PSA Pinnacle Direct Drive Smart Trainer

Did anyone self solve the sticky freewheel? Mine is starting to do it and would prefer to solve it than return it and risk only getting a refund rather than a fixed trainer

I never came across a single instance of a reported fix despite quite a lot of searching.

My replacement unit is in the process of being returned now also, it started cutting out and not providing any power/cadence info after 30 minutes of riding and then eventually just wouldn’t power up correctly.

Given up on them, asked for a refund and bought a barely used Saris H3 from someone local.

@dander thanks for reply.  Haven’t tried both firmware versions, just the one that gives the quickest response.  Maybe we should try the other firmware version?

Good to know it should work and I can’t believe I’ve been super unlucky with two identical turbos and running off two different laptops.  In fact, I think I have tried 3 laptops all on Windows 11.

£300 now, missed this one. Don’t think I’ll bother based on some of the above either, good luck!

Yeah, good deal for £90, but wouldn’t pay hundreds. Mtbtomo – it’s worth a try, easy to do on the app. Is your trainerroad up to date too – mine does updates all the time. You could also try deleting the trainer off trainerroad and then refinding it? Apologies if you’ve tried this.

So I stripped the freewheel down on Monday and degreased it. Put some 3-in-1 oil back on and it seems to have improved, for now. Being a cheap-git™ I can cope with this solution if it’s just an occasional fix.

It’s a simple design, 3x pawls and a simple spring to keep them in. Maybe future fettling will involve experimenting here, but will keep it simple for now

The app for this seems to be playing up – can’t log in. Have tried deleting it and reinstalling (using on iphone) and registering under another email, but no joy. Is is down for anyone else?

Let’s me log in on my android tablet. Seems to have lost the device though, so need to repair.

App only seems to be useful for calibration though, can’t say I’ve felt the need to change firmware versions.

So I stripped the freewheel down on Monday and degreased it. Put some 3-in-1 oil back on and it seems to have improved, for now.

I tried this today after being off the trainer and bike for a couple of weeks with a bad dose of manflu. TBH, the sticky freehub is now significantly worse than ever, with the chain close to unshipping completely 😪 Ive been using a bike with 130mm qr & 10sp cassette, but notice that even with the right spacer, it binds when you cinch up the driveside nut so there is no play in the cassette. Anyone else had this?

Tempted to try my TA 11sp road bike so see if any better

Mines decided not to transmit data today. It’s connected to trainerroad ok but not providing any resistance or display in terms of power and cadence. Lights are on the unit as usual – any ideas what’s happened?

Update – fixed! Took it apart and there was lots of sooty, black dust inside. Cleaned it out and put it back together and was pessimistic but it’s reading power and cadence again.

I have tried both firmwares on the pinnacle app but when using it with indie velo i am getting no difference in gears and still need to move through the gears a lot wjen the gradient on tbe course changes.

I compared the readings from the power on my chainset (4iii) real-time while riding and the 4iii was showing about 10% higher power reading ish. I am thinking of trying another type of trainer program as i am thinking the software in the program itself converts the power readings with its own software.

Thread resurrection…..Did anyone ever make this work fully with Rouvy?

I have tried both firmwares on the pinnacle app but when using it with indie velo i am getting no difference in gears and still need to move through the gears a lot wjen the gradient on tbe course changes.

That’s normal, all the firmware options do it change how abruptly the resistance changes and how it deals with fluctuating power output.

Some people want an unrealistic flat line on the graph which can feel pretty brutal and tends to also mean it overshoots the start and end points of the interval.

Other people want it to smoothly transition to the new power and then react a bit more naturally so if they slack off a second they just reaccelerate gently, not suddenly find it’s a brick wall to climb back upto the setpoint.

I compared the radings from the power on my chainset (4iii) real-time while riding and the 4iii was showing about 10% higher power reading ish. I am thinking of trying another type of trainer program as i am thinking the software in the program itself converts the power readings with its own software.

Crank/pedal based power is always a couple of percent higher due to drivetrain losses. 4iii might be a bit more off because it’s single sided and people are rarely symmetrical so it might just be your left leg is naturally a bit stronger or your right leg is a bit lazier on the upstroke.

Thread resurrection…..Did anyone ever make this work fully with Rouvy?

Not tried it, but was almost tempted to get it out again for the winter after Saturday’s biblical rain!

Exactly my thoughts!