I used one for a few years then gave it to a good friend.
- I would totally disregard the power readings on the display. I had a track bike with an SRM attached, and the numbers rarely coincided (300W on my SRM head unit wasn't 300W on the Cateye display). I never turned the unit on.
- If you do use the numbers, use them as relative measures for each individual machine. This is because the resistance is made by the cable adjusting how close the Eddy Current Resistance Unit thingy was to the other thingy (scientific term). Anyway, 1 cable could be a bit more stretched than the other. The lever is indexed, so if it's not calibrated, then it could be off. Think of an uncalibrated rear derailleur.
- If you want numbers maybe try the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. They have published a power band that is directly related to the speed you turn the trainer. Basically Xmph = Ypower. They even sell a speedometer that displays power.
- I would remove the wind resistance unit (the fan blades). It just makes a lot of noise and doesn't really provide much resistance. Maybe it cools the other side, but I don't think so. Mine worked fine after I removed mine.
- I would only use them for Sprint type efforts (standing starts, short efforts with negative splits (flip the lever for more resistance), etc...). For longer efforts a normal fluid trainer would be better, especially when using a road bike that way you can dial in the right cadence and torque combination.
- Sprinters love the fact that the resistance unit is so strong and the fork stand is so steady. I haven't seen a modern mag trainer that can provide nearly as much resistance. I'm talking: It can handle over 2,000w. Most other commercial fluid or mag trainers can't handle much over 1,000w.
- If you use a road bike on it, it will feel awful with the really light flywheel and the linear, notched resistance. It doesn't feel natural in any way.
- Cateye probably doesn't have much stock of replacement parts...if any.
- You can engage track nuts without using the plastic inserts. I didn't have any on mine.
Sprinters would buy them from you.
I would't bother scavenging parts from other machines to make a 100% perfect machine. If the resistance unit works and the copper disk isn't warped, it's useful.