Cycling Equipment · Public discussion

Fixed my old Avocet 40 computer

Started by Joe LoBuglio · · Last activity · 3 posts · 858 views

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Cycling Equipment
Published
30 January 2007
Last activity
30 January 2007
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Joe LoBuglio
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  1. Many years ago I stopped using my Avocet 40 computer (circa 1990)
    because it kept resetting itself. At seemingly random times, pressing
    one button (e.g. to change modes) or two briefly (e.g. to clear the
    distance) would reset the unit; all information would be lost and I
    would have to enter wheel diameter and all other parameters. This
    happened maybe every 5 to 10 button presses. Recently I got a garage
    sale bike with an Avocet harness, so I put on my old unit (yup, pack-
    rat) and the same thing was happening.

    I snapped open up the unit (which I had done before to troubleshoot)
    and this time I cut the tape holding the metal spring/buttons on the
    circuit board. I thought maybe this was acting as a week conductor
    between the two buttons and making one button press seem like two. The
    spring/buttons fell off and I just placed them back carefully before
    reassembly. The unit now works great. I don't know if my tape theory
    is right or if just repositioning the spring/buttons did the trick.

    Just FYI

    Joe LoBuglio

  2. Joe LoBuglio said:

    Many years ago I stopped using my Avocet 40 computer (circa 1990)
    because it kept resetting itself. At seemingly random times, pressing
    one button (e.g. to change modes) or two briefly (e.g. to clear the
    distance) would reset the unit; all information would be lost and I
    would have to enter wheel diameter and all other parameters. This
    happened maybe every 5 to 10 button presses.

    I have an Avocet 40 from the same era, and have experienced the same
    symptoms. Installing a fresh battery makes all the problems go away. I
    buy a package of zinc air hearing aid batteries, and replace them a
    couple of times a year (whenever the unit starts acting flaky). About
    once a year, I clean the battery contacts with alcohol, and bend the
    center contact up slightly. The classic symptom is the complete reset
    when you just want a partial reset.

    Art Harris

  3. Art Harris said:

    I have an Avocet 40 from the same era, and have experienced the same
    symptoms. Installing a fresh battery makes all the problems go away. I
    buy a package of zinc air hearing aid batteries, and replace them a
    couple of times a year (whenever the unit starts acting flaky). About
    once a year, I clean the battery contacts with alcohol, and bend the
    center contact up slightly. The classic symptom is the complete reset
    when you just want a partial reset.

    Historically, the problem persisted when I put in a new battery (the
    zinc-air ones you mentioned). Perhaps my manipulation indirectly
    caused the battery settle better.

    BTW, this time I am using a different battery, an Energizer 357, that
    I had lying around because they also work in a thermometer we used to
    have. I don't believe the package lists the Avocet replacement battery
    number, but it works anyway.

    Thanks for the info, that is good to know. I will expect it to happen
    again.

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