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Unintended Acceleration of my Treadmill

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Southern Dad, Nov 21, 2011.

  1. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

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    When my Wii Fat proclaimed me to obese, I resisted the initial urge to introduce the Wii Hammer as a new accessory. I decided it was time to do something about my 228 lbs at 6'1" and 45 years old. I purchased a Sportcraft Tredex 6.0 treadmill off Craigslist. Obviously, I should have read the reviews and lists of recalls for this product.

    Over the last 45 days I got out of the chair when on the computer and got on the treadmill. I shed 13 pounds. Sunday morning while I was cruising along at my usual 2.5 mph and surfing the Internet the treadmill accelerated to 10 mph without warning! Luckily, I had the safety attached and it stopped when I pulled it.

    Not dissuaded, I've picked a treadmill by another manufacturer. I have to say, check those reviews. Sudden acceleration is NOT fun.
    [​IMG]
     
    #1 Southern Dad, Nov 21, 2011
  2. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    What better way to shed those nasty unwanted pounds quickly. It knew that you were ready to stop taking baby steps, and run like the wind!
     
    #2 KK6PD, Nov 21, 2011
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Good job shedding the extra pounds!
     
    #3 spiderman, Nov 21, 2011
  4. mmcdonal

    mmcdonal Active Member

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    Are you sure you weren't applying the brakes at the time, and the temporary loss of braking power as the system switched from regen to... sorry, I guess I have seen too many of those posts.

    Be sure to post some before and after pics, a al Vic Taney, so we all will be influenced to follow your example. =)
     
    #4 mmcdonal, Nov 21, 2011
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    I think it was operator error. The OP probably pushed the speed button when he intended to change the incline.

    :p

    So why didn't the OP call 911, wait for an officer to come out and cut the power to his house, and then sue the manufacturer of the treadmill?

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Nov 21, 2011
  6. Roadburner440

    Roadburner440 Member

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    When I bought a treadmill earlier this year I did a lot of shopping around. I started to go the Craigslist route, but I decided that would be more trouble than it was worth. I wound up getting a sweet deal on a Sole F-80 from Sears (paid $1100 out the door). Has been an excellent treadmill except the fans on the console stopped working. I am going to be giving the a call to RMA the console, but other than that it has been flawless with no unintended acceleration issues.. To me it looks like you got one of those Wal-Mart treadmills. I went and looked at those as well. Can't beat the price on them, but I was unsure of quality issues down the road. I just wanted to buy 1 treadmill and be done with it.
     
    #6 Roadburner440, Nov 21, 2011
  7. Trebuchet

    Trebuchet Senior Member

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    Maybe the floor mat got caught under the accelerator? :pound:
     
    #7 Trebuchet, Nov 21, 2011
  8. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    Isn't this the type of thing that NASA should be called upon to investigate?
     
    #8 FL_Prius_Driver, Nov 21, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  9. Pinto Girl

    Pinto Girl New Member

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    Hopefully it won't do anything like this:

     
    #9 Pinto Girl, Nov 21, 2011
    2 people like this.
  10. amm0bob

    amm0bob Permanently Junior...

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    [​IMG]
     
    #10 amm0bob, Nov 22, 2011
  11. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    We got a free treadmill... pretty basic, and someday hope to replace it with a good one, but for now, it's working...
     
    #11 Rae Vynn, Nov 22, 2011
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  12. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

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    One day I'd like to have one of those Life Cycle expensive models but for now, I have to prove to myself that this one isn't a waste of money. Too many people buy them and start using them as clothes hangers. Maybe it will be a reward if I drop a certain amount of pounds.
     
    #12 Southern Dad, Nov 23, 2011
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  13. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Never get down on your hands and knees on a malfunctioning treadmill. :eek:

    I bought my present treadmill from Sears about 8 or 9 years ago. There have been periods when I didn't use it much, due to health issues, but for most of that time, I've used it regularly. Sometimes I use it to walk up a 10 or 12% grade, but mostly I jog on a level grade. At one time I only jogged on a treadmill in winter, but when I was having heart problems and sometimes had to stop early, I got into the habit of using it year around, so as not to be stuck a mile from home. At present I'm using the exercise bike more than the treadmill, but I hope and expect that will switch as I get closer to my goal weight. And if I really am just too old to jog any more, I still got 6 or 7 good solid years of use out of the treadmill.

    I used my previous treadmill, when I lived in rural North Dakota, only on days when there was snow or ice on my road. When the road was dry, I'd jog out of doors in any temperature; though towards the end I quit going outside if the wind chill factor was colder than 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. I was hardier then than I am now.
     
    #13 daniel, Nov 23, 2011
    2 people like this.
  14. Scummer

    Scummer Eh?

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    Hahahaha.... I love this vid. Seen it many times, laugh my butt off every time I see it.
     
    #14 Scummer, Nov 23, 2011
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