Powertap SL+ are rubbish

doyler78

After 2 and a bit years of numerous repairs to my powertap sl+ paligap, under the instructions of saris, changed the whole hub for a brand new one. 3 months later and today I go leave for my ride and the powertap will not zero so I check the zero point and its somewhere around 320. I can't believe it.

Has anyone who uses the powertap sl+ year round in all conditions actually got a positive experience? I've given up on this. My PMC has so many estimated TSS in it that it really makes using it for anything other than interval training, when its working, useless.

I've seen some discussion that the carbon windows on the sl+ may be the problem in that they tend to leak water and that problem doesn't exist on the other models so thinking that swapping out for a heavier but hopefully more reliable model may be the way to go. So next question is who's having problems their powertap and what model are using and what seems to the problem. Is it a water ingress issue?

napoleond

I've just ordered a new pro after also having a shed load of SL+ issues...
I sold the SL+ after it was fixed for the 4th time.

doyler78

NapoleonD wrote:

I've just ordered a new pro after also having a shed load of SL+ issues...
I sold the SL+ after it was fixed for the 4th time.

Another satisfied customer

Yeah I was thinking Pro was the way to go as well though I notice the new models are coming out so they could be worth a look but then again totally untested :?

napoleond

It's a new style 2012 model I'm getting...
I'll keep people updated with Failwatch...

doyler78

NapoleonD wrote:

It's a new style 2012 model I'm getting...
I'll keep people updated with Failwatch...

Thanks

simon t

doyler78 wrote:

After 2 and a bit years of numerous repairs to my powertap sl+ paligap, under the instructions of saris, changed the whole hub for a brand new one. 3 months later and today I go leave for my ride and the powertap will not zero so I check the zero point and its somewhere around 320. I can't believe it.

Has anyone who uses the powertap sl+ year round in all conditions actually got a positive experience? I've given up on this. My PMC has so many estimated TSS in it that it really makes using it for anything other than interval training, when its working, useless.

I've seen some discussion that the carbon windows on the sl+ may be the problem in that they tend to leak water and that problem doesn't exist on the other models so thinking that swapping out for a heavier but hopefully more reliable model may be the way to go. So next question is who's having problems their powertap and what model are using and what seems to the problem. Is it a water ingress issue?

same as. washed my bike friday not working today. totally agree with TSS you can pretty much estimate it from past rides. i'm thinking of a used set of SRM instead

jibberjim

Pro+ 2.5 years all conditions, no problems.

ric/rstsport

I currently, have three power taps. One is my original from beta testing them in 1999 or 2000, the other is an SL and my main one is an SL+. All three work fine, although the original one the bearings are knackered and Saris don't repair these units anymore.

I've had maybe 10 PTs since i first started using them and other than batteries going at inconvenient times and bearings wearing out after 18+ mths i've had pretty good use of them. Also had an SRM which worked fine, an Ergomo (didn't like) and a Polar (chain system).

Ric

rozzer32

I had problems with my powertap, ended up selling it.

I'd go with a crank based system, quarq or srm. Although these new pedals systems are quite interesting and will be interesting to see some reviews/tests on them.

sagalout

I have the Pro. Its been used in all weathers, and never had a problem with the electronics, but last year the bearings failed just before the start of TT season, after only 1000 miles useage

I use it sparingly now, only for spefic sessions rather than leave it on the bike like i did previously. Probably wouldn't buy another, but will see if the new models are any better on the bearings.

napoleond

This is starting to very much point towards the problem being the carbon windows...

moonshine

ive the Sl+ and have had no problems to date, but dou tou think the problem is warer ingress around the edge if the carbin windows? if so, would a little bead of silicone aroun the edges solve this?

amaferanga

My Pro+ has been problem-free for about two years and >12,000 miles (touch wood).

I'm guessing the bearings are probably on borrowed time though. What's the typical life expectancy of bearings in PowerTap hubs and how much roughly do Paligap charge for replacing them?

doyler78

amaferanga wrote:

My Pro+ has been problem-free for about two years and >12,000 miles (touch wood).

I'm guessing the bearings are probably on borrowed time though. What's the typical life expectancy of bearings in PowerTap hubs and how much roughly do Paligap charge for replacing them?

Here's the Paligap price list for spare parts

http://powertap.paligapltd.co.uk/pricing.php

amaferanga

doyler78 wrote:

amaferanga wrote:

My Pro+ has been problem-free for about two years and >12,000 miles (touch wood).

I'm guessing the bearings are probably on borrowed time though. What's the typical life expectancy of bearings in PowerTap hubs and how much roughly do Paligap charge for replacing them?

Here's the Paligap price list for spare parts

http://powertap.paligapltd.co.uk/pricing.php

So how much does it cost to replace bearings?

doyler78

Thanks everyone for replying. It's good see that at least some of you are having better experiences with their powertaps than me. It would appear from the small sample that sl+ seems to have more problems than the other models, bearings issues aside.

If my experience of my previous sl+ is anything to go by once it starts leaking that's it. It will just continue to be probelmatic so time to get shot I think.

I've seen that suggested before about waterproofing around the carbon windows however as this powertap is still in warranty I wouldn't want to do anything which may invalidate or give them cause to blame me for problems. If it was out warranty and my next step was to get a new torque tube (as I had to do with the last hub which is why I'm in warranty again) then I might be prepared to take that risk but I doubt I'll wait that long this time.

doyler78

amaferanga wrote:

doyler78 wrote:

amaferanga wrote:

My Pro+ has been problem-free for about two years and >12,000 miles (touch wood).

I'm guessing the bearings are probably on borrowed time though. What's the typical life expectancy of bearings in PowerTap hubs and how much roughly do Paligap charge for replacing them?

Here's the Paligap price list for spare parts

http://powertap.paligapltd.co.uk/pricing.php

So how much does it cost to replace bearings?

I must admit I didn't actually look at the price list I just linked to it. I see you have to pay by the bearing but I've no idea how many are in it. Then there is the service charge which is on top of that cost which is here:

http://powertap.paligapltd.co.uk/service.php

bigpikle

another very happy Pro+ user here... 12 months, >11,000km in all weathers and 1 battery change only. Looking at a 2nd wheel fr 'best' using the new G3 though...

napoleond

Change the bearings yourself-

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... =3&t=59746

glasgowbhoy

6 months on a Pro + PT and no problems so far. This has included it being fully submerged in a couple of really big puddles recently!

doyler78

Glasgowbhoy wrote:

6 months on a Pro + PT and no problems so far. This has included it being fully submerged in a couple of really big puddles recently!

Definitely looking like these Pro+ are better. I take the wheel off my bike when I'm washing it just in case I put a bit too much water near the hubs direction. It's probably good practice to wash with the wheels off anyway but it would be nice to have the choice :roll:

amaferanga

Well it looks like I spoke to soon. Went to use my bike on the turbo on Sunday and neither my Edge 500 nor Golden Cheetah were picking anything up. No problem I thought, just change the batteries. After much phaffing to get the battery cover off I popped in a couple of new batteries and the hub was detected. Great I thought. By that time it was too late to ride, but I didn't expect any problems. Anyway, today I tried a turbo session again and.... nothing. Tried another set of batteries, but still nothing. So it seems I have a dead hub. And so it looks like I'm facing a £375 + £49.95 charge to fix it. Pretty steep for a hub that cost about £600. Just wondering if it's time to jump ship and try a Power2max. Unfortunately I can't really afford a repair or a new system at the moment, but can't face all the guess work involved with training with HR/PE, especially on the turbo. Feck. Feck. Feck.

whojanicanackerov

That sucks its just to much money they should respect you for purchasing their product up front and charge you a fair replacement fee or repair fee.No that they want almost the price of a new hub!!.
It makes me wonder if i have done the right thing buying a PRO +.

doyler78

Sorry to have put the scud on you :shock:

It really is the pits. How old? They will sometimes allow a little flexibility on the warranty. Worth a try anway if you haven't already asked given that you have prices and all.

Just got a call from Paligap yesterday. They say it definitely wasn't water this time. They've replaced the torque tube and the wheels on it's way back again. Well if it wasn't water ingress then I'm slightly happier though this isn't the first torque tube that's had to be replaced either but at least it's likely to last longer than the chances of not getting caught in a shower or forgetting to wash my bike

amaferanga

It's almost two years old. I've emailed Paligap so will see what they say, but I very much doubt they'll do it under warranty.

Can't face the turbo - no power or speed even means it's just horrible guesswork and I remember how much I hated that. I'll just be extending my commute and riding rather aimlessly for a while I think.

napoleond

Starting to wonder whether I should really be going ahead with buying one of the new ones :?

Full Merckx

PT Pro+ good piece of kit. Few problems with water ingress but I live in the West of Scotland. All problems easily resolved. Returned to the factory once but fine since.
Would I buy it again. NO. would go for Garmin Vector, however power monitoring is great especially if the weather is shite and you are on your turbo.

napoleond

Hmmm, Garmin vector isn't much more...
May cancel my pt order as there's no stock due till march anyway...

Alex_Simmons/RST

amaferanga wrote:

Just wondering if it's time to jump ship and try a Power2max.

For turbo workouts you'll just be replacing one problem with another (significant torque zero drift in the opening half hour of any session).

whojanicanackerov

Just send Poligap a link to this thread and how customers are losing faith in their product and in them for the excessive repair fee`s after all when your paying £600+ for sommething you would naturally expect it to out live the warranty by a damn good few years.They can`t come with "oh it`s got water in it and that`s why it failed"
Because if that is what they are actually saying to customers Then they should advertise as follows.
POWERTAP HUBS PLEASE DO NOT RIDE IN RAIN AND DODGE PUDDLES DO NOT GET WET"
Maybe they don`t because sales would dwind

doyler78

I'm not sure they have as much discretion as people believe. I certainly know that on several of my returns I've had to wait for Saris approval before any repairs were carried out under warranty. This usually involved photographing the inside of the hub to prove damage. As regards hub replacements, which was the last return I had before my current one, that hub actually had to be sent by Saris to Paligap before they could supply me with it.

I'd say Saris is well aware of threads like this however it does no harm to keep reminding them