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Wahoo Kickr 2018 V4 silent version and Core

  • This topic has 57 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 6 years ago by unsponsored.
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  • October 13, 2018 at 6:02 am #29039
    CXR94Di2

    Pictures wont post 

    Here is link with pictures  https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/wahoo-silent-kickr-kickr-core-faults.241225/

     

    Hello there my Silent Kickr V4, and Silent Kickr Core users or pending users. I’ve decided to make public a few niggles which some users have been having with Wahoo’s latest Silent Kickr. These issues have been made public else where, I’m not the first and probably wont be the last.

    The two common mechanical problems are knocking and a drone sound whilst using the turbo.

    Knocking noise

    The knocking usually occurs whilst varying pedalling power, either applying more or relaxing. This is caused by the bolt on the bottom pulley, not being tightened properly. It holds the pulley in place by way of a Woodruff key assembly, the Woodruff key is not an interference fit and has a little free play. If the bolt is loose or works loose then the pulley twists on the shaft causing the clunk.

    See below the location of the bolt. The remedy is to undo the bolt apply a little more blue thread-lock paste and re-tighten properly(hand tight with Allen key, but not excessive).

    Edit, I’ve heard that Wahoo are replacing the Woodruff key for one that is a tighter fit. I’ll look into this and report back

     

    Drone noise

    This I tracked down after my belt was very squeaky after a turbo session and the drone noise appeared. I removed the belt to isolate the fault and found its in the main flywheel assembly. There is nothing you can do to remedy this fault if you’ve ridden the turbo at all from new- its a warranty return to the supplier or Wahoo.

    I believe it’s down to the belt tension being too tight. The belt can have only few few mm slack from new, but once slackened mine worked even upto 12mm of play (measured from cowling)

     

    When you’ve ridden the turbo for a period the pulleys slightly expand and increase further the tension, this then damaged the bearings(flat spotting the balls and race)-once damaged that is it!

    Listen here.

    View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRo19Zn213A

    View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htpvDC4giIc

    Remedy to both problems

    I reckon there is a potential remedy to both problems, if you take immediate steps when your new Silent Kickr arrives.

    Before you ride the kickr!!

    Remove the side cowling, its held on with a variety of small screws and Allen bolts. Its very easy to remove to see the fully belt path and tensioner.

    Remove the centre bolt and apply thread lock and tighten- this cures knocking sounds

    Secondly

    slacken the belt tension off.

    Loosen the the tensioner holding bolt on the plate and then with a 2.5mm Allen key wind anti-clockwise 5 full turns. Dont forget to retighten the lock bolt on the plate.

    You could go more until you feel the belt slip on the bottom pulley- then apply just a little more tension to the point it doesn’t slip. This will relieve the pressure on the flywheel bearings and remove the belt squeak.

    Edit 12 October ’18

    This is my turbo now after belt tension has been reduced. The noise is still there but much reduced .
    View: https://youtu.be/ETxvT9pG7SU

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  • May 27, 2020 at 11:39 am #928959
    0
    unsponsored

    I have repaired mine using

    I have repaired mine using the info on this thread and loads of others!

    I’ve put a guide togther on my site – 

    Wahoo Kickr 18 Repair

    March 18, 2019 at 10:08 pm #928957
    0
    wingmanrob

    My Kickr developed a drone

    My Kickr developed a drone within a month of replacing my Gen 1 version. Whilst a replacement was made available within 24hours of reporting it, I’ve lost confidence in the unit and opted to buy the Neo 2, which will infact be made to work with the Wahoo climb in a few months, not that I’m buying the climb.

    March 11, 2019 at 9:17 am #928955
    0
    r.glancy

    Return them under the “not

    Return them under the “not fit for purpose” rule. Get a full refund, pay a little more and get a Neo2. 

    Wahoo clearly are cutting corners. Their new manufacturer is a ‘friend’ of the owner of Wahoo…sounds like he help set a mate up with a business. This cost cutting/poor quality trend will be the norm until the owner and his mate fall out…Whoever the manufacturers were before should get the contract back and get their quality back in check. 

    I wont touch another Kickr on release thats for sure. 

    I’ve seen A LOT of these being returned, I would avoid like the plague. 

    March 3, 2019 at 11:12 am #928953
    0
    Anonymous

    Finally got round to fitting
    Finally got round to fitting the new bits, knocking gone and everything running slightly quieter.
    Fingers crossed it all stays good đŸ™‚

    February 26, 2019 at 3:56 pm #928951
    0
    ibr17xvii

    Just to update my experience

    Just to update my experience – it appears that belt tension seems to be key at least in my case anyway.

    After having the woodruff key replaced & (as per the instructions) tightening the bolt to as it was before I was getting a loud whirring sound from the flywheel.

    Even though I’m not at all confident in messing around with these things I decided that as it was broke already I couldn’t make it any worse so I opened it up. I remembered CXR94Di2’s post about slackening off the belt tension so I decided to do this. I’ve got it so it’s quite a bit looser than it shipped with, probably bordering on as lose as it can be without slipping off.

    Only done 1 40km ride on it & so far it seems a lot better fingers crossed. Still feel I’m not out of the woods though.

    Overall like everyone else I’m really disappointed with Wahoo’s quality control on this one. My 1st unit failed within 100km of using it which if I was an isolated incident & was the only one affected would be a bummer but just one of those things. However obviously I wasn’t the only one so for this to happen on a pretty big scale for a £1000 product is pretty unforgiveable.

    Having said that the service I received from Wahoo (& Wiggle) was faultless.

    Hoping that I’ll be able to get a good few rides in on it to give it a good workout over the coming weeks before it goes away for the better weather as the last thing I want is to get it out next September / October & it plays up again.

    February 24, 2019 at 1:43 pm #928949
    0
    Anonymous

    Raised a ticket with Wahoo
    Raised a ticket with Wahoo who gave us two options: 1) they’ll send out the new bits plus chucking in a $100 voucher or 2) they’ll send out a new machine and arrange to return the old one.

    Everything looks easy enough to do so went with option 1. SWMBO has been looking at the Wahoo Arm HR band for a while now so the voucher covered that đŸ™‚

    Just waiting on the bits now đŸ™‚

    February 23, 2019 at 3:42 pm #928947
    0
    ibr17xvii
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    JimD666 wrote:
    @CXR94Di2 Did you get shot of your Climb? Or is it working with the Neo?

     

    No,  Ive still got it.  I was looking at getting an engineerin company make some pivot mounts for the Neo, so I could manually adjust bike handlebar height.  

    Its a bit disappointing that Tacx has been bought by Garmin.  Wahoo being a direct competitor, makes it less likely Garmin will play ball and offer to marry the two devices togther.

    That was my 1st thought as well. Was hoping Garmin Varia radar would be compatible with the Bolt at some point but that looks unlikely now.

    February 23, 2019 at 3:39 pm #928945
    0
    ibr17xvii
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    ibr17xvii wrote:
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    JimD666 wrote:
    After 4 months the knocking has raised it’s ugly head on ours. Now to decided whether to try and fix it or return under warranty. Don’t really want to be without the trainer

     

    It is literally a 15 min job,(3 parts) if you’re practical and have some bike tools.  You need a range of Allen keys, screwdrivers and socket set.  Also a little thread lock(halfords or motor factors)

     

    Remove cover, Slacken off bolt(Yellow arrow),

    then undo this bolt- just to slacken belt off  Red arrow(count how many turns you unwind) ,

    remove yellow bolt and take off tensioner assy.

     

     

     

     

    remove bolt on pulley, remove pulley, Woodruff key, clean area if contaminated (brake/alcohol cleaner).  Fit new parts, add thread lock paste to threads.  You can also put some on the Woodruff key too.  Re-assemble, wind on the same amount of turns you took off.  replace cover- job done!

    On the red arrow does how tight you have this make a massive difference to how quiet it is? This is for the belt tension?

    As above mine started making a noise after I’d had the Woodruff key replaced which I guessed would be the belt now being too tight with the new key holding it in better. Slackened off the bolt with the red arrow which made it better.

    It’s still making a whirring sound that it wasn’t before & I’m not 100% happy with it but unsure whether to loosen the bolt further to slacken the belt off. Don’t want to cause any further damage.

    I can’t be bothered with all this aggro, thinking seriously about getting rid & buying a Neo.

     

     

    I posted a long reply, which disappeared. -arrrrgh!

     

    Basically it sounds faulty-ask for money back, get Neo/2

    Against my better judgement I’m gonna open it up & have another fiddle around with the belt tension. I’m gonna get it on the slackest I can get without it slipping.

    Last chance saloon for it though – if I can’t get it right it’s going back, getting to the end of my tether with it now which is a pity as I was considering a Climb next winter.

    February 23, 2019 at 9:58 am #928943
    0
    CXR94Di2

    JimD666 wrote:

    JimD666 wrote:
    @CXR94Di2 Did you get shot of your Climb? Or is it working with the Neo?

     

    No,  Ive still got it.  I was looking at getting an engineerin company make some pivot mounts for the Neo, so I could manually adjust bike handlebar height.  

    Its a bit disappointing that Tacx has been bought by Garmin.  Wahoo being a direct competitor, makes it less likely Garmin will play ball and offer to marry the two devices togther.

    February 23, 2019 at 8:07 am #928941
    0
    Anonymous

    @CXR94Di2 Did you get shot of
    @CXR94Di2 Did you get shot of your Climb? Or is it working with the Neo?

    February 23, 2019 at 6:58 am #928939
    0
    CXR94Di2
    ibr17xvii wrote:
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    JimD666 wrote:
    After 4 months the knocking has raised it’s ugly head on ours. Now to decided whether to try and fix it or return under warranty. Don’t really want to be without the trainer

     

    It is literally a 15 min job,(3 parts) if you’re practical and have some bike tools.  You need a range of Allen keys, screwdrivers and socket set.  Also a little thread lock(halfords or motor factors)

     

    Remove cover, Slacken off bolt(Yellow arrow),

    then undo this bolt- just to slacken belt off  Red arrow(count how many turns you unwind) ,

    remove yellow bolt and take off tensioner assy.

     

     

     

     

    remove bolt on pulley, remove pulley, Woodruff key, clean area if contaminated (brake/alcohol cleaner).  Fit new parts, add thread lock paste to threads.  You can also put some on the Woodruff key too.  Re-assemble, wind on the same amount of turns you took off.  replace cover- job done!

    On the red arrow does how tight you have this make a massive difference to how quiet it is? This is for the belt tension?

    As above mine started making a noise after I’d had the Woodruff key replaced which I guessed would be the belt now being too tight with the new key holding it in better. Slackened off the bolt with the red arrow which made it better.

    It’s still making a whirring sound that it wasn’t before & I’m not 100% happy with it but unsure whether to loosen the bolt further to slacken the belt off. Don’t want to cause any further damage.

    I can’t be bothered with all this aggro, thinking seriously about getting rid & buying a Neo.

     

     

    I posted a long reply, which disappeared. -arrrrgh!

     

    Basically it sounds faulty-ask for money back, get Neo/2

    February 22, 2019 at 5:40 pm #928937
    0
    ibr17xvii
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    JimD666 wrote:
    After 4 months the knocking has raised it’s ugly head on ours. Now to decided whether to try and fix it or return under warranty. Don’t really want to be without the trainer

     

    It is literally a 15 min job,(3 parts) if you’re practical and have some bike tools.  You need a range of Allen keys, screwdrivers and socket set.  Also a little thread lock(halfords or motor factors)

     

    Remove cover, Slacken off bolt(Yellow arrow),

    then undo this bolt- just to slacken belt off  Red arrow(count how many turns you unwind) ,

    remove yellow bolt and take off tensioner assy.

     

     

    remove bolt on pulley, remove pulley, Woodruff key, clean area if contaminated (brake/alcohol cleaner).  Fit new parts, add thread lock paste to threads.  You can also put some on the Woodruff key too.  Re-assemble, wind on the same amount of turns you took off.  replace cover- job done!

    On the red arrow does how tight you have this make a massive difference to how quiet it is? This is for the belt tension?

    As above mine started making a noise after I’d had the Woodruff key replaced which I guessed would be the belt now being too tight with the new key holding it in better. Slackened off the bolt with the red arrow which made it better.

    It’s still making a whirring sound that it wasn’t before & I’m not 100% happy with it but unsure whether to loosen the bolt further to slacken the belt off. Don’t want to cause any further damage.

    I can’t be bothered with all this aggro, thinking seriously about getting rid & buying a Neo.

    February 16, 2019 at 8:13 pm #928935
    0
    Anonymous

    I currently have 3 kickr
    I currently have 3 kickr cores in my house, 2 are being collected on Monday.
    The first developed a squeaking sound after around 6 weeks, it would only start after about 30 minutes of riding, it was annoying more than anything, especially as the thing is meant to be silent, wahoo sent me a replacement which I used for one week after which it stopped outputting power readings, the wahoo utility app, zwift and sufferfest all couldn’t read power from the kickr, another unit sent out this week which I’ve used once, okay so far.
    Wahoo support have been good but I’m clearly very nervous about the next thing to go wrong.
    The thing is great when it works but I don’t have a lot of confidence in it.

    February 16, 2019 at 5:42 pm #928933
    0
    Anonymous

    CXR94Di2 wrote:

    CXR94Di2 wrote:

    These are the new parts

    Are those the new bits they were sending out on request?

    Cheers for the piccies as well matey đŸ™‚

    February 16, 2019 at 9:17 am #928931
    0
    CXR94Di2

    These are the new parts

    These are the new parts

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