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Hey hey, Aus. Did a dovetail break on your plates? Hit me up at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com with a couple photos of the issue so I can see what you're trying to repair. Cheers, Joe

You can try this first: th-cam.com/video/3aGAjKtIBAg/w-d-xo.html If the handle is stuck in such a way that it cannot be easily pulled from the base as shown in that video, then you can try carefully grabbing the base and tipping it onto one side on the floor, then completely upside down. Try pulling the base up off of the handle and weights. Once the base is free, you can use the technique shown in the video above to release the remaining plates from the handle. In extreme cases, if the handle refuses to budge from its base, you can disassemble it as shown here: th-cam.com/video/4AcGMSefObY/w-d-xo.html and reassemble it as shown on my website beginning with Step 8 here: www.averagejoeinnovations.com/#installation Cheers, Average Joe

Thank you for your kind words. I hope they will live up to your expectations once you try them in person. Cheers, Average Joe

Hiya, Caleb. Thanks for sending all those photos to me. I just finished reviewing them and I'll respond by email shortly. Thank you for your order and support! Cheers, Joe

That's non-repairable, Bruce. Many years ago I tried all sorts of methods using adhesives and different types of reinforcements. They just end up not working well or splitting again. Your current options are: 1) buy a used Bowflex disc on eBay. 2) buy a 3D printed disc if you own a 552. These aren't available for 1090s. A while back I tested some of those sold on eBay: th-cam.com/video/4MgMvgJQO2I/w-d-xo.html 3) I sell my own custom designed aluminum replacement disc as well as stainless steel depending on the model. More info here: www.averagejoeinnovations.com

Excellent! I'm glad the video helped.

Hiya, Edward. Yes, the knockoffs pretty much all look the same even though they're made by a number of different manufacturers. Ultimate is just whatever name name the sellers decided to use for theirs. If you buy several hundred pairs of these dumbbells from a manufacturer, they'll usually put whatever name you want on it for free. It's referred to as private labeling or white labeling. Glad to hear that yours are holding up well. If you do ever run into an issue with them, I have many dozens of videos here on my TH-cam channel covering just about any issue you can imagine with the 552. If the answer isn't here on my channel, just send me an email and I'd be happy to help you debug it. Happy holidays! Cheers, Joe

@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thank you. I'll check out your other videos and sub. Happy holidays.

Totally agree with you. There's no good reason for less than 100% infill. If I had to guess, it's due to inexperience. Quite a few people who sell 3D prints online get their models for free from some of the same sources, and they don't really differentiate between printing superhero figurines and structural components. Some may treat these discs as just another print, without even changing the settings that they use with decorative prints. I can't say with 100% certainty, but that would be my guess.

Greetings from the States! I don't know but Germany makes a whole bunch of pretty cool stuff already. 👍 Cheers, Joe

No numbering needed. I removed all the temporary number decals that came on mine, and never really understood why they even shipped that way from the factory. I figured it might be some sort of quality control thing. The only two plates that differ--at least on my set that's now a couple years old--are the end plates. All the other plates can be mixed around in any order. Hope that helps. Cheers, Joe

@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC interesting, thanks for your reply. I had a version 1.0 of the AD80s (with the nylon shaft), and the assemly instructions said not to mix around the plates. 🤷 In your video, you easily changed the weight smoothly, using only your thumb. The early version was very stiff, required a firm grip. The breaking point was the plate sag, so I returned them. But looks like they have made improvements.

@@califoo Ahhhhh, yes mine came from the first shipment of the next generation. I had heard about the sag on earlier models, and knew about the nylon shaft from my smaller AD28 which is light enough that it doesn't suffer from that sag. Thanks for letting the rest of us know about the position-specific plates of the earlier version. I would not have liked that either.

Hiya, Trevor. The video above covered a very specific set of circumstances. If you are having trouble turning your dials, there could be any number of reasons in addition to what I covered in the video. Feel free to send me an email at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com and I'd be happy to help you debug what's going on with your SelectTechs. Please note, because I do this freely I do it as my time/schedule permit. You may not receive a response right away, but you'll receive one as soon as I'm able to get to it. Cheers, Joe

Thank you Joe , I will certainly do this as soon as possible . Regards , Trevor .

Hi again, please check out the links in my response to your other question. If you're in the States, you should be able to get a ratchet and socket for about $15 (plus tax/shipping where applicable), but even $29 is far less than the cost of a single dumbbell handle. If you discover that the nuts are on extremely tight, you'd need to find pipes that fit over your wrenches to increase their length (a.k.a. "cheater bars"). They'll allow you to apply more torque to the nuts to break them loose: th-cam.com/video/FtnogLf6C2A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=uEt_sFTkMGOCbK05&t=8. Once the nuts are loose you will not need to continue to use the pipes. You might want to enlist a third person to hold the dumbbell firmly on the table/ground, while two other people operate the ratchets. That way you and your son aren't trying to do both at the same time. Cheers, Joe

Hi. It'll be virtually impossible to accomplish your goal with adjustable wrenches. There isn't enough space around the nut for the wrenches to grip and turn properly. I've seen someone manage to fit vise grips, but just barely. Sockets and ratchets are the way to go, especially if you know of anyone who'll loan the tools to you for an hour to do the swap. Alternatively, they can be purchased relatively inexpensively depending on where you live. You'd need two ratchets. For example: www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-composite-quick-release-ratchet-70147.html or www.amazon.com/Mr-Pen-10-Inch-Direction-Vanadium/dp/B086TZ5796 And two 19mm or 3/4" sockets like this: www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-19mm-deep-impact-socket-67788.html or www.amazon.com/DEWALT-PT-Drive-Socket-19/dp/B019YWU04K Somewhere around $30 usd total Definitely less than the cost of buying a new handle, but, again, that'll depend on where you live. I hope this was helpful. Cheers, Joe

Hi there. If you head on over to my TH-cam channel page (by clicking my username) you'll find about 100 or so videos of various fixes. Some of them will walk you through step by step in great detail, and others are more like overviews with a summary of what needs to be done. It all depends on the type of fix. If there's something specific you'd like to see in the future, let me know and I'll consider making a video about it when I have the time. Cheers, Joe

Hiya, John. The short answer is: the quality depends on the source. This reply is a bit lengthy, but I hope you find it helpful. Just about anyone can contact an overseas manufacturer, order several hundred units of a knockoff product, and have their "brand" printed on it. You may heard the terminology before...private labeling or white labeling. IMfit is just another white label brand. It's why e-commerce sites are filled with thousands of names we've never heard of before. That vast sea of resellers sources from the same group of knockoff manufacturers on the back end. Depending on the product, there may be 2 or 2 dozen companies making knockoffs. Knockoffs--no matter if we're talking about SelectTech dumbbells or Nike sneakers--are generally available in different levels of quality from different manufacturers. They are not all created equal, and the quality is often (but not always) reflected in the knockoff price. I can easily find Nike sneakers that are very obviously poorly made fakes all the way up to versions that are virtually indistinguishable from authentic. Buyers, whether they work for a reseller or run it themselves, aren't usually aware of this. They simply go to sites like Alibaba and look for the cheapest deal they can find without knowing how the quality compares to other sources. A couple years back I met a local reseller who was literally selling 552 and 1090 knockoffs out of his apartment. He sourced a couple dozen pairs at a time from some importer who sourced them from a manufacturer in China. He was selling them on Craigslist. The dumbbells that I tested all had locking pin issues straight out of the box, which (he revealed) happened to be the number one complaint he received from his Craigslist buyers. In contrast, I own a couple knockoffs that I had purchased while physically in China and those were fine...though I upgraded them with my parts anyway. So the quality will depend on the source, and it's very difficult to track down the source. Resellers are unlikely to reveal their source, and many buy from importers so they don't even know the source. My advice to you would be to buy knockoffs that you can inspect/test locally. They're always popping up on sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Better to get a new/used pair that you know work well than a pair sight unseen that may be poorly constructed. Good luck with your search. Cheers, Joe

Hi there. Yep, I do tend to repeat myself. If your dumbbells are in proper working order it's not about how to fix them (to seat properly), but how to use them. When you slide the handles down into the plates on the base they should seat fully on their own due to gravity. If your handles don't slide quite as easily into the weights, you can give your handles a little downward press to ensure they are fully seated. if you've already pressed your handles downward while they're in the bases and one or more dials fail to turn, there is likely an issue with the assembly or one of the components on your handle(s). If you click on my account name you'll find other videos on my channel that cover just about every component on these dumbbells. Always feel free to shoot me an email at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com. Chances are excellent that I can point you in the right direction. Cheers, Joe

Not all 1090s start out exactly at 10 lbs from the factory. Most seem to be right around 10lbs, but I've encountered some customers with empty handles that weigh as little as 8lbs. I attribute that to inconsistencies across the various manufacturers. Some of my upgrades don't change the weight of the handle, while other upgrades add anywhere from a few ounces to a few pounds. The change in weight will depend on the combination of upgrades. Feel free to send me an email if you have more questions. Cheers, Joe

Good evening. You can head over to my website: www.averagejoeinnovations.com for more information. You'll see my email there as well at the bottom of the page if you have questions. Cheers, Joe

Hiya, Julie. My knockoffs were sourced direct from a manufacturer in China years ago, and I have a couple extra handles from sellers on eBay. There are a number of manufacturers, and they all offer private labeling. So anyone who buys a minimum number of dumbbells--typically several hundred pairs or more--can have their brand name slapped on the dumbbells. This is why there are so many different knockoff "brands" available. It's not 100% guaranteed that all of the parts will be interchangeable between SelectTechs--no matter if they are original Bowflex or one of the many knockoffs. Many of the parts fit, most of the time with some exceptions. As far as the bases, it boils down to two versions for the 552 Series 2. As long as you buy the correct version, chances are better than 50/50 that your handles will fit fine. If you email a photo of your current base to me: joe@averagejoeinnovations.com I can tell you which version you need. Please note that I am currently out of the country traveling with limited internet access so it may take a couple days to respond. If you're looking to replace a broken base, it may be worth seeing if you can repair your current base first. Used bases run $60-100+ each on eBay. I have a video about how to do a couple typical repairs with materials under about $20: th-cam.com/video/HWxbAnTYTi8/w-d-xo.html. Cheers, Joe

Wow, I hope she wasn't hurt or anything, and I hope the issue is fixed now. Thanks for letting me know.

Hi Miguel. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with iffy Internet access. You've probably reassembled them by now, but just in case, here's a link to the step-by-step process on my website www.averagejoeinnovations.com/#installation. Just skip ahead to the reassembly step. Cheers, Joe

@ thank you. You’re a life saver 🛟

Hi. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with intermittent Internet access. There are at least 3 different types of springs in the assembly that serve different purposes. So the impact depends on which one you left out. One type can be left out with very little noticeable change in the function of the dumbbell. The other two would definitely affect how it works. Feel free to send an email to me with details about which one you left out and I can tell you how it might affect the dumbbell. My email is joe@averagejoeinnovations.com. Please note that I am overseas traveling at the moment so it may take a couple days to reply. Cheers, Joe

Hi. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with intermittent Internet access. The short answer is that there are no known (to me) upgrades for the handle.The best you can do is never try to force the grips to twist if they suddenly stop twisting or feel much more difficult than usual to twist. Chances are excellent that in those cases one or more of the cam followers is binding. Forcing the grip to twist may cause it to sheer off completely. You can trying backing off by twisting slightly in the opposite direction, then retry twisting in the intended direction. That may dislodge the bound cam follower. If that works, there's nothing stopping it from binding again. It all depends on what's going on inside with the cam(s). One or more may already be partially damaged at that point. Replacing the handle may be your only option. The other thing you should do is never drop the dumbbells from any height. You'll risk cracking plates. You may have seen images/videos of cracked Nuobell plates online. I remember seeing a video maybe a year or so ago that Nuobell was either about to release (or had already released) a new version of the dumbbell. I've not seen a new one yet to do a teardown, so I'm not sure if the new version addressed the shortcomings of the previous version. When I get my hands on one I'll do a teardown and let everyone know what I think of it, and if it may suffer from the same issues or introduce new potential issues. Cheers, Joe

@ dude you rock for this detailed response thank you, yea I saw new model. More expensive like a pepin. I got a new set of the 80 nuobells off someone for $500 felt like good enough deal to risk it. Thank you again.

Hiya, Patrick. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with intermittent Internet access. Thank you for sharing your recent experience with your Cores, and for that up-to-date pricing information. I appreciate it. Was the rod merely bent with no cracking anywhere along its length? That would be my main concern. If it's cracked/fractured it may flex more easily in the future and bind again. I definitely agree that it's not a buy-it-for-life design. Cheers, Joe

Hi. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with intermittent Internet access. Definitely check the discs for hairline cracks on a regular basis even if you're not doing goblet squats with them. I recommend at least once a month if you use the dumbbells regularly. I suspect at lower weight settings (under 15lbs), using them for goblets would be less of an issue, but at higher weights it's just a lot of force to place on a single disc. It's crazy that they actually demonstrate doing goblet squats with them. It's not something I would recommend without discs like mine which are not going to flex and crack from that exercise even at the highest weight setting. Cheers, Joe

Hi, the website is knurledgrips.com. Just grips at the moment. I have been working on some other kits, but nothing specific to the urethane series. You'll hear more about at least one of those in the months ahead. Any other questions, feel free to hit me up at the email on the website. Cheers, Joe

Ha! Awesome, man. Wrath avoided. Thank you for taking the time to let me know that it was helpful. By the way, there's an even cleaner and better looking version of that repair now: th-cam.com/video/POO7XyWl9ps/w-d-xo.html Cheers, Joe

Hi. Sorry about the delayed reply. I've been out of the country for the past couple weeks with intermittent Internet access. Awesome! Do you mean your own original dumbbell design? If so, I wish you the best with the project! Cheers, Joe

Hiya, Caleb. Chances are excellent that the issue is one of the following: 1. Possible broken dial. Can you turn the dial when the handle is out of the base? Are any of the lugs on the dial cracked/missing? If so, the dial needs to be repaired or replaced. 2. Possible broken Disc #2. If disc 2 is cracked it will flex more easily. If it flexes then either plate 1 or 2 may fall out. Look for cracks on disc 2. 3. Possible broken or damaged tab on the weight plate itself. Check the plate's tab: th-cam.com/video/7g99OA4hdFI/w-d-xo.html and repair if needed like this: th-cam.com/video/POO7XyWl9ps/w-d-xo.html 4. Possibly assembly issue. Though this is the least likely cause, there is always a possibility that the end nut of the handle has loosened. I would expect to see more than just the one issue that you described. You can check by trying to wiggle the dials and discs like this: th-cam.com/video/qvprUjIKCsc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BoX8Ebl61UZHmbsX&t=38 If the issue occurs on both handles, no matter which way the handles face, then it's likely #3. If the issue occurs on only one end of one handle, it's likely #1 or #2. Cheers, Joe

@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC I got it fixed nothing seemed broken after checking so I just kind of slammed the set into the standing plate and locked back in . I found your site btw and I'm amazed. With your upgrades, these weights will become legacy equipment and be around forever .