It is very possible that the clutch knob only works with tires that are narrow and 120 psi, which is what I have. I don’t see any way that it could compensate for different tire pressures.
Yeah, I suppose that’s possible about the tire size, and I totally get what you’re saying but…
If their clutch knob is only for 23mm tires running 120 PSI, they probably should mention that somewhere in the literature (I’ve read it), and then give a solution for alternate sized tires…not all of us enjoy running skinnies…and in my case, a 23mm tire was laughably inadequate for my wife’s MTB rim.
Tacx made the correct tire for my particular situation…I guess I should have bought one of their trainers too.
One thing is abundantly clear, Saris apparently doesn’t care about this issue, they never responded to my email inquiry, and based on all of the clutch knob issues I’ve read about across the web, they clearly have no interest in finding a solution…
This was my second Saris product…and my last…I think the M2 is going up on Craigslist (unless I find an acceptable solution), and I’ll just buy something that doesn’t actually kinda suck…Really expensive lesson…Partly my fault for not doing more extensive research.
Glad I am not alone here. I have had serious issues with my Saris M2 as well. The first one that I got had a defective clutch knob that never clicked. I tightened it so far that it bent the trainer frame. I called Saris and they sent me a new trainer. After that, I had an issue because the trainer ruined my road tires. They were a bit old so I bought new ones, but right away the tires began flaking off little bits and leaving burnt rubber on the roller. I called Saris again and the rep that I talked to said that I needed to get a trainer tire and ride it at at least 130 psi. I bought a Vittoria trainer tire and rode it at 145 psi (max for the tire) the rest of the winter without issue. This year after about 100 miles on the trainer the tire blew out from the side. I put a used road tire on and that blew out 20 miles into the ride. I called Saris again today and they are sending me a new clutch knob, but after spending a few hours researching trainer tires, I came across a Saris video (on their website) for the M2 reccomending running the tire at 90-100 psi.
The article below then says: “…we suggest inflating your tire to the low-to-mid range listed on the tire wall.” So i guess I am going to try the Vitorria again and then inflate to 100 psi because that is at the low end of its range and matches the reccomendation of the video. Hopefully this gets me through to Spring. Next year I am getting a direct drive.
I have had numerous blowouts with this trainer. The first was with a road tire and as I learned early you need a trainer tire as the road tire will disintergrate very rapidly. I now use a Vitorria trainer tire and have considerably less flaking, but still get flats(3 over the last year). I have been running 130psi and wonder if with the heat transfer and being inside without any ambient cooling this increases the pressure above the tubes limit? I am going to try 110psi and see if this is enough. I have never had any slippage, I turn until the clutch is set and back off a 1/4 turn. When tight the tire looks to be about 50% compressed, is this what others are finding?
130 psi seems high. When I ran my Snap I used 110 psi. I would tighten until I could not cause the tire to slip using my arms…then 1/2 turn more. After awhile this turned into 3.5 turns from where the roller just touches the tire. Do not think I compressed 50%…maybe 1/3…something like that. I used up some nice tires but they had glued caps…solid casing tires lasted a lot longer. Trainer tires are ok…I used the red one for a while…whatever brand that is.
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Something is seriously wrong here. A regular tyre shouldn’t be quickly disintegrating.
What do the manufacturer’s instructions say about PSI? 130 sounds way high.
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Maybe slight exaggeration but would get heavy debris on the wall behind trainer(likely to much tension). As I said gonna try 110. Also noted it takes 5 and half full turns for clutch to engage, also will back off to 3-4.
Follow up question to issue #2 reported by Dennis. Is there a recommended way to clean the rubber residue on the trainer roller? I’m afraid it causes tire slipping at times and of course power loss.
all, I been using saris m2 training for 3 years now and I have tried millions options to get the best of it. .I have also blown quite a few tubes and Trainer tires the first 2 years too.
I had tried the cloth knob for the first whole year and it indeed compressed the tire so much. Not an ideal situation. Friend of mine with blow thru tube just every month. I was better luck and blew thru tube only once with that cloth knob.
2nd year, I continued using the same clutch method but blew a Tire. Yes, you heard it. it was the tire.
3 rd year, I finally ignored the Clutch knob and turned up to 2-2.5 turn when roller contacted the tire. I experience NO SLIPPAGE or what so ever. No blowing tube or tire. I’m sticking with this method from now.
Calibration is still hit or miss. Sometimes I feel like pedalling mud after calibration.
Current setting:
23mm Tax Trainer tire. was using Vittoria trainer tire before
110psi +/-10psi
2 - 2.5 turns
hope this helps
I have my Saris M2 on 2.5 turns I have calibrated the Saris on Saris Utility, but couldn’t find the spanner icon on Zwift to recalibrate there but apparently the Saris calibration was successful but still have issues on ERG mode.
From the calibration my new roll down time is 3.976 but I have literally no idea what that is.
The ERG mode is the issue whereby feels like I am riding through mud.
I would appreciate any support to help resolve this issue.