can be centered dead ahead of the
stem for that symmetry so crucial to balance. Even better,
it can be mounted at or below the handlebar level for those
who like to flip bike upside-down, but hate to have the
speedometer land on a rock.

There's also a postive retention latch so that the
speedometer stays in place--some mounts can let the
speedometer slide out so that it looks as if it's in place,
but your speedometer mysteriously goes dead.

As for frying speedos, I take a plastic baggie, secure it
around the speedometer with a pair of rubber bands, and trim
it with scissors--keeps the rain off well enough that they
seem to last longer.

Carl Fogel

(Pete Cresswell) said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

Dear Pete,

Nashbar is selling its two-mount house brand for $12.95:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=6158&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Performance is selling the Sigma Sport for $7.99, though I
doubt that it has two mounts:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16143&subcategory_ID=4110

That one's a "keeper" thanks.

I suspected that some complete units might be close to the extra sensor/bracket
cost...but never thought some might be substantially less.

I think I'll load up on a few of the $8.00 units....having fried mine last
weekend riding around in the remnants of one of the hurricanes...

Those have dictated my rides lately.

Ordinary places have hills, Florida has wind.

Ron

quote='RonSonic'On Wed said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

Dear Pete,

Nashbar is selling its two-mount house brand for $12.95:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=6158&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Performance is selling the Sigma Sport for $7.99, though I
doubt that it has two mounts:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16143&subcategory_ID=4110

That one's a "keeper" thanks.

I suspected that some complete units might be close to the extra sensor/bracket
cost...but never thought some might be substantially less.

I think I'll load up on a few of the $8.00 units....having fried mine last
weekend riding around in the remnants of one of the hurricanes...

Those have dictated my rides lately.

Ordinary places have hills, Florida has wind.

Ron[/QUOTE]
Thought I'd follow up to report that the problem went away all by itself (shrug). I swear it wasn't just a matter of having the magenet positioned wrong. Maybe unseating and reseating the display head a few times while troublewshooting cured it.

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 23:54:34 GMT, "(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

Dear Pete,

Nashbar is selling its two-mount house brand for $12.95:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=6158&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Performance is selling the Sigma Sport for $7.99, though I
doubt that it has two mounts:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16143&subcategory_ID=4110

That one's a "keeper" thanks.

I suspected that some complete units might be close to the extra sensor/bracket
cost...but never thought some might be substantially less.

I think I'll load up on a few of the $8.00 units....having fried mine last
weekend riding around in the remnants of one of the hurricanes...

Dear Pete,

I picked up a spare Schwinn 2-button speedometer today at
WalMart---$9.32 plus 69 cents tax, $10.01. It used to be
$9.95 plus tax. This price is less than the others when you
include shipping, and while there's only one mount, it's
frankly a better mount.

It's offset so that it can be centered dead ahead of the
stem for that symmetry so crucial to balance. Even better,
it can be mounted at or below the handlebar level for those
who like to flip bike upside-down, but hate to have the
speedometer land on a rock.

There's also a postive retention latch so that the
speedometer stays in place--some mounts can let the
speedometer slide out so that it looks as if it's in place,
but your speedometer mysteriously goes dead.

As for frying speedos, I take a plastic baggie, secure it
around the speedometer with a pair of rubber bands, and trim
it with scissors--keeps the rain off well enough that they
seem to last longer.

Carl Fogel

I use 1-button Schwinn, and I agree: the mount is very solid.

FWIW, I dismantled a Schwinn 1-button and can attest to its good
construction, particularly its built-in resistance to water. Not water
_at_depth_ , mind you, but e.g. rain and car washes. :-) I don't cover
my unit at all, and it shrugged off a dozen downpours during the past 18
months. (Still using the original battery, which amazes me.)

Michael