Team BKool CycleChat

[Daddy Pig]

Looks like ive killed my bkool pro, doing a velodrome ride as an ftp test, working hard @ 350w, 170hr when my hr started dropping down and the watts were up to 600. tried turning it off / on, rebooting the computer, no luck there. Tried a hilly route no resistance at all. I'm off to look for the posts from others who have managed to fix their bkool's, but if anyone is lurking out there tonight, feel free to re-iterate what you did and what I can try. The unit is 2 years old, purchased from wiggle, so outside of their warranty.

Warranty period is 2 years not 1, but in theory it should have some protection under the sale of goods act if you can prove it was faulty at time of purchase. Better check to see whether in or outside of the two years. Is the green light on at the back?

 

[CXRAndy]

Kipster, you can take the covers off. Power up, the stepper motor should do as little shuffle and then stop in the park position. If it doesn't move at all then it maybe jammed or seized. Unscrew the motor assy( 2 screws on the back) Try and wind the motor by hand, it will feel quite lumpy being a stepper. Wind the motor half way up the worm gear. Refit and power up again. The motor should wind back to the park position. If this doesn't work then hope it's under warranty, there are very few spares. Plus sife, when mine(BIL) went faulty they just swapped it, no questions asked.(wiggle purchase)

 

[kipster]

Kipster, you can take the covers off. Power up, the stepper motor should do as little shuffle and then stop in the park position. If it doesn't move at all then it maybe jammed or seized. Unscrew the motor assy( 2 screws on the back) Try and wind the motor by hand, it will feel quite lumpy being a stepper. Wind the motor half way up the worm gear. Refit and power up again. The motor should wind back to the park position. If this doesn't work then hope it's under warranty, there are very few spares. Plus sife, when mine(BIL) went faulty they just swapped it, no questions asked.(wiggle purchase)

Andy, I've wound in it out a bit, the unit powers up ok, but the magnets aren't moving back to the park position unless I push the magnets away from the flywheel. If I leave the magnets alone they don't move. I'll drop a line to wiggle but wont hold out much hope.

edit: if I wind it out a little bit, it returns to park ok, but then wont move to apply resistance.

edit 2: the order from wiggle was 1 year 360 days ago,. Ive sent an email to both wiggle and bkool, but I suspect neither of them will help.

 

[bobinski]

@RickB
I managed to have a 30 or so minute blast on Watopia. Turbo seemed a little sluggish as if resistance too high so Powered turbo on and off. I could hear the magnets reset (?) and resistance noticeably easier and what I would expect given gear it was in and on a flat start. Anyway, very brief warm up and then hammered around. No difficulty latching onto the large training groups out riding but too slow for me today so would pull away and race onto the next. Got a fair number of PB's especially on short sprints so I am very happy especially after last nights handicap ride, with a few top 100 or better. The screen you get at the end of the ride suggests power output as good as any ride I have done. I think I will have to try a race if only to be brought back down to earth
https://www.strava.com/activities/796296350

Ahh, I see you were on tonight but missed you. Shame.

 

[Monte]

Looks like ive killed my bkool pro, doing a velodrome ride as an ftp test, working hard @ 350w, 170hr when my hr started dropping down and the watts were up to 600. tried turning it off / on, rebooting the computer, no luck there. Tried a hilly route no resistance at all. I'm off to look for the posts from others who have managed to fix their bkool's, but if anyone is lurking out there tonight, feel free to re-iterate what you did and what I can try. The unit is 2 years old, purchased from wiggle, so outside of their warranty.

I completely stripped my bkool down, and whilst it took me 3 attempts to find the fault - it's the best it's ever felt - smooth & quiet. There was two very small nuts holding the magnetic plate that had worked themselves loose, re-tighten the nuts (do not over tighten) and it cured it. I worked on the principle that I had nothing to lose as this was a second hand unit and I didn't have any warranty.

 

[AAAC 76C]

Andy, I've wound in it out a bit, the unit powers up ok, but the magnets aren't moving back to the park position unless I push the magnets away from the flywheel. If I leave the magnets alone they don't move. I'll drop a line to wiggle but wont hold out much hope.

edit: if I wind it out a little bit, it returns to park ok, but then wont move to apply resistance.

edit 2: the order from wiggle was 1 year 360 days ago,. Ive sent an email to both wiggle and bkool, but I suspect neither of them will help.

Try what Monte says
Make sure the conductive plate on the inside of the flywheel is firmly adhered to the flywheel.
If the magnets are stuck to the flywheel the stepper motor will not be strong enough to pull them back.
Check the plug on the stepper motor is firmly pushed into the PCB socket.
Check the stepper motor earth cable is secure
Check the stepper motor screw-drive is located at the front into the small plastic socket on the Turbo body
I expect you are covered under warranty but if not I can send you a spare stepper motor.
When you switch on the magnets should motor forwards a bit as well

 

[AAAC 76C]

@RickB
I managed to have a 30 or so minute blast on Watopia. Turbo seemed a little sluggish as if resistance too high so Powered turbo on and off. I could hear the magnets reset (?) and resistance noticeably easier and what I would expect given gear it was in and on a flat start. Anyway, very brief warm up and then hammered around. No difficulty latching onto the large training groups out riding but too slow for me today so would pull away and race onto the next. Got a fair number of PB's especially on short sprints so I am very happy especially after last nights handicap ride, with a few top 100 or better. The screen you get at the end of the ride suggests power output as good as any ride I have done. I think I will have to try a race if only to be brought back down to earth
https://www.strava.com/activities/796296350

Ahh, I see you were on tonight but missed you. Shame.

Carry on leaving you turbo switched on, suites us fine!

I can go to sleep if I know something electrical is switched on.
Bit off a begger that seeing I have a pacemaker fitted!

 

[kipster]

@AAAC 76C and @Monte

Thanks, I'll have another look tomorrow. The magnets weren't touching the flywheel, but the stepper motor wasn't doing it's thing. I did wonder about the magnet plate as when I wound the magnets down the shaft there seemed to be a little play.

 

[RickB]

@RickB
I managed to have a 30 or so minute blast on Watopia. Turbo seemed a little sluggish as if resistance too high so Powered turbo on and off. I could hear the magnets reset (?) and resistance noticeably easier and what I would expect given gear it was in and on a flat start. Anyway, very brief warm up and then hammered around. No difficulty latching onto the large training groups out riding but too slow for me today so would pull away and race onto the next. Got a fair number of PB's especially on short sprints so I am very happy especially after last nights handicap ride, with a few top 100 or better. The screen you get at the end of the ride suggests power output as good as any ride I have done. I think I will have to try a race if only to be brought back down to earth
https://www.strava.com/activities/796296350

Ahh, I see you were on tonight but missed you. Shame.

Gonna stick to using my power meter from now on for consistency... Made it a bit tricky holding watts whilst doing one leg sessions during the workout this evening with just a left crank sensor.!!!

Will have to catch up with you soon for a race event some evening.

 

[bobinski]

Carry on leaving you turbo switched on, suites us fine!

I can go to sleep if I know something electrical is switched on.
Bit off a begger that seeing I have a pacemaker fitted!

Thing is, I thought I had turned it off last night! Bad habits and all that...
You will be pleased to know I have turned it off tonight

 

[AAAC 76C]

Thing is, I thought I had turned it off last night! Bad habits and all that...
You will be pleased to know I have turned it off tonight

I feel sleepy already!

 

[AAAC 76C]

@AAAC 76C and @Monte

Thanks, I'll have another look tomorrow. The magnets weren't touching the flywheel, but the stepper motor wasn't doing it's thing. I did wonder about the magnet plate as when I wound the magnets down the shaft there seemed to be a little play.

The magnets carrier does have some float on the spindle, that's normal but the two bolts in their centres should be tight (captive nuts on the back).

 

[Whorty]

Carry on leaving you turbo switched on, suites us fine!

I can go to sleep if I know something electrical is switched on.
Bit off a begger that seeing I have a pacemaker fitted!

I'm the same. Last thing I do at night before bed is make sure everything is switched off. Does this mean all this time, by turning off my unit after use, I've been gaining a slight advantage ;-) Sorry @soarerv and @Jimbrown LOL

 

[CXRAndy]

Lots of early runs of stage2 chaingang league.

Bridgy doing a 'recce'

Love Marty's perfectly flat high power high cadence run

Doubt I can make it tonight, school Christmas plays

 

[bobinski]

I feel sleepy already!

How was your sleep?

I'm the same. Last thing I do at night before bed is make sure everything is switched off. Does this mean all this time, by turning off my unit after use, I've been gaining a slight advantage ;-) Sorry @soarerv and @Jimbrown LOL

Whorty, it might even be an accruing advantage, a watt or 2 every time you turn off and on

That repository of all human knowledge, FACEBOOK reports Some users have been using power meters to compare impact of temperature on roller turbo performance and show a 30-40w adverse impact in cold conditions-my loft obviously- unless tyre and turbo properly warmed up. So, it seems a proper warm up doesn't just warm up the rider and improve performance but also the turbo. (Rushes off to Currys to get little fan heater for turbo;must remember to unplug it at night)