From what I can see with the Garmin HRM dual that I have, you need a torx screwdriver, not a phillips head. Mine even came with a torx screwdriver. So far, it works fine. Not so sure about the heart monitoring part, though.
It's not even a case of using the wrong size. I've just tried using a 00 Phillips and it didn't work. At first, I started thinking, "I've had about 5 years' use out of it (estimated 500 uses, or 1,000 hours) on one battery, so maybe I can't complain, but it's a terrible waste of materials and the bloomin' thing ends up in landfill!" HOWEVER, I tried just gently pressing the screwdriver in and turning it, and I got a clear feeling that it wasn't even engaging with the screw. So, I started to think either it's even smaller than 00, or it's not even a Phillips - it does look a little like a torque screw. So .... I did some more researching and I found the Garmin support video (on RUclips) titled, "Support: Changing the battery on a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor" and it pointed out that on newer ones, it's a torque screw, so you should use the small torque screwdriver "supplied with your monitor". As soon as it showed the screwdriver, I thought, "I've seen that before!" I'm pretty sure I didn't get one with the HRM, but I have had similar screwdrivers with other small electronics like activity watches. Hey Presto, after 5 minutes of searching in my "box of bits" in my top drawer, I found it! And it works! Happy days.
Fool that I am, I came to your video after knackering the head of one of the screws, and knackering what I think was probably a Philips 00 screwdriver but made of softer metal than the fourth screw in my HRM! Bought myself a 52-piece screwdriver set and it didn't contain a 00 or even an 0 but the smallest flat blade did the job. But what a ridiculous piece of design - I can imagine that the HRM will get hot and damp, so it probably needs sealing, but four screws looks to me like over-engineering. Telling us to use the wrong screwdriver is the icing on the cake. And the HRM rarely works for me anyway!
Garmin says this HR monitor has battery for over 3 years. Mine stopped connecting after 6 months. I think that the HR monitor is almost constantly active as i noticed that my smartwatch would connect itself to the HR monitor randomly even though it wasn't even being used. My guess is that any movement will trigger the monitor and will remain active for long periods for no reason. About the screws, i did destroy 2 of them because i had no proper screwdriver. Luckily i managed to get them out. I glued it back with superglue and then dropped a tiny bit of silicone on the screw hole to isolate the hole thing back.
Looking for this kind of comments. I keep replacing batteries very often. I think if I leave my Garmin 530 on suspend mode (instead of turning it off), it drains the HRM battery.
Had the exact same issue... Got 3 screws out - 2 of them are in good condition, the third is not in super shape. The forth screw it totally impossible to get out, as there is nothing left for the screwdriver to grip on to. This is so frustrating and in my opinion a design fault from Garmin. Like you Chris I also experience drop outs, which is especially frustrating as it happens on my Garmin 1030 Edge. Next up is drilling out the screw trying to avoid damaging the device. Good job I've got my 4iiii Viiiiva HRM, replacing the battery is a breeze and connectivity also surpasses the Garmin.
Hello Henrik, I found myself in the exact same situation (well actually I had damaged 2 out of the 4 mini screws). I managed to extract the damaged screws using a specific tool called 'Damaged Screw Extractor' from this brand Tacklife. The extraction took literally less than 5 seconds. ruclips.net/video/Gw6OnRX9JkE/видео.htmlsi=aEFLFRctNznA3NXy. A total life savor and for sure a must have in any tool kit.
Just to say: I was fretting about having the right screwdriver (which I didn't) but I checked my box and the tiny Torx 00 screwdriver was included. Maybe they've started dropping one in the box recently? Mine's little more than a year old.
Yeah, Garmin's battery instructions for this HRM-Dual strap are (or were?) lacking. My HRM's battery went out in well under 1 year. In my case, one of Garmin's online battery replacement instructions stated it's a #00 Phillips screw, WRONG! They left out the part in these instructions that there are also straps that have Torx screws; mine being #5's. I should have looked closer at the (very tiny) screw heads and might have seen they were Torx, not Phillips. Fortunately, I didn't bugger the heads when first attempting to back out those screws with a Phillips #00 driver which was useless, BTW. Had a Torx bit and driver on hand, did the trick. I agree that this design, specifically that of the battery module's fastener's back plate is totally lacking. On mine, the inside of the battery module's back plate has for very teeny tiny plastic washer-shaped parts that are affixed to the plate. Three of them came detached (broke off... whatever) when attempting to replace the battery several months ago; that being with very little tightening which in the end made the screw holes in that plate too large and closure of the module using those screws useless. To Garmin's credit, I'd purchased this strap exactly 2 years ago and after describing what happened to a customer service agent, a new replacement's already been sent out so until it gets here, a little electrical or Gorilla tape will come in handy and keep it working for the time being.
Chris, thanks for posting. I've encountered this same problem. I'm considering changing to the HRM-Pro. Im not a triathlete, primarily cycle and occasionally run. I would appreciate your opinion on the current HRM-Pro, if you have one.
Hi Chris, im training to run one day a marathon in less then 4 hours. I have a lot of work to do. I use a garmin 910xt, witch heart rate monitor should i get in your opinion ? Thanks!
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Your right, Ive lost all the screws on mine and holding them in using tape, its working.
Thanks for posting! My Hrm dual also stopped within a year. And those screws, such a design mistake by Garmin. Unbelievable!
Very useful and a timely insight for the solution for changing my battery. Looking for a 00 screwdriver now! Thank you.
Thanks for the video. However, the screws on my HRM Dual have Torx heads. I used a #T5.
From what I can see with the Garmin HRM dual that I have, you need a torx screwdriver, not a phillips head. Mine even came with a torx screwdriver. So far, it works fine. Not so sure about the heart monitoring part, though.
Yup. Same here.
It's not even a case of using the wrong size. I've just tried using a 00 Phillips and it didn't work. At first, I started thinking, "I've had about 5 years' use out of it (estimated 500 uses, or 1,000 hours) on one battery, so maybe I can't complain, but it's a terrible waste of materials and the bloomin' thing ends up in landfill!"
HOWEVER, I tried just gently pressing the screwdriver in and turning it, and I got a clear feeling that it wasn't even engaging with the screw. So, I started to think either it's even smaller than 00, or it's not even a Phillips - it does look a little like a torque screw. So .... I did some more researching and I found the Garmin support video (on RUclips) titled, "Support: Changing the battery on a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor" and it pointed out that on newer ones, it's a torque screw, so you should use the small torque screwdriver "supplied with your monitor". As soon as it showed the screwdriver, I thought, "I've seen that before!" I'm pretty sure I didn't get one with the HRM, but I have had similar screwdrivers with other small electronics like activity watches.
Hey Presto, after 5 minutes of searching in my "box of bits" in my top drawer, I found it! And it works! Happy days.
Fool that I am, I came to your video after knackering the head of one of the screws, and knackering what I think was probably a Philips 00 screwdriver but made of softer metal than the fourth screw in my HRM! Bought myself a 52-piece screwdriver set and it didn't contain a 00 or even an 0 but the smallest flat blade did the job. But what a ridiculous piece of design - I can imagine that the HRM will get hot and damp, so it probably needs sealing, but four screws looks to me like over-engineering. Telling us to use the wrong screwdriver is the icing on the cake. And the HRM rarely works for me anyway!
I have the correct sized screwdriver and not one screw will budge
Garmin says this HR monitor has battery for over 3 years. Mine stopped connecting after 6 months. I think that the HR monitor is almost constantly active as i noticed that my smartwatch would connect itself to the HR monitor randomly even though it wasn't even being used. My guess is that any movement will trigger the monitor and will remain active for long periods for no reason.
About the screws, i did destroy 2 of them because i had no proper screwdriver. Luckily i managed to get them out. I glued it back with superglue and then dropped a tiny bit of silicone on the screw hole to isolate the hole thing back.
Yes, I have the same problem that it will connect via Bluetooth when it's sitting in the other room. It's very annoying.
Looking for this kind of comments. I keep replacing batteries very often. I think if I leave my Garmin 530 on suspend mode (instead of turning it off), it drains the HRM battery.
Had the exact same issue... Got 3 screws out - 2 of them are in good condition, the third is not in super shape. The forth screw it totally impossible to get out, as there is nothing left for the screwdriver to grip on to. This is so frustrating and in my opinion a design fault from Garmin. Like you Chris I also experience drop outs, which is especially frustrating as it happens on my Garmin 1030 Edge. Next up is drilling out the screw trying to avoid damaging the device. Good job I've got my 4iiii Viiiiva HRM, replacing the battery is a breeze and connectivity also surpasses the Garmin.
Hello Henrik, I found myself in the exact same situation (well actually I had damaged 2 out of the 4 mini screws). I managed to extract the damaged screws using a specific tool called 'Damaged Screw Extractor' from this brand Tacklife. The extraction took literally less than 5 seconds. ruclips.net/video/Gw6OnRX9JkE/видео.htmlsi=aEFLFRctNznA3NXy. A total life savor and for sure a must have in any tool kit.
Just to say: I was fretting about having the right screwdriver (which I didn't) but I checked my box and the tiny Torx 00 screwdriver was included. Maybe they've started dropping one in the box recently? Mine's little more than a year old.
Yes, that sounds like good news!
Hello, A screwdriver was in the box of my Garmin HRM dual ! maybe due to these complaints ?
Good point garmin
That's good news!
try stretching a rubberband over the screwdriver head. Sometimes this will give that additional grip get that last screw out!
Public service, thanks
Very useful. That same right top screw won’t come out
Great help, thanks!
Yeah, Garmin's battery instructions for this HRM-Dual strap are (or were?) lacking. My HRM's battery went out in well under 1 year. In my case, one of Garmin's online battery replacement instructions stated it's a #00 Phillips screw, WRONG! They left out the part in these instructions that there are also straps that have Torx screws; mine being #5's. I should have looked closer at the (very tiny) screw heads and might have seen they were Torx, not Phillips. Fortunately, I didn't bugger the heads when first attempting to back out those screws with a Phillips #00 driver which was useless, BTW. Had a Torx bit and driver on hand, did the trick.
I agree that this design, specifically that of the battery module's fastener's back plate is totally lacking. On mine, the inside of the battery module's back plate has for very teeny tiny plastic washer-shaped parts that are affixed to the plate. Three of them came detached (broke off... whatever) when attempting to replace the battery several months ago; that being with very little tightening which in the end made the screw holes in that plate too large and closure of the module using those screws useless. To Garmin's credit, I'd purchased this strap exactly 2 years ago and after describing what happened to a customer service agent, a new replacement's already been sent out so until it gets here, a little electrical or Gorilla tape will come in handy and keep it working for the time being.
people who write those manuals deserve death penalty. shame on you Garmin
Chris, thanks for posting. I've encountered this same problem. I'm considering changing to the HRM-Pro. Im not a triathlete, primarily cycle and occasionally run. I would appreciate your opinion on the current HRM-Pro, if you have one.
I haven't had a chance to try it, but it looks great.
I got 7 months out of mine! Maybe a100 hours of use! Thanks
What size should we use tho? Phillip#0 right?
disconnected after 2 months and wont let me reconnect to phone, guess I'm replacing these and hopin that works
Damn I ruin the thread of one screw. How can I remove them?
Same here, did you figure it out?
@@RedLionIM703 not yet. I will be forced to when the battery runs out
Dammit should’ve watched this video before I used the PH0 and stripped the screw head 👎🏼
I used 1.4mm screwdriver and it didn't work
Hi Chris, im training to run one day a marathon in less then 4 hours. I have a lot of work to do. I use a garmin 910xt, witch heart rate monitor should i get in your opinion ?
Thanks!
Garmin HRM-Tri
i have the same problem now , its fucked up , why they can not make this on a simple way , this is not normal anymore !!
Yeah, it's ridiculous, especially given the Polar can be done without any tools now.
SAny idea how to get the one and last screw out? It sure damn is tuck