Free Expensive Treadmill - But Faulty | Can I fix It?

[@akhtarkh]

Some appreciation for the machine designer for prompting an actual issue message instead of an error code.

[@BuyitFixit]

Very true 👍

[@MikeMcAuliffe-g2f]

That modified control panel is a work of art!

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers! 👍

[@scotts9898]

Looked the part that's for sure. Loved how they weren't all the same colors too.

[@orange11squares]

an amazing repair, those buttons are 100x better than the original buttons.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@scotts9898]

​@@BuyitFixitbet they last longer and are much more reliable it the long run.

[@st3althyone]

Such a simple yet elegant solution to an expensive af problem. This is the reason I love your channel. You always come up with some novel ways to fix these little projects and save them from the trash heap. You improved the product so much with those tactile buttons instead of those cursed membrane switches. Bravo!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you very much!

[@bobbygeorge77]

Mick you're a genius. The world needs more of you. Love all your videos.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Bobbygeorge 👍appreciate the encouragement 🙂

[@andyamanda5777]

33:20 you had my wife and I in fits 🤣🤣🤣. Thank you!

[@BuyitFixit]

LOL! Cheers Andy 👍

[@DCPHONEGUY]

As usual you have made it better than it was designed. The manufacturer could have used real buttons too, I have come across the same sort of failure from membrane buttons also, I really dislike them, any moisture gets in there and that is it. Bravo to you and your expertise.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 🙂👍

[@tejmar]

i really like the way you talk us through your thought processes for fault finding. Nice job!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Mick 👍

[@manolisgledsodakis873]

As soon as I saw that it had a membrane keypad I thought "uh, oh. You ain't gonna fix that!" But you found an elegant solution. Well done!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you 👍yes sometimes if parts are too expensive or not available it's sometimes worth thinking out of the box 🙂

[@Bristoll170]

That's a great fix 👍. Being in the trade, the most common failure of membrane keypads is the cross over tracks. I've done a few repairs similar with the difference being I collect boards from dead washing machines and the like which now days have surface mount TAC switches. These are a nice small size that can be fitted as a replacement for membrane contacts. And with a bit of pocket making to accept them, allows the original top keypad cover to be reused. My current microwave oven is a case in point. Great stuff!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks! Great idea, I didn't think of how to use the original membrane cover, I guess it would be a little more time consuming hollowing out all of those pockets...

[@kennethevoy]

I have this exact treadmill and had this exact issue. Funny enough, I also ordered those exact switches from amazon. I contacted life fitness in the meantime and they mailed me a free replacement button pad so I never had to go as far as you. Great job either way and funny happenstance.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍yes that's a weird coincidence! Great minds think a like 😂😂😂

[@bones1225]

Loved the buttons. You have now made it bombproof. Great fix and well done.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Bones 👍

[@marcyd2007]

Great work Mick! Nice fix, although I would have cut the dodgy trace and tried a jumper wire, but that could have gone either way really. Hey. at least now you've got a way of walking the dog without going out in the rain 🙂

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Marc 👍😂😂😂😂

[@stefanopassiglia]

Nice fix! Also, I can't believe Polar would make a disposable HRM. I've owned several HRM through the years but all could have their batteries changed easily. Really weird. The HRM and many other fitness devices use ANT+ protocol to exchange data, btw. The newest ones also use Bluetooth Low Energy.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks for the info!

[@K.P.Alexander]

Love the fix! I really wish manufacturers would stop using membrane keypads. Had to toss out a nice dishwasher because of a faulty membrane keypad, which costed almost as much as a brand new dishwasher, and was unfixable despite my best efforts.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks KP👍Shame about your dishwasher 🙁

[@inothome]

You can't beat membrane keypads and the water resistance. But, there's no reason for a replacement to be so expensive. Don't blame the keypad, blame the greedy manufactures for over-pricing replacement parts.

[@MahlerLab]

Thank you for sharing your process of fault tracing. I do prefer the vibes of the new buttons :D

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks MahlerLab 👍Glad you like the new buttons 🙂

[@jonnyduncan7056]

Ingenious fix.. Quids in too

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍I just need to use it now 😂😂😂😂

[@DG-mi2mc]

The machine was basically laughing with you while it was playing that tune 😂 Great video! Love it!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks DG👍 Yes I was like wtf when playing the footage back as I didn't realise it playing that at the time 😂😂

[@michaelburns8073]

Good fix. I have several commercial quality pieces that I got from military surplus, some I still need to fix. I was surprised at the replacement cost of the membrane, because LifeFitness usually have reasonable replacement parts costs here in the US. I'll use your membrane fix in case I have a similar issue. I find working on fitness machines a lot of fun, since it's usually a mix of mechanical and electrical/electronic, and most issues I find are usually quite simple to fix. Now, to get fixing the treadmill and elliptical that's been waiting in my garage for a while....

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Michael 👍Good luck with fixing your treadmill 🙂

[@mikecass8306]

Great diagnosis, repair and adaption Mick. More please 😀

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Mike👍

[@dexjackson3299]

Great repair well done 👍👏

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@ravensportal]

Great video, love your way of thinking outside of the box to come up with fix's ...

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍🙂

[@BruceBoschek]

Another great repair! Those membrane keys are the death of many a machine. Thanks! ❤!

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers 👍

[@Takashiiiiiiiiiiii]

Greate idea with new buttons and its looking good

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Takashiii👍

[@neiltheplayer]

What a great fix Mick. And I nice bit of kit for you're new gymnasium LOLOL

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Neil, yes it's in the corner of the shed still....with a nice coating of dust 😂😂😂😂😂

[@dalee.mccombs8571]

Nice repair/modification!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@RogerBaker-i1v]

Lol 😂 I thought it was gonna get you running@ one point 😅

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@robertjospeh1097]

Great rework!!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you 👍

[@kriswillems5661]

Happy to have found this channel. Great fix.

[@BuyitFixit]

Welcome aboard!

[@jonome9565]

Interesting Fix Mick, enjoyed that one. Personally i do skipping 5 days a week, but if my skipping rope breaks down anytime or gives me errors i will send it to you for a fix it vid.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Jonome👍 It might be beyond my technical ability unfortunately. I'll have to see if I can find a schematic on the net 😂😂😂😂

[@twotone3070]

I expect it's knot something he can repair.

[@scaleartsg]

brilliant! you saved this from the dumpster! i like the physical buttons! sounds more robust!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Zal 👍

[@stephengill2211]

Hi from NZ loved the vid. Retireb from Les Mills Worlf of Fitness after 16 years and worked on man many life fitnesss machines. Yep parts are pricey good sve on the membrain have repaired afew in my time due to sweat ingress. Nice to see something saved from land fill. Now all have to do is use it. There are many treads out there and some are impossible to repair for people cost of parts getting the parts and time factor involved i do od repairs for peple but parts are the main cause of unrealistic repairs ie mor parts can be as much as a new machine re your Milwaukee drill repair. Keep up the goog work. Fot my wish list i would love a microscope BUT at 74 now an option stay safe.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you and thanks for sharing Stephen👍

[@Exciteonium]

Great job, yet another better than original repair!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks mate👍

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

Impressive fix and machine! It’s smart and knows it would be dangerous to operate with a dodgy keyboard 😃👍. I bet those buttons not only feel nicer but will last longer and easy to replace if needed

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍yes hopefully it will last a lot longer and if a button fails you can just replace it individually.

[@cajuncoinhunter]

Those new switches worked out great , all the different colors meshed in real nice with the panel board ... Awesome repair Mon Ami .... Take Care ...

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Cajun 👍

[@FixthisCD]

You read my mind as I watched this. Glad to see it worked. Those contacts are a nuisance

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Chillywilly 👍

[@brucecorbettn9bh398]

I just would not have thought of drilling it out and installing button switches. In fact, I did not even think switches like that would be available. I searched amazon and am surprised by the variety of button switches that are available .

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, it was a lot cheaper than a new panel and I can replace an individual switch if it should fail 🙂👍

[@shaunmorrissey7313]

Nice solution along with faultless fault tracing.

[@BuyitFixit]

Cheers Shaun👍

[@piotrnowak4870]

Well done Mick....All the best...

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍🙂

[@graeme8755]

Those switches are called tactile switches, they are used in a number of locations. They com in various pressure ratings and measured in grams.

[@BuyitFixit]

Interesting. Thanks for letting me know 👍

[@suryavanshib]

Awesome modification 🤩🤩🤩✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Bhushan 👍

[@tonythornton1383]

Fantastic workaround, better than factory and of course a great video as always.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you Tony 👍

[@Nils_private]

"Don't try this at home" - well, I have one of those heartrate-monitor-strap-thingies whose battery will out some day and I'd definitively will try this at home 😀 I really loved the buttons, BTW. Brilliant work!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍🙂

[@t_4178]

you can repair these with conductive ink pens. i did on mine

[@BuyitFixit]

I think someone mentioned that, althought it might be easier to just replace a failed button in the future with my arcade treadmill fix 😂😂

[@Markus-fw4px]

This was great.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thank you Markus👍

[@christopherforster6555]

Well done good fix

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Christopher 👍

[@ralphj4012]

Well done. Think of the landfill that would have created. At least you can't easily stand your lucozade on that surface anymore (but still in the slot above). Probably worth checking the secretion ingress rating of the new switches.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Ralph 👍On Amazon it said the were waterproof, but I have my doubts 😂😂

[@apatterson8128]

After watching your videos, it dawned on me that my mother's perfectly functioning Kitchen Aid dishwasher had a bad board. The board was discontinued so she had to buy a new dishwasher. I thought it was such a shame. In retrospect, I would have liked to see if I could have seen what the problem was. After all, you can't break broken! I enjoy your videos and subscribed. I probably wouldn't attempt it, but I like watching you work.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍Pity about the dishwasher. If you do fancy a go email me a picture of the board and description of the fault and I'll try to help 🙂

[@apatterson8128]

@@BuyitFixit Thank you! I appreciate that.

[@Johadart]

Always look for a dud battery first, then go from there, the membrane is over priced, be cheaper and easier to buy a new machine, so if by chance the old owners of this treadmill watch this, they will be kicking themselves, great fix mate, keep up the great content 🤙🏼🇦🇺 Joe from Australia 🤙🏼🇦🇺

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Joe👍 Good to hear from you guys down under 🙂

[@Johadart]

@@BuyitFixit mate you will only hear honesty from me.. 🤙🏼🇦🇺

[@mrjsv4935]

Interesting product and nicely fixed. Much easier to repair those buttons in the future, if they fail, but probably will last longer than those original ones. Lovely display, especially where the written messages are, looks like characters on old school VFD display 😉

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Mr JSV. Yes they look much like your avatar 😂😂😂

[@StrawDragon]

With the beeps and buttons, its like an old arcade machine. I like it.

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂👍

[@Popeyes66]

I prefer those new buttons John. Great deduction & fix. Obviously the Mrs will claim it as hers now 🤔

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍I hope she does, I can't run to save my life 😂😂😂

[@JAYG6390]

Great little fix here. Those buttons you added look just fine to be fair. Out of interest, would you want a dyson remote controller for an AM06/7/8 fan that has been through the washing machine (I know!) and now very intermittently works? I was tempted to try and fix it myself but I'm decorating at the minute and needed the remote working pronto for cooling the room so just bought a replacement off ebay. Happy to post it to you if you do.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Jay 👍and thanks for the offer of the remote. I'm not sure how interesting it would be as a repair? Although I could possibly do it alongside another small repair perhaps? I never know what people would like to see or find interesting....

[@JAYG6390]

@@BuyitFixit Yeah, I thought it would be more of a tea break repair type thing like MMV does tbh. I won't be offended if you're not bothered, I just couldn't find any content at all on youtube for the remotes being disassembled and thought it might be something to look into if you thought it would be of interest

[@BuyitFixit]

Yeah good idea, feel free to drop me an email, address is on the channel about page, press the button 'for business enquiries ' 🙂

[@16blockheads]

Good job 👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@dregenius]

That machine looks to be quite well made! Shame though it was designed *right* at the height of the "product shall beep when any inputs are pressed, any action happens, or when stray cosmic rays enter the silicon die of the main microcontroller." Sadly most new microwaves and coffee makers are still stuck in this era. 😂

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂

[@MrEwool]

Great fix, better than factory 😊 thought at that price they would have built it to last

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Morten 👍yes I think the original owner said he paid about £3500!

[@MrEwool]

@@BuyitFixit wow that's a lot, then a new membrane would be a fraction of the price

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, agree although still quite pricey for what it actually is.

[@MrEwool]

@@BuyitFixit very much so, guessing the manufacturing price isn't anyway near that

[@BuyitFixit]

@@MrEwoolYes, probably a huge markup, then again everything seems so expensive now.

[@georgeholme612]

Fantastic video

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks again👍

[@wisher21uk]

Nice fix and a nice mod, silly prices for proper parts it’s so people chuck them and buy new

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Cucumber Man, yes sometimes the prices of parts are almost the price of a whole new item!

[@wisher21uk]

@@BuyitFixit so true

[@diypapie8428]

Subscribed ❤ nice work there some honest husseling Cheers 🍻

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks DIY 👍

[@en2oh]

do you sell your repaired items? Brilliant thought process and repair, but I wonder if the proper membrane pad would have increased the treadmill value?

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍a lot of the stuff I buy and repair is just for my own use. I might need to have a clear out soon though 😂😂

[@johnhammond3482]

thanks for another great video would like to have seen you use it for a laugh

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks John 👍Ha! My heart rate was high enough just thinking about it 😂😂😂

[@scotts9898]

I got a deal on a top of the line treadmill 2 years ago. Her 24 hour gym said they just wanted it gone one day while she was working out on the machine a few down she jumped off and told the guy her husband could be there in 15 mins to take it away he said okay after making a call. Turns out someone spilled water on it and all I had to do was replace the membrane under the same type of pad as yours. Hers has al9t of buttons on it though and even if I could get the buttons like yours for $1 each it would have cost twice as much as just replacing the membrane. I found a new one on eBay for $13 plus $5 for shipping. Ended up keeping it for 15 months she loved it but when we moved we sold it and got $1300 for it. The guy said his wife had one just like it and hers stopped working a few days ago and she wanted the same one since she loved it and knew how to work it, my wife looked at me and I just told her no.

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂Thanks for sharing 👍

[@John-1984]

5:12 🎶 Haircut and a shave, two bits 🎶

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, I noticed the same, it was just by chance!

[@spooktasticaparanormal]

Great video, love the accent. Like a slight touch of scottish in your north east dialect. Keep up the great work. Kind regards. Paul. 👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Paul, when I first started doing videos I was a bit self conscious of my accent and wasn't sure how people would react. Pleasantly surprised at the feedback I've had. Best wishes. Mick.

[@Allan-]

Great repair. It is a shame this manufacturer is a bugger. Making it not a serviceable to replace a CR2032 battery in the Heart rate Transmitter is a total clue they just want to make money out of their Customers who bought their over priced Tread mill ! Well done on fixing this , you did a fantastic job. !!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Allan, the HR transmitter is not unique to the treadmill but can be used on a lot of devices that support it. It's actually made by a different company. They say it's to make it waterproof 🤔 but they could have easily added a screw on back with an o ring if that was the case 😂😂😂

[@philiptombs9990]

Another great fix! With buttons like those, change the display to something with space invaders on. Way better than exercise!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Philip 😂😂😂😂

[@snozking]

smart solution

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍

[@user-te1le7ck6b]

Great work yet again mate , any chance in future you can explain the wiring for us stupid folk to understand the fix fully , thanks again pal

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks G👍I'm not sure on the wiring, I just traced out the original and copied their wiring scheme pretty much.

[@599miata]

That was a great troubleshooting essay my friend. But I really think that your wife got this for you.😂😂 She want you to do some exercises.🤣🤣

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 😂😂😂😂😂

[@tomharris1457]

Nice!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Tom 👍

[@jamiejoker118]

ARCADE RUNNING MACHINE lol Good diagnosis and repair Great to watch I did cringe at one point We want more well done

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Jamie 👍

[@pabajestem]

Why didn't try this conductive paint thing?

[@BuyitFixit]

I didn't have any, and it seemed a pain to try and separate the two membranes to try and repair the failed track. I think the solution I came up with will last a lot longer and if a switch fails you can just replace the faulty one instead of having to replace the whole membrane.

[@pabajestem]

@@BuyitFixit completely agree that's way more durable and excellent idea. Asked just for curiosity. Keep it up I love your videos!

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks mate 👍

[@VSteam81]

"hey mom, can i get a pc to play doom on?" "no, honey. we have one at home" the pc at home: (saying this because of the serial port)

[@BuyitFixit]

I have made doom run on quite a few devices over the years, quite a few of I had to reverse engineer drivers, write my own SDL layer and cross compile code 😂😂😂

[@twotone3070]

Is that really your resting heart rate or just when you 'tread the boards'?

[@BuyitFixit]

I've no idea, I remember some time ago the doctor said it was quite high, although I've not measured it for a while. Recording YT videos is also quite stressful 😂😂😂😂

[@MostlyPosative-nj5ex]

Maybe you can get ahold of Uncle Rico’s time machine and see if you can fix it. You have to try it first and record the results though. Are you up for that challenge?

[@BuyitFixit]

I had to google it, sod that. It looks more like the electric chair😂😂😂

[@pomonabill220]

I HATE membrane keyboards, and yours wasn't a true membrane keyboard, but those dome buttons are almost as bad! Your fix was the best thing to eliminate the original keyboard, and of course, it WORKED! Pretty good for FREE + the buttons + your time but wasn't it FUN?!?!?

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes not quite a true membrane like on the ZX Spectrum (my first computer) 👍 Thanks for commenting 🙂

[@sundaybighouse]

great repairs, spare parts in general always seem to be far too expensive imo

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Sunday Bighouse👍Yes totally agree. Unfortunately sometimes a part is nearly as much as a new unit.

[@marcotinnirello6010]

looks like an arcade machine panel now! Surely it needs a mod to load street fighter on it to distract you whilst working out?!

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂 👍

[@policewitnesspoplar4865]

that's odd , i've got a clothes horse which looks exactly like that !

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂

[@ncooper8438]

Those new buttons, warning label needed saying wear sunglasses.

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂

[@charlesmurphy1510]

Looks like an arcade games with the coloured buttons.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Charles👍I used to work in arcades back in the late 80's and 90's and one of the jobs I used to do was convert some of the older cabinets to take newer game boards. Part of that was often remaking the original control panel with more buttons and two joystick 😂😂😂

[@jasejj]

Nice fix that, and the way it should have been built to begin with. £100+ for a membrane indeed, and the way they built that armband is a disgrace, disposable electronics like that should be outlawed.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Jason👍. Yes agree disposable electronics 🙁

[@snipersquad100]

Dam, I was hoping for a wind turbine project. Oh well, nice fix.

[@BuyitFixit]

I bought a washing machine for something similar a while back. It still might end up as a water turbine yet as I bought a pelton wheel for it. I used it to generate DC in the video when testing the solar inverter I repaired a while back 🙂

[@snipersquad100]

@@BuyitFixitHave you got a river or a stream running through your property?

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes, but it's quite some distance away, so I'd need a lot of cable to run it back to power anything useful. It's part of the reason why I haven't done anything with it so far.

[@bills6946]

Membrane panels are not made to last by design. Push buttons cost more and its always profit over longevity

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes agree 👍

[@somethingelsehere8089]

Those things get bathed in sweat, assuming they are used properly.

[@BuyitFixit]

Ewwww lol

[@richb419]

Hi from the looks of your heart rate all you must do is watch your wife use the machine!🤣

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂

[@James_Bowie]

Those machines are prone to liquid ingress, either sweat or cleaning fluid.

[@ibrahimkocaalioglu]

how about a knife to open ruber.

[@tacky9954]

please wait, my kind of work out

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂😂😂👍

[@inothome]

Good fix, I was expecting much more nasty, human sweat under that membrane though. Almost scared to look..... But, wasn't too bad. How sweat proof are those buttons you put on? The hard core runners get everything dripping in salty, sweat..... yuck...

[@BuyitFixit]

🤮 Good job this is only going to be used by a few of us occasionally then 😂😂

[@leexgx]

Now you get to fix the original problem when it starts to show after couple of hours use

[@seansysig]

HR Heart Rate

[@BuyitFixit]

Yes 🙂👍

[@ISquishWorms]

Nice mod will last longer and a lot cheaper. I was a little more concerned at the start of the video about your heart rate seemed a little low at around 5 bpm and no demo of you jogging? 😁

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂👍

[@richardtaylor7199]

Smokin or not?🤣🤣🤣

[@RogerBaker-i1v]

Love this fix 🫡👍👍👍

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks 👍🙂

[@RambozoClown]

Do those buttons make it better to hang clothes on? That's what I usually see home treadmills used for. ;)

[@BuyitFixit]

😂😂😂😂👍

[@kennybacchus1488]

Free. Expensive. Treadmill. But faulty. Can. l. Fix. It ?

[@rodpuckey8413]

Let's hope that the spaghetti wiring was tidied up before reassembly. Yes a pet hate of mine

[@BuyitFixit]

I can't remember off hand but probably not 😂

[@Enlightened-WOLF]

i think thats what they do put cheap switches in so you have to buy a new machine for 1000s every few years yet you fix it for a tenner lol😁😁

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks Jag Jay👍

[@Slartifartblast]

Great fix. A treadmill for 9 quid, bargain. Probably a better fix than if you spent £100+ on inferior parts.

[@BuyitFixit]

Thanks DJ Sycottic👍yep I also think it's better than factory 😂😂😂

[@Slartifartblast]

@@BuyitFixit 100% 👏🏻👏🏻