Bowflex rods snapping

<morten.TakeThisOut@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:1170956235.496205.201890@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Hi, new to this forum. Sorry if this question has been asked.
>
> Had a blowflex for a few months now. The first week out, one of the
> 10 pound rods snapped in a bizarre double break. I igmored it, not

Is that some kind of plastic welding technique?

> using that rod much. Yesterday though, on eof the big 50 pound rods
> snapped in exactly the same double break pattern.
>

Well, igmore that one too.

> Has this happened to others, or have I gotten a lemon? How have
> others found boxflex's customer service?
>

I haven't had to use their customer service as yet, however I would probably
go to their website and click the "contact us" link.

> Thanks.
>

You're welcome and good luck with that.

Steph.
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

On 8 Feb 2007 09:37:15 -0800, morten.DeleteThis@shaw.ca wrote:

>Hi, new to this forum. Sorry if this question has been asked.
>
>Had a blowflex for a few months now. The first week out, one of the
>10 pound rods snapped in a bizarre double break. I igmored it, not
>using that rod much. Yesterday though, on eof the big 50 pound rods
>snapped in exactly the same double break pattern.

Please provide more detail of the break pattern.

I've been using a Bowflex PowerPro with a full stack of rods (410#)
for six years.

I've encountered a number of material defects as well as design
problems, most of which I reported here in the spring of 2001. But so
far, I haven't had a rod break, nor have I heard of this before.

some questions that come to mind:

1. where exactly on the rods is the break?

2. what does the break look like?

3. were there any loose pieces that flew off, other than the two ends?

4. did all the rods that were hooked up break?

5. were the bases of the broken rods firmly screwed into the rod box
(ie. was it possible to rotate them by hand)?

>
>Has this happened to others, or have I gotten a lemon? How have
>others found boxflex's customer service?

I can't report on US service, as I bought my Bowflex from the Canadian
distributor, Belko. I've tried at various times to contact the head
office to discuss improvements in design and quality control. And
Belko staff have forwarded my suggestions. But Bowflex USA has never
responded.

Belko dropped the ball big time when the recall on Bowflex was issued.
I found out about it by chance more than I year after it occurred, and
was pretty miffed that Belko had never contacted me, especially since
they had my current phone, FAX, e-mail, and snail mail addresses on
file. They did send me the hardware for the fix when I contacted them,
but that took a couple of tries and more than a month too.

OTOH, they have never failed to provide replacement parts under
warranty for those that were defective or broke in use. And the rods
are warrantied for life. I suggest you take pictures of the broken
parts and keep these for your records, especially if you have to
return the broken parts to get the warranty replacement. I'd be very
interested in seeing any such pictures myself.

I suggest you very carefully examine the rod box for any signs of
cracking. Belko has replaced four of these boxes for me to date. All
of them developed cracks around the four screw holes immediately after
first use. At least one came from the factory with the pre-cut holes
slightly misaligned from the corresponding holes in the PowerPro
upright shaft, which was a prescription for disaster.

If you see any cracks in the box, photograph that also and ask for a
replacement box as well.


--

Achim
_____/)
axethetax
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

On 8 Feb 2007 09:46:09 -0800, "Prisoner at War"
<prisoner_at_war.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Feb 8, 12:37 pm, mor....RemoveThis@shaw.ca wrote:
>> Hi, new to this forum. Sorry if this question has been asked.
>>
>> Had a blowflex for a few months now. The first week out, one of the
>> 10 pound rods snapped in a bizarre double break. I igmored it, not
>> using that rod much. Yesterday though, on eof the big 50 pound rods
>> snapped in exactly the same double break pattern.
>>
>> Has this happened to others, or have I gotten a lemon? How have
>> others found boxflex's customer service?
>>
>> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
>There was some kind of class-action lawsuit against Bowflex over just
>this issue years ago. I'm surprised it still occurs!

I've been using a Bowlflex PowerPro with full 410# complement of rods
since 2001, and haven't had a rod snap (yet!).

Have just done an extensive google groups search on this, and this is
the first report I've found of broken rods (they ARE guaranteed for
life, but this is small comfort, considering the inconvenience and
prospect of injury).

The previous reports of breakage and injury, in relation to which
Nautilus/Bowflex offered to pay a $950,000 non-disclosure fine, were
limited to breakage of the back-rest bracket when used with the tower
attachment IIRC.

OTOH, I have just this past weekend experienced a very troubling
failure of the rod box on my PowerPro. The box broke throught the four
screws holding it to the uppright backplane of the apparatus, and both
ends of the rod box (ie. where the two pairs of outside 50# rods are
installed) shattered, sending jagged bits of plastic flying as far as
15 feet away.

Will be reporting on this separately shortly in more detail (in
misc.fitness.misc and misc.fitness.weights).

--

Achim
_____/)
axethetax
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

On Feb 8, 10:46 am, "Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_... DeleteThis @yahoo.com>
wrote:
> On Feb 8, 12:37 pm, mor... DeleteThis @shaw.ca wrote:
>
> > Hi, new to this forum. Sorry if this question has been asked.
>
> > Had a blowflex for a few months now. The first week out, one of the
> > 10 pound rods snapped in a bizarre double break. I igmored it, not
> > using that rod much. Yesterday though, on eof the big 50 pound rods
> > snapped in exactly the same double break pattern.
>
> > Has this happened to others, or have I gotten a lemon? How have
> > others found boxflex's customer service?
>
> > Thanks.
>
> There was some kind of class-action lawsuit against Bowflex over just
> this issue years ago. I'm surprised it still occurs!

Hi, also new. Actually found this doing a google search for Bowflex
and snapped rods. Yep, you guessed it. Same thing happened to me.
Bought mine about a year and a half ago from Costco. It's the XTL
model with 310#. Didn't use it often (not particularly proud of that
fact) due to the location. Finally moved it to a more convenient spot
last fall, used it a few times and one of the 50# rods snapped. Put
off contacting Bowflex for some time, finally talked to customer
service a couple months ago and got them to (finally) agree to sending
out all new rods. No one in the family felt safe using it not knowing
if there was a bad batch or something that caused the rod to snap. I
was repeatedly assured that it was an isolated event, not likely to
happen with any of the other rods, but with enough coaxing and the
idea that if it caused a physical problem in the event another rod
snapped while using, that it might be in their best interest to
replace them all. I installed them all and finally got motivated to
begin working out once again this morning. Yep, the damn 50# rod
snapped on me again! Isolated event? Doesn't seem likely now, does it?
What are the chances two "isolated events" would happen to the same
person using the same machine, but with all new rods twice? I hope
others post if this is happening to them, as well.
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

On 21 Mar 2007 17:05:32 -0700, kanderson104 DeleteThis @cox.net wrote:

>On Feb 8, 10:46 am, "Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_... DeleteThis @yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>> On Feb 8, 12:37 pm, mor... DeleteThis @shaw.ca wrote:
>>
>> > Hi, new to this forum. Sorry if this question has been asked.
>>
>> > Had a blowflex for a few months now. The first week out, one of the
>> > 10 pound rods snapped in a bizarre double break. I igmored it, not
>> > using that rod much. Yesterday though, on eof the big 50 pound rods
>> > snapped in exactly the same double break pattern.
>>
>> > Has this happened to others, or have I gotten a lemon? How have
>> > others found boxflex's customer service?
>>
>> > Thanks.
>>
>> There was some kind of class-action lawsuit against Bowflex over just
>> this issue years ago. I'm surprised it still occurs!
>
>Hi, also new. Actually found this doing a google search for Bowflex
>and snapped rods. Yep, you guessed it. Same thing happened to me.

Now you've got me worried....

>Bought mine about a year and a half ago from Costco. It's the XTL
>model with 310#.

Strange. Is that a PowerPro XTL?Because when I talked to Nautilus
Canada yesterday, they told me that the PowerPro had been discontinued
in 2004!

>Didn't use it often (not particularly proud of that
>fact) due to the location. Finally moved it to a more convenient spot
>last fall, used it a few times and one of the 50# rods snapped. Put
>off contacting Bowflex for some time, finally talked to customer
>service a couple months ago and got them to (finally) agree to sending
>out all new rods. No one in the family felt safe using it not knowing
>if there was a bad batch or something that caused the rod to snap.

Makes sense to me.

> I
>was repeatedly assured that it was an isolated event, not likely to
>happen with any of the other rods, but with enough coaxing and the
>idea that if it caused a physical problem in the event another rod
>snapped while using, that it might be in their best interest to
>replace them all. I installed them all and finally got motivated to
>begin working out once again this morning. Yep, the damn 50# rod
>snapped on me again!

I'd suggest you demand a refund of your purchase price from
Nautilus/Bowflex. And if they refuse, take your complaint to Costco.

I'd also suggest that you take clear photos of the breakage and keep
the broken rod at least until you get a refund. If that's not
forthcoming, you might need it for small claims court, or for a
complaint to a consumer protection agency.

I've had my Bowflex PowerPro for six years. The rods weren't even new
when I bought it, as I took the demo option.

I typically start my workout with calf raise and leg press, in which I
use all 410# of rod bundle, and twist those rods until they touch the
pulley.

So far none have broken or cracked.

Nor have I found any other reports of broken rods aside from yours and
that of the original poster of this thread. Maybe there was a bad
batch of rods produced recently.

Where along the shaft did your two rods fracture?

Which position(s) in the rod box did they occupy? Was it the same
position each time?

How far were they bent when it happened?

Which exercise were you performing in each case?

Did any fragments fly off the rods? If so, what size and shape were
they, and where did they land?

Did the two ends separate completely or not? If they did, what was the
travel of the loose (top) end of the rod?


> Isolated event? Doesn't seem likely now, does it?

No, but you can't expect much from the people they hire to answer the
phone. They mostly read from a set script, as far as I've been able to
divine. I got similar nonsense from Nordictrack customer service when
the frames on my Xcountry machine kept breaking.

>What are the chances two "isolated events" would happen to the same
>person using the same machine, but with all new rods twice?

A contradiction in terms. Moreover, with the Bowflex rods, it's
impossible to pass off a used rod for a new one, because once they're
bent, they stay bent. A bad production lot is the most likely
explanation, in which case they could probably isolate and remove the
bad rods from circulation.

But the problem may be that they've got the front line people so
scared of losing their jobs that the bad news never gets passed up the
line to someone who can take the proper course of action. Much safer
(for the CSR!) to just ship out another rod and hope someone else gets
the bad news next time.

> I hope
>others post if this is happening to them, as well.

Amen!

Even better would be a legal requirement for all equipment
manufacturers to post all breakage incidents where the public can
access them. But I guess that's pie in the sky for now.

Good luck! And please keep us posted.



--

Achim
_____/)
axethetax
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

Checking into the forum for the first time in a while. Guess what
prompted me? Another snapped rod.

I'm going to start taking the advice above, and documenting now. I am
quickly starting to lose confidence, and am getting concerned about
safety. I've stopped letting my 12 year old son use the machine. No
bits have flown off my borken rods, but a snap at full extension with
a lot of weight could tear msucles, or worse.

Typical snap, instant and in 3 places at the same time - that's the
strangest thing. 50 lb rod.

I too was told that this was an isolated incident. "Just like
anything else that comes off an assembly line, some rods are a bit
more brittle than others", said the CSR for Nautilaus in Canada. The
rods always get replaced. But between having to install new rods all
the time (which eventually will weaken the rod box screws) and the
safety factor, I'm getting close to asking for $$ back onthe whole
unit. Too bad, otherwise very good machine.
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

<morten.RemoveThis@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:1179162839.672423.155410@h2g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> Checking into the forum for the first time in a while. Guess what
> prompted me? Another snapped rod.
>
> I'm going to start taking the advice above, and documenting now. I am
> quickly starting to lose confidence, and am getting concerned about
> safety. I've stopped letting my 12 year old son use the machine. No
> bits have flown off my borken rods, but a snap at full extension with
> a lot of weight could tear msucles, or worse.
>
> Typical snap, instant and in 3 places at the same time - that's the
> strangest thing. 50 lb rod.
>
> I too was told that this was an isolated incident. "Just like
> anything else that comes off an assembly line, some rods are a bit
> more brittle than others", said the CSR for Nautilaus in Canada. The
> rods always get replaced. But between having to install new rods all
> the time (which eventually will weaken the rod box screws) and the
> safety factor, I'm getting close to asking for $$ back onthe whole
> unit. Too bad, otherwise very good machine.
>
thanks for posting this. I was just about to buy a Bowflex! No way Jose!
(one of those little accent signs over the "e") - nice of them to replace
the broken rods, though! Besides, it breaks all the time, what do you think
of the machine in general??
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

<morten RemoveThis @shaw.ca> wrote in message
>
> I too was told that this was an isolated incident. "Just like
> anything else that comes off an assembly line, some rods are a bit
> more brittle than others", said the CSR for Nautilaus in Canada. The
> rods always get replaced. But between having to install new rods all
> the time (which eventually will weaken the rod box screws) and the
> safety factor, I'm getting close to asking for $$ back onthe whole
> unit. Too bad, otherwise very good machine.
>
>
Can you hear yourself talk??

It is a good machine except it keeps breaking?? You are talking out both
sides of your mouth. the only reason that more rods don't break is that
many people buythese things and never use them.

It is not a good machine. It is a marketing product that is in no way based
on human physiology.

Get some real weight and do some real work. There is nothing on planet earth
that resembles the springy rod thing that these machines us. You could
probably get similar results by training with corn starch.
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

David <forgot....RemoveThis@yahoo.au> wrote:
[...]

> <snip> and loosing weight. <snip>

L~*oo*~sing weight?

Do not taunt the Net Nanny.

Lest it's to your room without your supper!

--
Curt
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

David wrote:
> <morten.DeleteThis@shaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:1179162839.672423.155410@h2g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>> Checking into the forum for the first time in a while. Guess what
>> prompted me? Another snapped rod.
>>
>> I'm going to start taking the advice above, and documenting now. I
>> am quickly starting to lose confidence, and am getting concerned
>> about safety. I've stopped letting my 12 year old son use the
>> machine. No bits have flown off my borken rods, but a snap at full
>> extension with a lot of weight could tear msucles, or worse.
>>
>> Typical snap, instant and in 3 places at the same time - that's the
>> strangest thing. 50 lb rod.
>>
>> I too was told that this was an isolated incident. "Just like
>> anything else that comes off an assembly line, some rods are a bit
>> more brittle than others", said the CSR for Nautilaus in Canada. The
>> rods always get replaced. But between having to install new rods all
>> the time (which eventually will weaken the rod box screws) and the
>> safety factor, I'm getting close to asking for $$ back onthe whole
>> unit. Too bad, otherwise very good machine.
>>
> thanks for posting this. I was just about to buy a Bowflex! No way
> Jose! (one of those little accent signs over the "e") - nice of them
> to replace the broken rods, though! Besides, it breaks all the time,
> what do you think of the machine in general??

David, its great ....if you want to play "pick up sticks"
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

"WotMeWurry" <wotmewurry RemoveThis @somewhere.com> wrote in message
news:4648c72e_1@news.iprimus.com.au...
> David wrote:
>> <morten RemoveThis @shaw.ca> wrote in message
>> news:1179162839.672423.155410@h2g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>>> Checking into the forum for the first time in a while. Guess what
>>> prompted me? Another snapped rod.
>>>
>>> I'm going to start taking the advice above, and documenting now. I
>>> am quickly starting to lose confidence, and am getting concerned
>>> about safety. I've stopped letting my 12 year old son use the
>>> machine. No bits have flown off my borken rods, but a snap at full
>>> extension with a lot of weight could tear msucles, or worse.
>>>
>>> Typical snap, instant and in 3 places at the same time - that's the
>>> strangest thing. 50 lb rod.
>>>
>>> I too was told that this was an isolated incident. "Just like
>>> anything else that comes off an assembly line, some rods are a bit
>>> more brittle than others", said the CSR for Nautilaus in Canada. The
>>> rods always get replaced. But between having to install new rods all
>>> the time (which eventually will weaken the rod box screws) and the
>>> safety factor, I'm getting close to asking for $$ back onthe whole
>>> unit. Too bad, otherwise very good machine.
>>>
>> thanks for posting this. I was just about to buy a Bowflex! No way
>> Jose! (one of those little accent signs over the "e") - nice of them
>> to replace the broken rods, though! Besides, it breaks all the time,
>> what do you think of the machine in general??
>
> David, its great ....if you want to play "pick up sticks"
Yeah, but I wasn't going to use it much . . . just for general toning and
loosing weight. The guy in the Bowflex ad on T.V. looks pretty good.
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

"Hard Bop Drums" <> I don't understand why someone would pay this amount of
money for a machine when you can get a membership to a fully equipped gym
for the same $.>
>

Why pay a lot of money for a custom made bongo drum when you can get top
quality at any typical musician's store?
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping 

"Hard Bop Drums" <> Please learn to make the proper analogies in the future.
>

You are showing so much restraint it is very intimidating. I imagine you are
walking around the bongo room with the shotgun in hand, tracking back IP
addresses....
 >> Stay informed about: Bowflex rods snapping