Hello all. I have a strange request or problem but I also hope someone else has faced this. I have iAero-III (and it's working great) with the standard USB port connector/adapter to get it talking to the computer.
I have a real hard time dismounting the iAero-III and the USB adapter. It goes on OK - there's a little resistance but you'd expect that. It's really hard to twist it off. I have to unplug the thing from the computer, situate the connector/iAero on my lap and really press-twist hard with my right hand/strongest hand to get the two separated. I'm leery of using any sort of lubrication on the plastic mating and locking surfaces. However it's to the point where I'm going to need to do something as I'm really afraid to break the darn thing!
Yes, the iAero-III goes on very smoothly and very easy on the iBike bar mount. It's just the USB adapter that gives me fits.
How about some suggestions from you folks out there?
H
iAero-III - USB connector are hard to separate!
Re: iAero-III - USB connector are hard to separate!
I agree, some of these can be almost misery to remove and you think you're going to break it.
You could try putting a tiny bit of oil on the locking portion of the USB mount. Something like a little 3-in-1 oil or WD40 on a Q-tip and spread it around the mating surface area.
I didn't have any problem with mine after using a mild lubricant but it seems the consensus it to not lubricate. Since I can't delete the posting, I just edited here.
You could try putting a tiny bit of oil on the locking portion of the USB mount. Something like a little 3-in-1 oil or WD40 on a Q-tip and spread it around the mating surface area.
I didn't have any problem with mine after using a mild lubricant but it seems the consensus it to not lubricate. Since I can't delete the posting, I just edited here.
Last edited by racerfern on Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fernando
Re: iAero-III - USB connector are hard to separate!
I had that too. Check the nylon ring on the underside of the iAero. If it's wrinkled that will cause the problem. I actually broke my iPro because of this.
I wouldn't recommend any lubricant since it can cause the glue holding the nylon ring break down.
I wouldn't recommend any lubricant since it can cause the glue holding the nylon ring break down.
Re: iAero-III - USB connector are hard to separate!
Well! Aha! The nylon ring!
It's very badly deteriorated (not wrinkled) in large sections. In fact, it's non-existent on about 40% of the surrounding surface! I never noticed "the ring" until I really took a good hard look at the surface under the "hood" of the iAero a few moments ago. Now that I know the ring is there, I'm glad I didn't put any "juice" on it. Nylon and lubes often do not mix well.
I've got to get a call in or write to them Monday to see what can be done.
Thanks all!
H
It's very badly deteriorated (not wrinkled) in large sections. In fact, it's non-existent on about 40% of the surrounding surface! I never noticed "the ring" until I really took a good hard look at the surface under the "hood" of the iAero a few moments ago. Now that I know the ring is there, I'm glad I didn't put any "juice" on it. Nylon and lubes often do not mix well.
I've got to get a call in or write to them Monday to see what can be done.
Thanks all!
H
Re: iAero-III - USB connector are hard to separate!
OK, I came up with a strategy. Here's what I did and I've improved the dismounting force by quite a bit.
I took the mating end of the USB adapter and rubbed it vigorously (not agressively - just vigorously) on a clean dry cotton towel for about 10 seconds. Some amount of black smudge came off. Next I took a plain clean dry soft-fibre paper towel and made some small folded flattened wads. I then took a Q-Tip and snipped off the end at an angle - about 45 degs. I gingerly wiped the nylon ring with the wads by "mopping" them around the ring with the angled Q-Tip handle changing the wad about 1/4 way around. I worked carefully so as not to physically distrub/distort the ring in any way. Note 1: Small amounts of the same black residue on the wads. Note 2: I used only dry cleaning techniques. Note 3: As I 'buffed' the ring, I could detect slightly less and less resistance to the wiping motion.
I've improved the dismount force required by about 60-70%. It still works a little hard but now I can get it off first time, every time and I don't have to put it in my lap or "stand on it", if you know what I mean.
The good folks at iBike have offered to take it and fix it. But since then I've cleaned it and decided to keep it for now. I'm hoping perhaps the action with smooth out further as I use it - and carefully keep it cleaned off. I may eventually have to return it since I think some of the nylon has actually worn away. I've inspected the ring area under 7x magnification and truthfully it's rather hard to tell how much of the ring has dissipated.
CAUTION: The folks at iBike definitely positively absolutely have convinced me: DO NOT lubricate that ring!!!! If you do and they have to repair it, it's on your dime! I would also add my own "any cleaning solutions or solvents" to that list.
Great support! Thanks, iBike!
H
I took the mating end of the USB adapter and rubbed it vigorously (not agressively - just vigorously) on a clean dry cotton towel for about 10 seconds. Some amount of black smudge came off. Next I took a plain clean dry soft-fibre paper towel and made some small folded flattened wads. I then took a Q-Tip and snipped off the end at an angle - about 45 degs. I gingerly wiped the nylon ring with the wads by "mopping" them around the ring with the angled Q-Tip handle changing the wad about 1/4 way around. I worked carefully so as not to physically distrub/distort the ring in any way. Note 1: Small amounts of the same black residue on the wads. Note 2: I used only dry cleaning techniques. Note 3: As I 'buffed' the ring, I could detect slightly less and less resistance to the wiping motion.
I've improved the dismount force required by about 60-70%. It still works a little hard but now I can get it off first time, every time and I don't have to put it in my lap or "stand on it", if you know what I mean.
The good folks at iBike have offered to take it and fix it. But since then I've cleaned it and decided to keep it for now. I'm hoping perhaps the action with smooth out further as I use it - and carefully keep it cleaned off. I may eventually have to return it since I think some of the nylon has actually worn away. I've inspected the ring area under 7x magnification and truthfully it's rather hard to tell how much of the ring has dissipated.
CAUTION: The folks at iBike definitely positively absolutely have convinced me: DO NOT lubricate that ring!!!! If you do and they have to repair it, it's on your dime! I would also add my own "any cleaning solutions or solvents" to that list.
Great support! Thanks, iBike!
H
Re: iAero-III - USB connector are hard to separate!
Let me add one other important thing to this if I may... How did the ring get "dirty" in the first place? Took me a while to come to it, but it's abundantly obvious!
Here's me - I Get back from ride. Park bike in basement. Take off water bottles and iBike. Get to chair in basement to remove shoes, helmet, gloves. Bottles on the floor, iBike gets inserted in my jersey rear pocket...
Eeenhhh! Wrong!
Why would I put this sensitive device in my hot, damp, sweaty, perhaps greasy, grimy rear pocket? Did that pocket hold a spent Gu or PowerBar wrapper? Duh?
Since ceasing this practice, and after the careful patient cleaning steps I've outlined, I've had no trouble at all mounting and dismounting the iBike from the USB connector.
Don't let it get "dirty" in the first place!
Lesson learned.
Herb
Here's me - I Get back from ride. Park bike in basement. Take off water bottles and iBike. Get to chair in basement to remove shoes, helmet, gloves. Bottles on the floor, iBike gets inserted in my jersey rear pocket...
Eeenhhh! Wrong!
Why would I put this sensitive device in my hot, damp, sweaty, perhaps greasy, grimy rear pocket? Did that pocket hold a spent Gu or PowerBar wrapper? Duh?
Since ceasing this practice, and after the careful patient cleaning steps I've outlined, I've had no trouble at all mounting and dismounting the iBike from the USB connector.
Don't let it get "dirty" in the first place!
Lesson learned.
Herb
Re: iAero-III - USB connector are hard to separate!
Once I figured out what a Q-tip was (Cotton buds to UK readers!), I followed your example and I reckon it must have reduced the force required on the USB mount by 50%. In my case I think it was actually just excess glue from the gasket since the casing was new. Good work!