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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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  • October 13, 2018 at 5:36 pm #928869
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    ibr17xvii
    Phil99 wrote:
    I have the Core and haven’t noticed a knocking noise, but it does make a bit of an annoying high pitched whining noise when the flywheel is spinning very fast (i.e. quick cadence in a high gear on the bike).

    It sounds very similar to the noise the Kickr 2017 makes in the spindown video on the Wahoo support site. I’ve fired off an email as I was under the impression that was exactly the noise that was supposed to have been eradicated in the 2018 line ups, including the Core. I’m wondering if this is related to the second issue in the OP, but I don’t have the knocking noise and haven’t tried removing the belt so not 100% sure if it’s the same as the 2nd video.

    Should the drivetrain be the loudest noise even when sprinting?

     

    Having supposedly upgraded from the 2017 version I’d say the 2018 version is far better in terms of the “whine” noise the 2017 had. I didn’t find it off putting if I’m honest, it was more other members of the family that did

    October 13, 2018 at 5:01 pm #928867
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    Phil99

    I have the Core and haven’t

    I have the Core and haven’t noticed a knocking noise, but it does make a bit of an annoying high pitched whining noise when the flywheel is spinning very fast (i.e. quick cadence in a high gear on the bike).

    It sounds very similar to the noise the Kickr 2017 makes in the spindown video on the Wahoo support site. I’ve fired off an email as I was under the impression that was exactly the noise that was supposed to have been eradicated in the 2018 line ups, including the Core. I’m wondering if this is related to the second issue in the OP, but I don’t have the knocking noise and haven’t tried removing the belt so not 100% sure if it’s the same as the 2nd video.

    Should the drivetrain be the loudest noise even when sprinting?

    October 13, 2018 at 4:29 pm #928865
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    ibr17xvii
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    mc wrote:
    I wouldn’t say that noise is a bearing noise, it’s far more like something catching, but it could very well be to do with a bearing wearing/twisting allowing something else to come into contact, and slackening the belt has simply allowed things to move back and not make as much contact.

    PolyV belts should be pretty tight, with only a few mm of deflection under reasonable pressure. The most accurate way to tension them is acoustically, and if you really wanted to geek out, find the Gates belt designer application, put in all the figures, and it’ll even tell you the optimum tension, but you’ll need a belt tension gauge to set it.
    But for a rough setting on a belt that wide, I’d be looking to be able to twist it around an 1/8 to a 1/4 of a turn by hand on the long section.

     

    No it’s flat spotted the bearings due to excessive tension.  The belt was like a drum, loosening tension has almost cleared the drone, but it’s still there-damage done

    Did you spot the belt problem by it being overly noisy?

    October 13, 2018 at 2:35 pm #928863
    0
    CXR94Di2
    mc wrote:
    I wouldn’t say that noise is a bearing noise, it’s far more like something catching, but it could very well be to do with a bearing wearing/twisting allowing something else to come into contact, and slackening the belt has simply allowed things to move back and not make as much contact.

    PolyV belts should be pretty tight, with only a few mm of deflection under reasonable pressure. The most accurate way to tension them is acoustically, and if you really wanted to geek out, find the Gates belt designer application, put in all the figures, and it’ll even tell you the optimum tension, but you’ll need a belt tension gauge to set it.
    But for a rough setting on a belt that wide, I’d be looking to be able to twist it around an 1/8 to a 1/4 of a turn by hand on the long section.

     

    No it’s flat spotted the bearings due to excessive tension.  The belt was like a drum, loosening tension has almost cleared the drone, but it’s still there-damage done

    October 13, 2018 at 11:32 am #928861
    0
    ibr17xvii
    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    ibr17xvii wrote:
    Got a Kickr 18 on Monday & it’s made the knocking noise straight out of the box. It’s fine when riding on the flat but as a soon as a gradient kicks in & there’s resistance the noise starts.

    Seen your solutions on another board & tried tightening the bolt but to no avail so currently contacting Wahoo for their views. 

    A bit unsure when I get my replacement as to whether I should be opening it up & tightening the bolt before I ride it. On the one hand if that fixes it then good but on the other why should I be paying £1000 for a premium product & having to fiddle with it to get it to work?

    Only seems a few people affected by this, guess I’ve just been unlucky. 

     

    There are quite alot by all accounts, dont forget that many will just be sending back for replacement.  Mine has damaged bearings now, I will return it in thr new year.  That should give Wahoo plenty of time to remedy these issues.  I will dismantle and check the two weak points before riding my replacement Kickr- its ony a few screws to check and very simple design inside.

    I will just keep sending it back until I get one that works straight out of the box.

    Not sure Wahoo would encourage opening it up & as I said shouldn’t have to anyway.

    Quite surprised, everything I’ve got by Wahoo has been rock solid.

    On a seperate note I notice after the increased loyalty discount of 17% had expired Wiggle removed Wahoo products from the offer so they are now full price for everyone.

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/h/option/customer-rewards-and-reviews

    October 13, 2018 at 11:20 am #928859
    0
    mc

    I wouldn’t say that noise is

    I wouldn’t say that noise is a bearing noise, it’s far more like something catching, but it could very well be to do with a bearing wearing/twisting allowing something else to come into contact, and slackening the belt has simply allowed things to move back and not make as much contact.

    PolyV belts should be pretty tight, with only a few mm of deflection under reasonable pressure. The most accurate way to tension them is acoustically, and if you really wanted to geek out, find the Gates belt designer application, put in all the figures, and it’ll even tell you the optimum tension, but you’ll need a belt tension gauge to set it.
    But for a rough setting on a belt that wide, I’d be looking to be able to twist it around an 1/8 to a 1/4 of a turn by hand on the long section.

    October 13, 2018 at 10:25 am #928857
    0
    CXR94Di2
    ibr17xvii wrote:
    Got a Kickr 18 on Monday & it’s made the knocking noise straight out of the box. It’s fine when riding on the flat but as a soon as a gradient kicks in & there’s resistance the noise starts.

    Seen your solutions on another board & tried tightening the bolt but to no avail so currently contacting Wahoo for their views. 

    A bit unsure when I get my replacement as to whether I should be opening it up & tightening the bolt before I ride it. On the one hand if that fixes it then good but on the other why should I be paying £1000 for a premium product & having to fiddle with it to get it to work?

    Only seems a few people affected by this, guess I’ve just been unlucky. 

     

    There are quite alot by all accounts, dont forget that many will just be sending back for replacement.  Mine has damaged bearings now, I will return it in thr new year.  That should give Wahoo plenty of time to remedy these issues.  I will dismantle and check the two weak points before riding my replacement Kickr- its ony a few screws to check and very simple design inside.

    October 13, 2018 at 10:06 am #928855
    0
    ibr17xvii
    dreamlx10 wrote:
    ibr17xvii wrote:
    …..It’s fine when riding on the flat….

      

     

    You know what I mean…..yes

    October 13, 2018 at 10:05 am #928853
    0
    ibr17xvii

    JimD666 wrote:

    JimD666 wrote:
    Had ours for a week now and (so far at least) no issues at all from myself or SWMBO. Mind you we’re not exactly putting down big watts :P

    Me neither but as soon as you hit any kind of incline it starts.

    For a prooduct that costs as much as it does it’s not acceptable to have to faff about tightening bolts before it works as it should.

    October 13, 2018 at 9:16 am #928851
    0
    Anonymous

    Had ours for a week now and
    Had ours for a week now and (so far at least) no issues at all from myself or SWMBO.

    Mind you we’re not exactly putting down big watts 😛

    October 13, 2018 at 8:22 am #928849
    0
    dreamlx10
    ibr17xvii wrote:
    …..It’s fine when riding on the flat….

      

    October 13, 2018 at 7:49 am #928847
    0
    ibr17xvii

    Got a Kickr 18 on Monday & it

    Got a Kickr 18 on Monday & it’s made the knocking noise straight out of the box. It’s fine when riding on the flat but as a soon as a gradient kicks in & there’s resistance the noise starts.

    Seen your solutions on another board & tried tightening the bolt but to no avail so currently contacting Wahoo for their views. 

    A bit unsure when I get my replacement as to whether I should be opening it up & tightening the bolt before I ride it. On the one hand if that fixes it then good but on the other why should I be paying £1000 for a premium product & having to fiddle with it to get it to work?

    Only seems a few people affected by this, guess I’ve just been unlucky. 

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