RF Generation Message Board

So I'm lost at what else to try to get my second Exertainment Bike running.

The problem is that one machine says it doesn't register any pedalling from the bike after starting the game up. Since I've got two of them I've been able to swap the bikes to see if that was the problem (both bikes work), swapped all the cables besides the power source (all cables work), I even swapped the PCBs that the bikes/SNES plug into and they both seem to be working fine.

Everything seems to work find on the one machine, but the same parts that work fine on that machine won't register my pedalling on the second one.

Anyone have any more ideas I can try?

Wiring Diagram:
[img width=700 height=933]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk189/Crabmaster2000/P1010049-2_zps42e79311.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=964]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk189/Crabmaster2000/ExertainmentManualWiringDiagram001-1_zps4632d10a.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=933]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk189/Crabmaster2000/P1010246_zps0f72c9fb.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=525]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk189/Crabmaster2000/P1010248_zps41fbf50b.jpg[/img]

Sounds like the pedals may not be generating a signal for the SNES to receive. Try to trace back any current with a multimeter to find out where the current stops. I'd help out if I were nearby.

But the same bike and equipment can get a pedal signal to my second machine. That's what is baffling me. I don't understand :(

Does the second bike register pedaling RPM and whatnot when the SNES isn't being used? In other words, does it work properly as an exercise bike? It sounds like the bike and SNES aren't communicating (for lack of a better word) for some reason.

The controllers on the bike work with the SNES so it is communicating in some fashion. Just can't get it to recognize the pedals, which doesnt make sense to me because it works fine on the other kiosk.

Can you describe or take pictures of how the thing is put together? It's hard for me to help troubleshoot with not much to go on.

For sure, I can even post a scan of the wiring diagram. I'll get some eye candy up later today when I get home.

Having 2 bikes i would assume would make things easier lol
You should have a working model to cross reference everything with.

Hopefully some fresh eyes can help you get it figured out unfortunately i have nothing but well wishes to offer.

Yeah I thought it would be a piece of cake having the two of them, but I'm really confused. It seems like everything works....... but it doesnt work!

First post updated with a scan and a pic of the wiring diagram. My wife took the camera to work with her so I won't be able to pop up some actual pics of the internal until tomorrow though.

According to the guy at Life Fitness I talked to and the Troubleshooting manual I have the problem should lie in the part labelled PEM. But I've tested each cord and even the PEM board itself on the other machine and all the pieces work fine. Grrrrrr.

I wonder if it uses a reluctor ring in conjunction with a hall effect switch to register pedal RPM. I would assume if it did the spacing of the two may be off.

Wish I could see it in person to see all the guts.

I'll try and take pics of EVERYTHING when I get my camera back. Any theories are welcomed at this point.

Which of the numbered wires in the diagram is the one that goes to the device that measures the pedaling? How does that mechanism work?

Updated with 2 new pics. Hopefully that helps the wiring diagram make more sense. The PCB shown there is where I'd assume the problem is. According to both the Troubleshooting manual and the guy I talked to at Life Fitness that is the part the converts the bike's signal into something the SNES can recognize. The grey cable is the one coming from the bike itself and the phone jack looking black one beside it is the one that plugs into the SNES controller port.

So if you swap the board with the one in the working bike, I assume it works properly. I'd work backwards from there swapping out parts with the known good bike, one at a time. So swap the cable that goes to the bike next, and if it works, the next part down the line, etc.

If you'll be around later we can Skype and talk through some troubleshooting.

You can easily swap the black cable - it's a standard cable, and they used it on the Justifier controller as well. Just an FYI.

I've swapped all the cables except for the power supply, I've swapped the boards and I've even swapped the bikes. All the different pieces seem to be working fine on my one kiosk, but they just don't want to register my pedalling on the second kiosk.

I'll pop on Skype and keep an eye out for you Duke.

Thats actually pretty handy to know in case I ever do have to replace one. Thanks!!

Duke.Togo is my savior!!! We have the problem figured out. It was a power source issue.

Brings a tear to my eye Crabby. Thought it may be something more complicated.

Process of elimination works. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p85xwZ_OLX0

I thought I had eliminated all my worry areas. Duke was kind enough to point out I'm an idiot though :D


Just need to find a new one of these now:
https://external.lifefitness.com/OA_HTML/xxlfps_ibeCSrdPartNumSrchResults.jsp?searchString=0017-00003-0770

FWIW, you may be able to find a used assembly with the same part in it. According to the diagram, the 92134 Power Transformer and PIP Power Transformer both have that part in it.

See what other models have that part in it and keep an eye out on Kijiji?
lol

For what they are worth vs. what you got them for even having to shell out 70 for the part i think you made out prettty good :)

I put in a call to Life Fitness today and emailed him a bunch of pics and the part number. They don't stock the specific part anymore, but they do have some old stock for related models. He is on a quest to see if any of them will be compatible with my model of bikes.

Nice!