Three years later and this dude is still fucking delivering god teir info. The business might be going out and unable to help but you fixed it in 5 min.
Thanks for this video! The Bowflex dumbbells that we have are about 9 years old, and they have these problems but this video helped me get it unstuck. It's surprising that they haven't fixed these manufacturing issues in this many years.
Glad the video helped you! I think this is an engineering issue, not a manufacturing issue. A perfect design wouldn't allow the user to make the "mistakes" that cause the two problems discussed in the video. But they need to be even more careful that there's no way for the plates to fall off. They had to recall the adjustable barbell (www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls/nautilus-recalls-bowflex-selecttech-barbells-021621.html ). Personally, I think the dumbbell design is great, and once I understood the mechanics of the safety locking, I've had no problems. I hope the same is true for you!
@@yanz_77 Not unless they are damaged. If anything, the safety mechanisms work too well, which is why people think they are stuck when they are really just keeping you from doing anything that would allow the plates to fall out when they are out of the cradle. I don't know how the barbells worked, but they aparently had some flaw that made them less safe than the dumbbells.
After I followed these suggestions, my dumbbell was still sticking. I sprayed the locking parts with silicone lubricant and wiped them down. After that I gradually went through all the weight increments and the lubricant worked it’s way through. It’s worked smoothly ever since.
Thanks Chris! I couldn't shake it but stuck my foot on the base, removed the dumbbell, put it back in, repeated and then was able to adjust it. I just told my husband that I am THE woman! (thanks to you :) )
Since posting this video, I figured out one more thing. Especially when I had the dials set to the max, I was reaching my fingers too far around the handle and unknowingly rotating the handle toward my thumb while lifting. This causes it to catch on the hook. Now I'm more careful to lift straight up. And if it does catch, I turn my hand away from my thumb, and it releases. I don't need to do the shaking that I show in the video at 2:23.
As Peter Ruiz pointed out, the stands that are available from Bowflex help with this problem. For space and aesthetic reasons (my gym is our bedroom), the stand wouldn't work for me. But I have fastened the cradles to a piece of plywood, and it accomplishes the same thing. Obviously, there are other benefits to the stands, such as not having to bend over and risk back injury. So I'm not saying that this is a substitute for the stands, but it's been a nice improvement for me. I posted a video: th-cam.com/video/ktSpIWL2Kjo/w-d-xo.html And the instructions are here: www.instructables.com/Wood-Base-v2-for-Bowflex-552-Dumbbells/
The issue that I'm having is that although the bar is all the way down in the cradle the release buttons are not making full contact, thus I am unable to turn the dial at all. I've inspected it for obstructions but I can see none. Have youcencountered this issue, and if so, do you know of any fixes?
@@Cavario_the_mind_plug I have not had many problems with mine at all, but I have read a lot of comments on this video! Check to see if the metal "button presser hooks" are bent down. A few people have reported this problem.
Thank you so much for this video!!! It solved our issue with setting them at the highest setting!! My husband tried for a week to fix them - after this video I stuck my foot on it and yanked it out and I effectively became More powerful than he. Best day ever. He’s more than twice my size - so he was very impressed.
Super helpful! Thank you. When I opened the box, I thought they were trash because they wouldn't move. Watching this helped me get it right somehow and they move freely now.
@@khalidqureshi3168 Yeah they work great! I can't even understand now how I ever had a problem with them. There's something very powerful about adopting the right mental model when approaching a complex object like this.
@@khalidqureshi3168 Yes they work perfectly! I can't even understand now how I ever had trouble with them. I guess adopting the right mental model made a huge difference.
Thank you big time. Your tip on the button cradle was my problem. The metal piece was bent too far forward. I use a flathead screwdriver to bent it back.
Thanks for the video. Mine got stuck after setting them down. First time in like 10 years. After getting them unstuck, I used some spray lube up inside of them and now seem to be fine.
I found that my 552 sometimes get stuck if one of the plates are not seated into the cradle properly. Lifting the problematic plate out of the cradle, and making sure it's properly seated usually solves the problem (for me).
Yes, this happens to me too. It's usually when I've got them set to 45 or 50, and the only ones left in the cradle are the small ones at the end. If you don't lift straight up, one of the small plates can get slightly lifted too and then drop back crooked. I've gotten used to always looking at the plates in the cradle before putting the dumbbell back down.
Awesome video, I have a pair of similar ones by fitness master and one of them was stuck in cradle and knobs were jammed. I followed your video and its all fixed now :)
Thank you. Mine were stuck on 50lbs and wouldnt turn. I lined up the arrows, lifted slightly, then with both hands push down firmly. I heard a click and it was fixed
Got my new dumbbell stuck. Video helped. I put my foot over cradle and lifted it. I put dumbell in cradle but changed it to other side. Dial worked. Problem solved. Thanks.
I tracked my issue down: one of the black rubber feet on the cradle had come off and somehow ended up inside the cradle. Very hard to spot, and prevented the weights from sitting properly.
Thank you!!!! I just got mine and tried to use them for the first time yesterday and one was stuck. Thanks to your video, it's unstuck and I know what to do if it ever happens again.
Woah, mine are fixed. They were broke after a house move and sitting in storage for months. One wheel wouldn't turn no matter how much violence I used. I prised the dumbbell out of the cradle by pulling from the end which did work until the whole thing popped out. From there I removed all the weight plates by pressing the black button, brushed down all the parts of dust, and applied general purpose lubricant to the button, the teeth of the metal cog, and down into the centre of the cog. Spun it round a bit so it settled in, put it back together, and it all works smoothly now! I assumed the movers had abused/dropped it and the mechanism was destroyed but no, it must just have seized somehow.
Hi Chris one of my my button presser hooks seems to have broken off and it’s not sturdy now, it’s pressing against the closest weight and isn’t pushing the button as a result. Any idea how I can fix this?
I'm a big fan of repairing anything that is repairable, but I'm not sure there's a good way to fix your problem that won't just break again and be a frustration. I think you'll have to buy a replacement cradle/base. Search eBay for "Bowflex dumbbell cradle". Make sure you match the one you have - Series 1 (older, gray) or Series 2 (black, like mine) and of course 552 or 1090.
What if one end keeps spinning and weights are stuck on and the release button won't release them? Some internal issue and will have to take apart maybe?
Yes, this is not normal. I've never needed to take mine apart, so I can't say exactly what is wrong. There are other YT videos that should be helpful with that, e.g. th-cam.com/video/HRrg9e4Gd3Q/w-d-xo.html It's possible that you just need to tighten the bolt. Good luck!
@chrissatterlee4287 the lugs had all worn away on the selector so were slipping out of the grooves as they were flattened and too wide. I've filed the lugs back to fit in groves and put tiny screws to replace the round lugs. It's kind of working but will need to buy a replacement selector.
@@wanderingrjt Just curious - how many years have you had your dumbbells and how often do you use them? I'm guessing that you've gotten more use out of them than 99% of everyone that has them.
When I set it to the maximum weight (24kg) it doesn’t pick up one of the plates from one of the sides. I have tried resetting it via the white button like you did but it still keeps happening! Please help? 😢
This sounds like something is damaged. If that plate gets picked up for SOME weight settings, then the plastic disc associated with that plate is probably damaged. If it doesn't get picked up for ANY weight settings, then it's probably that little metal nub on the plate itself that is damaged or missing. If it is the former, I would advise removing all of the plates from the bar by setting the weight to the minimum and then inspecting the disc for that plate. My own set has never been damaged or malfunctioned, but I have seen that you can buy replacements for those discs on eBay, so that implies that they do get damaged. Hope this helps. Please report back so others can benefit.
Hi Chris, just got the new bowflex dumbells that are 90lb, it seems that the 20lb plate gets stuck while selecting other weight, the plate is still attached although it's a lower weight when it should still be attached to the base. Any fix on this or recco?
Hi Syed. Is this happening with both dumbbells or just one? If it's both, then my first suggestion would be to weigh the dumbbells in each of the settings. Is the weight really wrong? It isn't obvious what combination of the plates is used for each setting (and since I have the 552s, I'm not sure exactly what you are describing with your 1090s.) If it is just one that does this, then something is definitely wrong and you may be able to figure it out by comparing the good one with the bad one. The rings that choose which plates to retain or release for each setting are pretty robust, but can be broken if you drop the dumbbells. I really doubt that you have broken your brand new dumbbells already, though. And when they do break, they would tend to fail to pick up the plate rather than the other way around as you describe.
That is strange. Try pushing the buttons on those ends and compare with the one that works. It sounds like maybe they are staying pushed in even when there is nothing pushing them in. Is it possible that something sticky got into the dumbbells? You might try spraying some silicone spray lubricant (or WD40) into the buttons, and see if that stops them from sticking.
My dumbbell is stuck randomly on one side. I checked the spring loaded button on that side and it seems to getting stuck down and when it comes up it is just loose and not setup correctly. Is there any way to fix this?
I don't know. Maybe try spraying some silicone spray in the cracks around the button and see if that gets it working right. But it sounds like something might actually be broken in there. You might want to check out one of the TH-cam videos that go into more detail on what the internals look like and how to disassemble and repair them. For example: th-cam.com/video/QNCMfap7YOc/w-d-xo.html
Do they turn if you press the button with your finger like I do in the video? If so then it isn’t seating fully in the cradle or the little hook is bent. The hook should press the button when the dumbbell is in the cradle and the dial should turn. If the dial doesn’t turn when you press it with your finger, then something is wrong internally.
Hey Chris - thanks for sharing this info! My dumbbell is stuck in the base and I haven't been able to turn the dial or pull it out by pressing my foot on the base and pulling the weight. I'm not able to squeeze my finger underneath the little black button underneath the dumbbell handle that releases the weights - any other suggestions for getting it unstuck?
Hi Justin - If it is stuck in the cradle, it does mean that the notched ring on at least one end must be engaged with the metal tab (aka "button presser hook"). If that is the case, that dial should be able to turn (in theory). Are the dials on both ends not turning? Are both dials pointing perfectly at one of the weight markings? Does it look like both ends are equally seated in the cradle, or is one end a bit higher? It's really difficult for me to speculate on what your particular problem is without seeing it in person. And I have never had mine get really stuck, so I don't have first hand experience with these cases. Unfortunately, most commenters who have had the really stuck situation have not followed up to say if they ever solved it.
I have the same problem. Three days in & I keep trying. I do a lot of TH-cam troubleshooting for all kinds of things & this is the first one that has stumped me. It’s impossible to get out. I’ve tried everything. Is there a notch underneath that I can reach with slim tool? Either debris is under there or something is really wrong :/
It’s fixed!! Hot damn! I just looked through thread for replies w/ similar problems and found the solution on when 1 side is hopelessly stuck. I put dial on 5lbs at the non-stick side & wiggled. It worked! Thanks.
I can't answer that without more information, and even then it might be necessary to see them in person to know what the particular problem is. The point of this video was so you can understand how they are supposed to work, and that should help you figure out what is wrong in your case. Assuming you have a pair and the other one is working, try to figure out what is different between the two. Watch the video again so you really understand the mechanisms.
Any idea on where to purchase an extra cradle. I have the 90 lb adjustables and the cradle broke on one. Bowflex customer service was unable to help me. They said they have “no spare parts”?
That's annoying! I just looked on eBay, and one is available for $100. Search for "Bowflex 1090 cradle base". That seems like a lot for just the cradle, but that's your call. You could save the search and get notified when one comes along for less, but you don't know how long you'd be waiting.
Hold on. I think they were lying to you. Looks like you can order it for $77.99 from here: parts.bowflex.com/product/orderview/91182/9768/1352124 (I dont' know how much shipping is.)
Hi Chris, my problem is that (only) one of the dials on one of the dumbbells will not rotate. I set both dumbbells to the same weight and tried them in both bases, and it seems to be the base, not the dumbbell. The dial will not rotate as if the little black button is not engaging with the metal button hook piece. Someone on here expressed a similar issue and repaired it with a flat head screwdriver. Is this advisable? Thanks!
Does the hook look like it is bent? If not, then check that there isn't anything in the cradle on that end. A recent commenter said that he found one of the rubber feet in the cradle. Any small item or debris could keep it from seating all the way on that end which would have the same effect as a bent hook. If your hook is indeed bent, then I would be a bit hesitant to use a screwdriver because the leverage points are plastic (from what I can tell looking at mine.) I would try long-nose locking pliers (Vise-Grips). Please report back. It is useful to know how these things turn out!
@@chrissatterlee4287 Thanks for the reply. It appears those metal "L" shaped tabs need to be straight upright and with the tops almost at a sharp 45 degree angle in order to engage the button that allows the dial to rotate. 3 out of 4 of my tabs were bent. I took a pair of regular sized vice grips and a pair of needle nose pliers and bent them back into shape. Thanks for everything! You rock!
@@dbriareos6709 Glad you got it fixed! I think you meant to say 90 degree angle, right? The top of the hook should be horizontal and the side should be vertical. The close-up at 1:15 in the video is what they should look like.
Good point, Peter. The problem with the cradles snagging on the hook and lifiting up with the dumbbell when it is set to the max (2:23) doen't happen if the cradle is held down, as it is with the stand. For space and aesthetic reasons (my gym is our bedroom), the stand wouldn't work for me. But I have fastened the cradles to a piece of plywood, and it accomplishes the same thing. Obviously, there are other benefits to the stands, such as not having to bend over and risk back injury. So I'm not saying that this is a substitute for the stands, but it's been a nice improvement for me. I put the instructions here: www.instructables.com/Wood-Base-for-Bowflex-552-Dumbbells/ I may post a short YT video if I get around to it.
If worse comes to worst, you should be able to disassemble it by removing the end caps and removing the nuts as shown in other TH-cam videos. But I suspect that the dial will turn if you twist it hard enough, and that will release it. Try leaning your body weight on the handle with one hand while you twist the dial with the other. Then you would still need to figure out what caused the problem. It could be that one of the metal tabs (I call them "button presser hooks" in the video) is bent, or it could be that something is in the cradle under the plates.
I bought mine when they were $300 (early 2020, just before pandemic.) They have definitely been worth that for me. But I have no experience with less expensive options, so I can't say if it is worth paying more for Bowflex. For me, it was pretty important to have small increments between settings. If the others are comparable (or if that doesn't matter to you), then it's mostly a question of how durable they will be and how easy they are to adjust. The Bowflex have been very reliable for me, but I am careful with them. They must not be dropped. If you read through the comments on this video, some people definitely have had problems with the Bowflex, but it's probably a pretty small fraction of the number out there. This video has over a quarter million views, so they must have sold many millions.
Any chance you know how to fix a dumbell that won't catch on specific weights? For example, one dumbell in my set will not catch on weights 30 or 35 pounds. This only happens on one half of the dumbell. So one side of one dumbell works perfect, but the other side of the other dumbell won't catch on those two weights. Can't find any way to fix, and I've tried taking all plates off, etc
No, that's a new one for me. If you swap those two plates between the two ends, does the problem change ends or stay on the same end? That would tell you if it is the plates or the catch-rings. It seems like it has to either be a problem with the catch-rings or the nubs on the plates that hook into the rings. But is is strange that two plates would have the same problem. Weird. Thinking about this a bit more - when you set both ends to 5 and take the empty handles out, do the rings on both ends look the same? Do they look the same on your other (good) dumbbell? I'm wondering if the rings can get misregistered (i.e. rotated out of proper position) somehow. I know that dropping these dumbbells can damage the rings. Has the bad one been dropped?
@@chrissatterlee4287 if I pull the handle up and out of the plates, reverse the handle, then put it back in, then switch weight to 30 pounds, the error end switches with the swap, so it must be an issue with the handle itself, not the plates
@@island.scavenger I had a few more thoughts that I added to my first reply: Thinking about this a bit more - when you set both ends to 5 and take the empty handles out, do the rings on both ends look the same? Do they look the same on your other (good) dumbbell? I'm wondering if the rings can get misregistered (i.e. rotated out of proper position) somehow. I know that dropping these dumbbells can damage the rings. Has the bad one been dropped?
@@chrissatterlee4287 you definitely just solved it. Took both handles out from all weight plates and after closer inspection, the plastic notched suround rings, one of them is broken. Probably a 1/2" chunk missing out of that one ring. Obviously due to this broken piece of plastic on the ring, it will not completely hook the desired plate. Damn.
For one dumbbell, BOTH ENDS at the same weight (18kg) means the whole dumbbell weighs that much (18kg). Of course, if you have two dumbbells, and you set all four dials to 18kg, it will be 18kg PER ARM, so if you are doing a dumbbell press, you are pressing a total of 36kg. If you set the two ends of one dumbbell to different values, the weight of that dumbbell will be halfway between the two numbers (their average). That can be useful to get smaller increments.
Is the dial stuck on one or both sides? As shown in the video, the dial needs to be set to point exactly to one of the weight markings or else the dumbbell will be locked in the cradle. If you can't turn the dial, the "button presser hook" might be bent. In that case, just try harder to turn the dial so you can get it out, and then unbend the hook. If the dials do turn, then just fiddle with them until you get the position that releases the dumbbell.
Three years later and this dude is still fucking delivering god teir info. The business might be going out and unable to help but you fixed it in 5 min.
thanks for the video, dumbelss were stuck and watching this have now been unstuck, cheers champion
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Thank you for the explanation, helps a lot compared to other vids where they just tell you to do something and if it doesn't work you are SOL
Dude! Thanks so much! I haven't been able to use my dumbbells for 8 months and now I can!
Way more helpful than the repair video from the actual bowflex channel lol thanks man
I thought mine was broken until I found your video explaining those steps. Thank you so much! It works well now 👍🏻
Thanks for this video! The Bowflex dumbbells that we have are about 9 years old, and they have these problems but this video helped me get it unstuck. It's surprising that they haven't fixed these manufacturing issues in this many years.
Glad the video helped you! I think this is an engineering issue, not a manufacturing issue. A perfect design wouldn't allow the user to make the "mistakes" that cause the two problems discussed in the video. But they need to be even more careful that there's no way for the plates to fall off. They had to recall the adjustable barbell (www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls/nautilus-recalls-bowflex-selecttech-barbells-021621.html ). Personally, I think the dumbbell design is great, and once I understood the mechanics of the safety locking, I've had no problems. I hope the same is true for you!
@@chrissatterlee4287 so can the dumbell plate fall when we workout?
@@yanz_77 Not unless they are damaged. If anything, the safety mechanisms work too well, which is why people think they are stuck when they are really just keeping you from doing anything that would allow the plates to fall out when they are out of the cradle. I don't know how the barbells worked, but they aparently had some flaw that made them less safe than the dumbbells.
@@chrissatterlee4287 thanks
@@chrissatterlee4287 Hello, have you already weighed the dumbbells to check that they are the indicated weight because some models do not ..
Just used your video to get my dumbbells unlocked … thank you
Chris you are a life saver. My knobs got stuck and wont turn. Just resetted it with the button and put the weights back
Thanks a lot. I didnt know about spring loaded button . My dumbells got stuck and i thought of reaching out to support team. You saved my day
After I followed these suggestions, my dumbbell was still sticking. I sprayed the locking parts with silicone lubricant and wiped them down. After that I gradually went through all the weight increments and the lubricant worked it’s way through. It’s worked smoothly ever since.
This is what i am thinking as last resort
Thanks Chris! I couldn't shake it but stuck my foot on the base, removed the dumbbell, put it back in, repeated and then was able to adjust it. I just told my husband that I am THE woman! (thanks to you :) )
Top comment 🙌🏿
Your comment helped me much faster than watching this whole video. Read this and had it out immediately.
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
@khalidqureshi3168 yes!
Love your choice of soundtrack! 🤘🏼
Excellent video. Thank you for clearly and comprehensively explaining. I was able to easily correct my issue after watching.
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Since posting this video, I figured out one more thing. Especially when I had the dials set to the max, I was reaching my fingers too far around the handle and unknowingly rotating the handle toward my thumb while lifting. This causes it to catch on the hook. Now I'm more careful to lift straight up. And if it does catch, I turn my hand away from my thumb, and it releases. I don't need to do the shaking that I show in the video at 2:23.
As Peter Ruiz pointed out, the stands that are available from Bowflex help with this problem. For space and aesthetic reasons (my gym is our bedroom), the stand wouldn't work for me. But I have fastened the cradles to a piece of plywood, and it accomplishes the same thing. Obviously, there are other benefits to the stands, such as not having to bend over and risk back injury. So I'm not saying that this is a substitute for the stands, but it's been a nice improvement for me. I posted a video:
th-cam.com/video/ktSpIWL2Kjo/w-d-xo.html And the instructions are here: www.instructables.com/Wood-Base-v2-for-Bowflex-552-Dumbbells/
OH. MYGOD. IVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH MY DB FOR THE PAST 45 MINUTES AND THAT COMMENT SAVED ME. THANK YOU
The issue that I'm having is that although the bar is all the way down in the cradle the release buttons are not making full contact, thus I am unable to turn the dial at all. I've inspected it for obstructions but I can see none. Have youcencountered this issue, and if so, do you know of any fixes?
@@Cavario_the_mind_plug I have not had many problems with mine at all, but I have read a lot of comments on this video! Check to see if the metal "button presser hooks" are bent down. A few people have reported this problem.
Thank you!! I was beyond frustrated with a stuck plate and was able to fix it in about 5 min with your instructions.
Thank you so much for this video!!! It solved our issue with setting them at the highest setting!! My husband tried for a week to fix them - after this video I stuck my foot on it and yanked it out and I effectively became
More powerful than he. Best day ever. He’s more than twice my size - so he was very impressed.
I love this story!
Super helpful! Thank you. When I opened the box, I thought they were trash because they wouldn't move. Watching this helped me get it right somehow and they move freely now.
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
@@khalidqureshi3168 Yeah they work great! I can't even understand now how I ever had a problem with them. There's something very powerful about adopting the right mental model when approaching a complex object like this.
@@khalidqureshi3168 Yes they work perfectly! I can't even understand now how I ever had trouble with them. I guess adopting the right mental model made a huge difference.
Thank you big time.
Your tip on the button cradle was my problem. The metal piece was bent too far forward. I use a flathead screwdriver to bent it back.
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Great "how to" video. Explains everything clearly. Thanks for putting this together.
Thanks for the video. Mine got stuck after setting them down. First time in like 10 years. After getting them unstuck, I used some spray lube up inside of them and now seem to be fine.
This was extremely helpful and with it I managed to fix my dumbbell. Thank you!!
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Super helpful. Clear explanation. Was tryna get this fixed for like an hour.
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
This video helps so much, my weights fell out and the button push and reset to 5 saved me
Thanks you! I was struggling for 10minutes, but fixed it in 2 sec after your video!
I found that my 552 sometimes get stuck if one of the plates are not seated into the cradle properly. Lifting the problematic plate out of the cradle, and making sure it's properly seated usually solves the problem (for me).
Yes, this happens to me too. It's usually when I've got them set to 45 or 50, and the only ones left in the cradle are the small ones at the end. If you don't lift straight up, one of the small plates can get slightly lifted too and then drop back crooked. I've gotten used to always looking at the plates in the cradle before putting the dumbbell back down.
Thanks so much for this! I got our bowflex dumbbell stuck just awhile ago and because of your video, I was able to fix it! Thanks again!!!
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Awesome video, I have a pair of similar ones by fitness master and one of them was stuck in cradle and knobs were jammed. I followed your video and its all fixed now :)
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Thank you so much, fixed my annoying problem I kept coming across with my dumbbells 💪🏻
Thank you for making this. Helped me fix my weights!
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
@@khalidqureshi3168 yes, still working well.
Tq buddy, due to ur video i manage to save from buying new set and remedy my old one
I'm not a handy person at all but your clear explanation on how it works helped me. Thanks!
Thank you. Mine were stuck on 50lbs and wouldnt turn. I lined up the arrows, lifted slightly, then with both hands push down firmly. I heard a click and it was fixed
Got my new dumbbell stuck. Video helped. I put my foot over cradle and lifted it. I put dumbell in cradle but changed it to other side. Dial worked. Problem solved. Thanks.
Helped a lot, thanks man. Mines got stuck yesterday, because my nephew was playing with it, and set it in improperly, and it got stuck.
Thanks! Got mine working. It shipped with a dial that wouldn't turn and was able to fix it after watching this video!
I tracked my issue down: one of the black rubber feet on the cradle had come off and somehow ended up inside the cradle. Very hard to spot, and prevented the weights from sitting properly.
Thank you!!!! I just got mine and tried to use them for the first time yesterday and one was stuck. Thanks to your video, it's unstuck and I know what to do if it ever happens again.
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Ohmygodddd. THANK YOU SO MUCHHHH! You have no idea how this has helped me! Now I can use my dumbbells again!!
I knew there had to be a button to push somewhere but I just didn't find it until you pointed it out. Thanks!
spent 1h trying, this helped a lot and fixed in 2mins
Thanks man. My dial got stuck right in the middle of workout and one of the weights was out of line. Thanks for showing how it works
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
Thanks this save me a ton of time. One of my weights broken and I couldn't turn the dial after ordering a new weight.
Thx mate, fabulous vid. Diagnosed the issue with my adjustable bells within 2 mins.
What worked immediately is picking up the part that’s stuck and dropping it into the platform, this makes it work again 👍🏻
Thank you! Clearly explained, and helped me quickly solve my issue with a stuck dial. Much love!
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
I've been doing 1 dumbbell workouts for a month now. Thank you kindly sir. !!!😁
Woah, mine are fixed. They were broke after a house move and sitting in storage for months. One wheel wouldn't turn no matter how much violence I used.
I prised the dumbbell out of the cradle by pulling from the end which did work until the whole thing popped out.
From there I removed all the weight plates by pressing the black button, brushed down all the parts of dust, and applied general purpose lubricant to the button, the teeth of the metal cog, and down into the centre of the cog. Spun it round a bit so it settled in, put it back together, and it all works smoothly now!
I assumed the movers had abused/dropped it and the mechanism was destroyed but no, it must just have seized somehow.
Thank you !
This video is very helpful
Thank you so much! After 10 years or so , I finally know how to fix them 😂
AWESOME VID...MA MAN... LOOKED AT OTHERS WHICH WERE NOT SO ACCURATE AND GOT ME OUT OF A JAM!! MANY THX 💪💪
Very helpful ! I couldn't figure out how to unstuck them and it helped 💪💪
Thank you so very much for a detailed no nonsense video. Thank you again
Didnt full answer my question BUT it caused me to look at like you were and I reseated the 30lbs they seemed to be off, ty!
Fixed my problem in 30 seconds! Thank you
Thanks. Got some info that helped even though it wasn't the same brand. Bonus points for Orion.
I got the product in this "stuck" mode on arrival and I got so confused. Thank you for the video.
Lol that’s why I’m here
Do the dumbbells still work properly?
@@khalidqureshi3168 yea still works well
this guy is incredible, saved me a few 100 bucks!
Hi Chris one of my my button presser hooks seems to have broken off and it’s not sturdy now, it’s pressing against the closest weight and isn’t pushing the button as a result. Any idea how I can fix this?
I'm a big fan of repairing anything that is repairable, but I'm not sure there's a good way to fix your problem that won't just break again and be a frustration. I think you'll have to buy a replacement cradle/base. Search eBay for "Bowflex dumbbell cradle". Make sure you match the one you have - Series 1 (older, gray) or Series 2 (black, like mine) and of course 552 or 1090.
my little hook thing in the base was bent town a bit and didn't fully depress the button
Thank you had mine freed up and back to new in under 5 minutes
Incredibly helpful! Thank you!
Thanks! I thought I had to buy a new one but got it unstuck thanks to this video!
Thank you for this video! I was freaking out thinking I broke it and had to answer to my wife 😅
What if one end keeps spinning and weights are stuck on and the release button won't release them? Some internal issue and will have to take apart maybe?
Yes, this is not normal. I've never needed to take mine apart, so I can't say exactly what is wrong. There are other YT videos that should be helpful with that, e.g. th-cam.com/video/HRrg9e4Gd3Q/w-d-xo.html It's possible that you just need to tighten the bolt. Good luck!
@chrissatterlee4287 the lugs had all worn away on the selector so were slipping out of the grooves as they were flattened and too wide. I've filed the lugs back to fit in groves and put tiny screws to replace the round lugs. It's kind of working but will need to buy a replacement selector.
@@wanderingrjt Just curious - how many years have you had your dumbbells and how often do you use them? I'm guessing that you've gotten more use out of them than 99% of everyone that has them.
@chrissatterlee4287 I bought them July '22 and use them 4-5 times a week
When I set it to the maximum weight (24kg) it doesn’t pick up one of the plates from one of the sides. I have tried resetting it via the white button like you did but it still keeps happening! Please help? 😢
This sounds like something is damaged. If that plate gets picked up for SOME weight settings, then the plastic disc associated with that plate is probably damaged. If it doesn't get picked up for ANY weight settings, then it's probably that little metal nub on the plate itself that is damaged or missing. If it is the former, I would advise removing all of the plates from the bar by setting the weight to the minimum and then inspecting the disc for that plate. My own set has never been damaged or malfunctioned, but I have seen that you can buy replacements for those discs on eBay, so that implies that they do get damaged. Hope this helps. Please report back so others can benefit.
Hi Chris, just got the new bowflex dumbells that are 90lb, it seems that the 20lb plate gets stuck while selecting other weight, the plate is still attached although it's a lower weight when it should still be attached to the base. Any fix on this or recco?
Hi Syed. Is this happening with both dumbbells or just one? If it's both, then my first suggestion would be to weigh the dumbbells in each of the settings. Is the weight really wrong? It isn't obvious what combination of the plates is used for each setting (and since I have the 552s, I'm not sure exactly what you are describing with your 1090s.) If it is just one that does this, then something is definitely wrong and you may be able to figure it out by comparing the good one with the bad one. The rings that choose which plates to retain or release for each setting are pretty robust, but can be broken if you drop the dumbbells. I really doubt that you have broken your brand new dumbbells already, though. And when they do break, they would tend to fail to pick up the plate rather than the other way around as you describe.
If they get stuck and you can free them , wd 40 the gear on the dumbbell where it hooks and spin it by hand
Exactly what I needed. Thanks!
Hi, I have the same dumbbells, 3/4 dials can spin even when out of the base. Can you help me to fix that?
That is strange. Try pushing the buttons on those ends and compare with the one that works. It sounds like maybe they are staying pushed in even when there is nothing pushing them in. Is it possible that something sticky got into the dumbbells? You might try spraying some silicone spray lubricant (or WD40) into the buttons, and see if that stops them from sticking.
Thank you! Stepping on the base plate worked!
My dumbbell is stuck randomly on one side. I checked the spring loaded button on that side and it seems to getting stuck down and when it comes up it is just loose and not setup correctly. Is there any way to fix this?
I don't know. Maybe try spraying some silicone spray in the cracks around the button and see if that gets it working right. But it sounds like something might actually be broken in there. You might want to check out one of the TH-cam videos that go into more detail on what the internals look like and how to disassemble and repair them. For example: th-cam.com/video/QNCMfap7YOc/w-d-xo.html
thank you! good thing I looked it up, i thought I was gonna have to buy a new one
This video just saved my life
Sorry, i dont fully get it. What can i do if i cannot turn my dumbells to a different weight?
Do they turn if you press the button with your finger like I do in the video? If so then it isn’t seating fully in the cradle or the little hook is bent. The hook should press the button when the dumbbell is in the cradle and the dial should turn. If the dial doesn’t turn when you press it with your finger, then something is wrong internally.
Video was a lifesaver, thank you
This was exactly what I needed, thanks!
Hey Chris - thanks for sharing this info! My dumbbell is stuck in the base and I haven't been able to turn the dial or pull it out by pressing my foot on the base and pulling the weight. I'm not able to squeeze my finger underneath the little black button underneath the dumbbell handle that releases the weights - any other suggestions for getting it unstuck?
Hi Justin - If it is stuck in the cradle, it does mean that the notched ring on at least one end must be engaged with the metal tab (aka "button presser hook"). If that is the case, that dial should be able to turn (in theory). Are the dials on both ends not turning? Are both dials pointing perfectly at one of the weight markings? Does it look like both ends are equally seated in the cradle, or is one end a bit higher? It's really difficult for me to speculate on what your particular problem is without seeing it in person. And I have never had mine get really stuck, so I don't have first hand experience with these cases. Unfortunately, most commenters who have had the really stuck situation have not followed up to say if they ever solved it.
I have the same problem. Three days in & I keep trying. I do a lot of TH-cam troubleshooting for all kinds of things & this is the first one that has stumped me. It’s impossible to get out. I’ve tried everything. Is there a notch underneath that I can reach with slim tool? Either debris is under there or something is really wrong :/
It’s fixed!! Hot damn! I just looked through thread for replies w/ similar problems and found the solution on when 1 side is hopelessly stuck. I put dial on 5lbs at the non-stick side & wiggled. It worked! Thanks.
@@nikis3533 mine are still not turning. Very frustrated/
Thanks chris they work like a charm cheers
Thank you for posting this! You definitely helped this mechanically challenged lady in getting them unstuck!
thank you so much we thought ours were broken but we just needed to press on that button on the weight
You saved me from just wanting to chuck my stuck dumbells out the window. Your info helped me fix the problem, thank you so much!
How do u fix the dial not turning tho
I can't answer that without more information, and even then it might be necessary to see them in person to know what the particular problem is. The point of this video was so you can understand how they are supposed to work, and that should help you figure out what is wrong in your case. Assuming you have a pair and the other one is working, try to figure out what is different between the two. Watch the video again so you really understand the mechanisms.
Any idea on where to purchase an extra cradle. I have the 90 lb adjustables and the cradle broke on one. Bowflex customer service was unable to help me. They said they have “no spare parts”?
That's annoying! I just looked on eBay, and one is available for $100. Search for "Bowflex 1090 cradle base". That seems like a lot for just the cradle, but that's your call. You could save the search and get notified when one comes along for less, but you don't know how long you'd be waiting.
Hold on. I think they were lying to you. Looks like you can order it for $77.99 from here: parts.bowflex.com/product/orderview/91182/9768/1352124 (I dont' know how much shipping is.)
@@chrissatterlee4287
Thank you sir, I will look into it. Great video tutorials!!
Hi Chris, my problem is that (only) one of the dials on one of the dumbbells will not rotate. I set both dumbbells to the same weight and tried them in both bases, and it seems to be the base, not the dumbbell. The dial will not rotate as if the little black button is not engaging with the metal button hook piece. Someone on here expressed a similar issue and repaired it with a flat head screwdriver. Is this advisable? Thanks!
Does the hook look like it is bent? If not, then check that there isn't anything in the cradle on that end. A recent commenter said that he found one of the rubber feet in the cradle. Any small item or debris could keep it from seating all the way on that end which would have the same effect as a bent hook. If your hook is indeed bent, then I would be a bit hesitant to use a screwdriver because the leverage points are plastic (from what I can tell looking at mine.) I would try long-nose locking pliers (Vise-Grips). Please report back. It is useful to know how these things turn out!
@@chrissatterlee4287 Thanks for the reply. It appears those metal "L" shaped tabs need to be straight upright and with the tops almost at a sharp 45 degree angle in order to engage the button that allows the dial to rotate. 3 out of 4 of my tabs were bent. I took a pair of regular sized vice grips and a pair of needle nose pliers and bent them back into shape. Thanks for everything! You rock!
@@dbriareos6709 Glad you got it fixed! I think you meant to say 90 degree angle, right? The top of the hook should be horizontal and the side should be vertical. The close-up at 1:15 in the video is what they should look like.
@@chrissatterlee4287 Yup 90 degree. Sorry
Thank you! I was just able to fix my dumbbells, thanks to your video!!
You deserve the noble prize. Thank you
Thank you! You saved me from returning them!
Thanks, this fixed my dumbbell!
Video helped me tremendously! Thank you very much for the video!!!
I bought the stands for the 552 and 1090s. Using them I feel avoids alot of those issues
Good point, Peter. The problem with the cradles snagging on the hook and lifiting up with the dumbbell when it is set to the max (2:23) doen't happen if the cradle is held down, as it is with the stand. For space and aesthetic reasons (my gym is our bedroom), the stand wouldn't work for me. But I have fastened the cradles to a piece of plywood, and it accomplishes the same thing. Obviously, there are other benefits to the stands, such as not having to bend over and risk back injury. So I'm not saying that this is a substitute for the stands, but it's been a nice improvement for me. I put the instructions here: www.instructables.com/Wood-Base-for-Bowflex-552-Dumbbells/ I may post a short YT video if I get around to it.
Thanks brother. I had to step on mine to release it.
My set is stuck in the cradle and the dial won’t turn. Is there any way to fix it?
If worse comes to worst, you should be able to disassemble it by removing the end caps and removing the nuts as shown in other TH-cam videos. But I suspect that the dial will turn if you twist it hard enough, and that will release it. Try leaning your body weight on the handle with one hand while you twist the dial with the other. Then you would still need to figure out what caused the problem. It could be that one of the metal tabs (I call them "button presser hooks" in the video) is bent, or it could be that something is in the cradle under the plates.
@@chrissatterlee4287 thanks, i will try tmrw
I see some on Amazon form another company for half the prices are the the bowflex really worth it
I bought mine when they were $300 (early 2020, just before pandemic.) They have definitely been worth that for me. But I have no experience with less expensive options, so I can't say if it is worth paying more for Bowflex. For me, it was pretty important to have small increments between settings. If the others are comparable (or if that doesn't matter to you), then it's mostly a question of how durable they will be and how easy they are to adjust. The Bowflex have been very reliable for me, but I am careful with them. They must not be dropped. If you read through the comments on this video, some people definitely have had problems with the Bowflex, but it's probably a pretty small fraction of the number out there. This video has over a quarter million views, so they must have sold many millions.
what's the weights material ?
The plates are steel encased in ABS plastic. www.bowflex.com/selecttech/552/100131.html
This was incredibly helpful; thank you.
Any chance you know how to fix a dumbell that won't catch on specific weights? For example, one dumbell in my set will not catch on weights 30 or 35 pounds. This only happens on one half of the dumbell. So one side of one dumbell works perfect, but the other side of the other dumbell won't catch on those two weights. Can't find any way to fix, and I've tried taking all plates off, etc
No, that's a new one for me. If you swap those two plates between the two ends, does the problem change ends or stay on the same end? That would tell you if it is the plates or the catch-rings. It seems like it has to either be a problem with the catch-rings or the nubs on the plates that hook into the rings. But is is strange that two plates would have the same problem. Weird.
Thinking about this a bit more - when you set both ends to 5 and take the empty handles out, do the rings on both ends look the same? Do they look the same on your other (good) dumbbell? I'm wondering if the rings can get misregistered (i.e. rotated out of proper position) somehow. I know that dropping these dumbbells can damage the rings. Has the bad one been dropped?
@@chrissatterlee4287 if I pull the handle up and out of the plates, reverse the handle, then put it back in, then switch weight to 30 pounds, the error end switches with the swap, so it must be an issue with the handle itself, not the plates
@@island.scavenger I had a few more thoughts that I added to my first reply: Thinking about this a bit more - when you set both ends to 5 and take the empty handles out, do the rings on both ends look the same? Do they look the same on your other (good) dumbbell? I'm wondering if the rings can get misregistered (i.e. rotated out of proper position) somehow. I know that dropping these dumbbells can damage the rings. Has the bad one been dropped?
@@chrissatterlee4287 you definitely just solved it. Took both handles out from all weight plates and after closer inspection, the plastic notched suround rings, one of them is broken. Probably a 1/2" chunk missing out of that one ring. Obviously due to this broken piece of plastic on the ring, it will not completely hook the desired plate. Damn.
@@island.scavenger You can buy replacement rings, and there are YT videos that show how to do it. Not something that I have had to do myself, however.
Bro.. thanks a lot man. Had this happen to me in the middle of a workout and couldn’t find away to fix it
I have had mine for 4 years never had any issues!!
just wanna ask for eg: if i wanna carry 18kh, do i turn both side to 9kg or both must be 18kg?
For one dumbbell, BOTH ENDS at the same weight (18kg) means the whole dumbbell weighs that much (18kg). Of course, if you have two dumbbells, and you set all four dials to 18kg, it will be 18kg PER ARM, so if you are doing a dumbbell press, you are pressing a total of 36kg. If you set the two ends of one dumbbell to different values, the weight of that dumbbell will be halfway between the two numbers (their average). That can be useful to get smaller increments.
I can't get the weight out....how do I fix that?
Is the dial stuck on one or both sides? As shown in the video, the dial needs to be set to point exactly to one of the weight markings or else the dumbbell will be locked in the cradle. If you can't turn the dial, the "button presser hook" might be bent. In that case, just try harder to turn the dial so you can get it out, and then unbend the hook. If the dials do turn, then just fiddle with them until you get the position that releases the dumbbell.
@@chrissatterlee4287 Thanks for responding, brother! we got it...finally!