I declined to buy the bowflex used because all these people selling online want to meet up at a parkinglot or a gas station and do a quick exchange. I think id rather hold out and buy direct new when they eventually become aval....Too much can go wrong doing a fast cash grab deal with the seller easily knowing they are selling you broke junk and you dont have their phone, their address or anything..... WAY WAY TOO RISKY.. so glad i watched your review.......
Hey Daniel, my advice to folks buying used (no matter the brand) is to tell the seller in advance that you intend to inspect the weights and it'll take 10 or 15 minutes to do so. Ask if they're ok with that. If they aren't then don't bother meeting up with them unless you're willing to take the risk. And if they're selling copies, oftentimes those copies will not come in their own boxes. Inspect the discs and weight tabs as you would if the pair was used....you're looking for shipping damage. If you walk off with a pair that has even 1 fractured weight plate tab, you'll either end up watching my "how to" video about repairing broken tabs, or you'll end up dropping even more $ on a replacement plate. No matter which route you go, best of luck finding a decent pair at a decent price.
Joe really know his stuff. I started fighting one end of my dumbbells about a week ago and went to YT looking for a solution. I couldn't get one end to turn at all. I found out how to take the weights off and get it sort of back working but still very tight. I looked at Joe's solutions and emailed him. Over the course of about 4 emails, he helped me solve the problem. My dumbbells are now back working great. I'm on his list for his products and expect I will need some of them in the future but he really helped me get back going and went out of his way to help. I am an appreciative old guy. Thanks, Joe.
Joe's videos and help via email are AMAZING!! He helped me troubleshoot a safety issue (plates falling off), providing videos on how to check everything and ending up fixing the problem. He is so fast at responding to emails and all-around a great help. So thankful and I will be looking at the upgrade kit for my 552s...way cheaper and better than replacing the whole set with another that still has inferior parts. Thanks Joe!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to post about your experience, Steve, I appreciate it. I'm glad you're dumbbells are back in business! Stay safe.
Hi folks, this is a comment/update for those of you who aren't subscribed to my email notification list. Anyone who is subscribed to the email list will have already received this information by email. My Dad passed away last week following a battle with cancer that began earlier this year. We had hoped the surgeries and chemo would buy more time, but the cancer had returned and spread aggressively. We're fortunate for the time we had, and that he did not pass away alone. I was there by his side for several hours until he was gone, and several other family members arrived just before he passed. I spent a couple days collecting myself and screwing my head back on straight. While I'm still not 100%, and it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, I have my day job as well as this business to run. My Dad wouldn't have it any other way. If you've sent inquiries or order requests to my SelectTech.Fix@gmail.com email already, please know that you will definitely receive a reply/invoice/answer from me this week. If you're waiting on a Kit to be shipped or on a tracking number for a kit that has shipped, or for customer support answers about your installation, you'll also receive a reply this week. I'm working through the backlog of emails as quickly as I can to get you what you need. And I thank you all for your patience and support.
Great content Joe! Very informative with thorough analysis and detail. I appreciate your time and energy in making the content you have made. New Sub and Like
Thanks man, I appreciate it...but my response is not always so quick as a handful of customers can tell you. Not as quick as I'd like anyway. I have had times when it took several days to respond. And a couple instances when finding a solution to a particularly odd dumbbell took way too long. :-).
Hey joe 2 questions…when ordering a new disc is there a numbering or lettering sequence? I need to replace the one closest to the dial. Also, how to know which model you have when ordering? Thanks Joe, great video. 👍
Hey hey Ron. Great question. OEM discs are numbered starting from the end of the dumbbell. Fun fact...Bowflex refers to them as collars but near 100% of customers (including me) call them discs. The dial is technically considered to be "disc" #1, then you have discs 2, 3, 4 and 5. If you look closely at the discs they will usually have the numbers molded into them. The one closest to the dial is disc 2. If you own one of the two types of 552 (52.5 lbs/24kg), here's how to tell the difference: th-cam.com/video/hclDTj58eVU/w-d-xo.html Otherwise you own the 1090 (90lb/40kg). Careful when buying parts on eBay. 552 Series 1 and 2 discs are not interchangeable. And not all OEM and knockoff discs are perfectly identical. Little manufacturing differences over the years have resulted in discs out there that may not fit your handles even if they are from the same model. Make sure the seller has a return policy just in case the fit isn't quite right. I hope this was helpful. Cheers
Do you happen to know the year that the two models of the 552 came out? I'm looking to possibly buy a used pair of the older model with the stand. They're saying like new condition, but I wonder if that's even possible for that older model.
Hi Justin, I don't know the exact release dates for the Series 1 and 2. I'd estimate about 2 decades for the Series 1 based on the original patent filings and north of 14 years or so for the Series 2. The condition of these things vary wildly. You can find 20 year old pairs of 552 Series 1 that look almost showroom new. And you'll find 3 year old pairs of 552 Series 2 that look like they were used as wheel chocks on safari. It depends on how they were used, maintained and stored. But--and this is important--no matter what, the plastics have still aged. Buying a 2 year old pair of 552 Series 2 isn't the same as buying a 12 year old pair even if they appear to be in identical condition. As these dumbbells age, their materials--primarily their plastics--seem to become more brittle. I'm not sure how much you know about automobile tires, but tires have manufacturing date codes on them for a reason. Even if the tires have been stored indoors on a shelf in a tire shop, often with the stickers still on them, the rubber has still aged. The rubber is no longer fresh and you run the risk of a premature failure. Without a doubt, there are some shops out there selling 10 year old tires off of their shelves. You can ask the dealer to see the date codes on the tires before they install them to make sure you're getting "fresh" tires. Preferably ones manufactured within the past 2 years or so. Same goes for the plastics and rubbers on these dumbbells (and any plastic/rubber products). They can look great visually, but just keep in mind you're buying an old set of dumbbells. Definitely regularly thoroughly inspect them--at least once each month--to find any signs of premature failure before it becomes a safety issue. What type of failiures? Generally 7 things to look for: 1. cracked/fractured discs 2. worn/broken locking pins 3. cracked/broken/worn dial lugs 4. worn/damaged/broken weight plate tabs and/or plastic weight plate casings 5. broken/cracked crossbars 6. worn/loose/stretched rubber on the grips 7. broken/damaged bases especially in the area around the metal tabs. One last thing. This applies to buying replacement OEM parts online too (from any manufacturer in any industry). An OEM plastic 552 Series 2 dial sold on eBay could be 2 years old or it could easily be well over a decade old. There's no manufacturing date stamped on the parts to tell them apart. They are not equal, and there's no way for us to know what we're buying. And sellers who part these dumbbells out rarely know such details about what they're selling. Anyway, this is my experience based not only on my ownership and use of several pairs of adjustable dumbbells (Bowflex, Powerblock and Core) but also on conversations with a few thousand customers, and photos of their dumbbells, over the past 2+ years. I hope you found it helpful.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thank you for the detailed response. From your experience, which would you buy? 1. Series 1 in great condition, no damage, works great with the stand for 350 2. Series 2 brand new, no stand for about 412
@@justinmacaluso8712 In your specific scenario, I'd go for the new Series 2 only if you're buying them from Bowflex or an authorized reseller. I say that because you'll at least have a warranty for a couple years. I believe it's either 2 or 3 yrs if I recall correctly. And the price difference (compared with the Series 1 that you're looking at) isn't significant. If, however, the Series 2 pair is from an unauthorized reseller 3rd party and they're asking $400+ I'd just wait for the inevitable sales from Bowflex. In fact, I believe Bowflex is selling them new for $430 on Amazon shipped Prime. Keep in mind the Series 1 materials will have aged considerably now even if they show now visible signs of wear. I picked up a pair of Series 1s with the stand for $75 back around 2018, though they had a couple broken discs. If you're in no rush and comb Craigslist regularly, you may find a pair of Series 1 or 2 for as little as half the price that you mentioned. I just skimmed the local ads here in New England and there's a "like new" $300 obo Series 2 pair down in MA. If a seller like that would take $225-250 that's not bad even without a warranty.
What about buying bowflex 5/52 with unbranded name from Play it again sports???? Does the parts interchange??? Also is there any such warranty with the Bowflex? Like warranties on a motocross bike!
Hey Jimmer, there are several manufacturers (and possibly more) making knock-offs in China. And like many knock-offs, some are better quality than others. Sometimes they aren't the same exact specs as OEM...but then, as we've learned over the past 18 months, even OEM isn't always the same specs. I made a video about the differences between copies and OEM: th-cam.com/video/wQzEedq1gAM/w-d-xo.html. The parts *should* interchange, but that is not always the case. I can say anecdotally that 90% of the time the parts should swap fine. Take that with a grain of salt. One recent discovery was a specific knockoff with a much longer than expected locking pin. At least 1/8" longer than OEM. I am not sure yet if I'll support yet another variation of the locking pin...especially for specific knockoffs. I may (emphasis here on may) make one universal pin that needs to be filed down to fit unusual lengths on some knockoffs. I haven't decided yet.
Hey Carl, functionally there's no difference. My Kits are in use with both styles of weight plates. Hypothetically speaking, you should be able to mix and match the two types of weight plates on a single dumbbell. I write "hypothetically" because I've not yet tried to mix and match these plates either in a base, or on the dumbbell. Dimensionally they should work, though you may run into slight differences between plates, especially if they were manufactured in different batches, or by different manufacturers, or in different model years.. Even to this day, nearly 18 months after I began fixing my dumbbells, I still occasionally encounter customers who have a version of the dumbbells I've never seen before....not a completely different version, mind you...but a version with one or two components unlike anything I previously encountered. It seems the engineers at Bowflex regularly altered the components over the years with no particular obvious reasons for doing so.
Hiya Michael, if you head over to www.averagejoeinnovations.com you'll find all of the current in-stock and upcoming Fall 2022 kit information, photos, pricing, FAQ and more. Bunch of different kits depending on what you wish to accomplish. Each kit is independent, meaning you can install just the kit(s) of interest to you without buying any others. Any other questions, just give me a shout. Cheers, Joe
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC great thanks. I'm going to look at a set of 1090's for $200 so I need to really look them over and if they need something I'll upgrade them
@@michaelderenne9838 if you have a few minutes, search my channel for the used buyer's guide. Some of the info may help when you go to inspect those 1090s. $200 for a pair is a steal if they're mostly in good shape. Primary things I'd look for are cracked discs and fractured/cracked tabs on the weight plates.
Hiya, Joey. You can reach me at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com. I'm not always able to reply quickly, but I'll reply as soon as I'm able to. Cheers, Joe
I declined to buy the bowflex used because all these people selling online want to meet up at a parkinglot or a gas station and do a quick exchange. I think id rather hold out and buy direct new when they eventually become aval....Too much can go wrong doing a fast cash grab deal with the seller easily knowing they are selling you broke junk and you dont have their phone, their address or anything..... WAY WAY TOO RISKY.. so glad i watched your review.......
Hey Daniel, my advice to folks buying used (no matter the brand) is to tell the seller in advance that you intend to inspect the weights and it'll take 10 or 15 minutes to do so. Ask if they're ok with that. If they aren't then don't bother meeting up with them unless you're willing to take the risk. And if they're selling copies, oftentimes those copies will not come in their own boxes. Inspect the discs and weight tabs as you would if the pair was used....you're looking for shipping damage. If you walk off with a pair that has even 1 fractured weight plate tab, you'll either end up watching my "how to" video about repairing broken tabs, or you'll end up dropping even more $ on a replacement plate. No matter which route you go, best of luck finding a decent pair at a decent price.
Joe really know his stuff. I started fighting one end of my dumbbells about a week ago and went to YT looking for a solution. I couldn't get one end to turn at all. I found out how to take the weights off and get it sort of back working but still very tight. I looked at Joe's solutions and emailed him. Over the course of about 4 emails, he helped me solve the problem. My dumbbells are now back working great. I'm on his list for his products and expect I will need some of them in the future but he really helped me get back going and went out of his way to help. I am an appreciative old guy. Thanks, Joe.
Joe's videos and help via email are AMAZING!! He helped me troubleshoot a safety issue (plates falling off), providing videos on how to check everything and ending up fixing the problem. He is so fast at responding to emails and all-around a great help. So thankful and I will be looking at the upgrade kit for my 552s...way cheaper and better than replacing the whole set with another that still has inferior parts. Thanks Joe!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to post about your experience, Steve, I appreciate it. I'm glad you're dumbbells are back in business! Stay safe.
You definitely answered a question in my email to you. Thank you. I also look forward to hearing more about the mat you are developing!
Ok great, thanks DJ. Yes, stay tuned. More on that within the next month or two.
Love your videos Joe! So informative… I’ve learned so much in the past week by watching your videos 😊
Thanks Annette. Super happy you find them helpful. Worst case I am fairly certain my videos can be used to treat insomnia.
Hi folks, this is a comment/update for those of you who aren't subscribed to my email notification list. Anyone who is subscribed to the email list will have already received this information by email.
My Dad passed away last week following a battle with cancer that began earlier this year. We had hoped the surgeries and chemo would buy more time, but the cancer had returned and spread aggressively. We're fortunate for the time we had, and that he did not pass away alone. I was there by his side for several hours until he was gone, and several other family members arrived just before he passed. I spent a couple days collecting myself and screwing my head back on straight. While I'm still not 100%, and it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, I have my day job as well as this business to run. My Dad wouldn't have it any other way.
If you've sent inquiries or order requests to my SelectTech.Fix@gmail.com email already, please know that you will definitely receive a reply/invoice/answer from me this week. If you're waiting on a Kit to be shipped or on a tracking number for a kit that has shipped, or for customer support answers about your installation, you'll also receive a reply this week. I'm working through the backlog of emails as quickly as I can to get you what you need. And I thank you all for your patience and support.
Great content Joe! Very informative with thorough analysis and detail. I appreciate your time and energy in making the content you have made. New Sub and Like
This average Joe is the real deal! Responded quickly!!! Thanks Joe!!!
Thanks man, I appreciate it...but my response is not always so quick as a handful of customers can tell you. Not as quick as I'd like anyway. I have had times when it took several days to respond. And a couple instances when finding a solution to a particularly odd dumbbell took way too long. :-).
Hey joe 2 questions…when ordering a new disc is there a numbering or lettering sequence? I need to replace the one closest to the dial. Also, how to know which model you have when ordering? Thanks Joe, great video. 👍
Hey hey Ron. Great question. OEM discs are numbered starting from the end of the dumbbell. Fun fact...Bowflex refers to them as collars but near 100% of customers (including me) call them discs.
The dial is technically considered to be "disc" #1, then you have discs 2, 3, 4 and 5. If you look closely at the discs they will usually have the numbers molded into them. The one closest to the dial is disc 2.
If you own one of the two types of 552 (52.5 lbs/24kg), here's how to tell the difference:
th-cam.com/video/hclDTj58eVU/w-d-xo.html
Otherwise you own the 1090 (90lb/40kg).
Careful when buying parts on eBay. 552 Series 1 and 2 discs are not interchangeable. And not all OEM and knockoff discs are perfectly identical. Little manufacturing differences over the years have resulted in discs out there that may not fit your handles even if they are from the same model. Make sure the seller has a return policy just in case the fit isn't quite right.
I hope this was helpful. Cheers
Do you happen to know the year that the two models of the 552 came out? I'm looking to possibly buy a used pair of the older model with the stand. They're saying like new condition, but I wonder if that's even possible for that older model.
Hi Justin, I don't know the exact release dates for the Series 1 and 2. I'd estimate about 2 decades for the Series 1 based on the original patent filings and north of 14 years or so for the Series 2.
The condition of these things vary wildly. You can find 20 year old pairs of 552 Series 1 that look almost showroom new. And you'll find 3 year old pairs of 552 Series 2 that look like they were used as wheel chocks on safari. It depends on how they were used, maintained and stored.
But--and this is important--no matter what, the plastics have still aged. Buying a 2 year old pair of 552 Series 2 isn't the same as buying a 12 year old pair even if they appear to be in identical condition. As these dumbbells age, their materials--primarily their plastics--seem to become more brittle.
I'm not sure how much you know about automobile tires, but tires have manufacturing date codes on them for a reason. Even if the tires have been stored indoors on a shelf in a tire shop, often with the stickers still on them, the rubber has still aged. The rubber is no longer fresh and you run the risk of a premature failure. Without a doubt, there are some shops out there selling 10 year old tires off of their shelves. You can ask the dealer to see the date codes on the tires before they install them to make sure you're getting "fresh" tires. Preferably ones manufactured within the past 2 years or so.
Same goes for the plastics and rubbers on these dumbbells (and any plastic/rubber products). They can look great visually, but just keep in mind you're buying an old set of dumbbells. Definitely regularly thoroughly inspect them--at least once each month--to find any signs of premature failure before it becomes a safety issue. What type of failiures? Generally 7 things to look for:
1. cracked/fractured discs
2. worn/broken locking pins
3. cracked/broken/worn dial lugs
4. worn/damaged/broken weight plate tabs and/or plastic weight plate casings
5. broken/cracked crossbars
6. worn/loose/stretched rubber on the grips
7. broken/damaged bases especially in the area around the metal tabs.
One last thing. This applies to buying replacement OEM parts online too (from any manufacturer in any industry). An OEM plastic 552 Series 2 dial sold on eBay could be 2 years old or it could easily be well over a decade old. There's no manufacturing date stamped on the parts to tell them apart. They are not equal, and there's no way for us to know what we're buying. And sellers who part these dumbbells out rarely know such details about what they're selling.
Anyway, this is my experience based not only on my ownership and use of several pairs of adjustable dumbbells (Bowflex, Powerblock and Core) but also on conversations with a few thousand customers, and photos of their dumbbells, over the past 2+ years. I hope you found it helpful.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC Thank you for the detailed response. From your experience, which would you buy?
1. Series 1 in great condition, no damage, works great with the stand for 350
2. Series 2 brand new, no stand for about 412
@@justinmacaluso8712 In your specific scenario, I'd go for the new Series 2 only if you're buying them from Bowflex or an authorized reseller. I say that because you'll at least have a warranty for a couple years. I believe it's either 2 or 3 yrs if I recall correctly. And the price difference (compared with the Series 1 that you're looking at) isn't significant. If, however, the Series 2 pair is from an unauthorized reseller 3rd party and they're asking $400+ I'd just wait for the inevitable sales from Bowflex. In fact, I believe Bowflex is selling them new for $430 on Amazon shipped Prime.
Keep in mind the Series 1 materials will have aged considerably now even if they show now visible signs of wear. I picked up a pair of Series 1s with the stand for $75 back around 2018, though they had a couple broken discs. If you're in no rush and comb Craigslist regularly, you may find a pair of Series 1 or 2 for as little as half the price that you mentioned. I just skimmed the local ads here in New England and there's a "like new" $300 obo Series 2 pair down in MA. If a seller like that would take $225-250 that's not bad even without a warranty.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC It is 412 after tax with free shipping from Walmart
Thanks men , awesome content.
My pleasure, Daniel. I hope you've found my videos to be helpful. Way more than any of us should ever need to know about these dumbbells...lol.
This channel is great
Thanks man. I hope you find it helpful.
Thanks for the great upgraded you provide. Let me know how to get them please?
Shoot me an email at SelectTech.Fix@gmail.com for info. Thanks man.
What about buying bowflex 5/52 with unbranded name from Play it again sports???? Does the parts interchange???
Also is there any such warranty with the Bowflex? Like warranties on a motocross bike!
Hey Jimmer, there are several manufacturers (and possibly more) making knock-offs in China. And like many knock-offs, some are better quality than others. Sometimes they aren't the same exact specs as OEM...but then, as we've learned over the past 18 months, even OEM isn't always the same specs.
I made a video about the differences between copies and OEM: th-cam.com/video/wQzEedq1gAM/w-d-xo.html. The parts *should* interchange, but that is not always the case. I can say anecdotally that 90% of the time the parts should swap fine. Take that with a grain of salt.
One recent discovery was a specific knockoff with a much longer than expected locking pin. At least 1/8" longer than OEM. I am not sure yet if I'll support yet another variation of the locking pin...especially for specific knockoffs. I may (emphasis here on may) make one universal pin that needs to be filed down to fit unusual lengths on some knockoffs. I haven't decided yet.
Is there any difference between the 1090’s with the metal tab weights vs the two plastic tab weights?
Hey Carl, functionally there's no difference. My Kits are in use with both styles of weight plates. Hypothetically speaking, you should be able to mix and match the two types of weight plates on a single dumbbell. I write "hypothetically" because I've not yet tried to mix and match these plates either in a base, or on the dumbbell. Dimensionally they should work, though you may run into slight differences between plates, especially if they were manufactured in different batches, or by different manufacturers, or in different model years..
Even to this day, nearly 18 months after I began fixing my dumbbells, I still occasionally encounter customers who have a version of the dumbbells I've never seen before....not a completely different version, mind you...but a version with one or two components unlike anything I previously encountered. It seems the engineers at Bowflex regularly altered the components over the years with no particular obvious reasons for doing so.
What do upgrade kits cost for the 1090's
Hiya Michael, if you head over to www.averagejoeinnovations.com you'll find all of the current in-stock and upcoming Fall 2022 kit information, photos, pricing, FAQ and more. Bunch of different kits depending on what you wish to accomplish. Each kit is independent, meaning you can install just the kit(s) of interest to you without buying any others. Any other questions, just give me a shout. Cheers, Joe
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC great thanks. I'm going to look at a set of 1090's for $200 so I need to really look them over and if they need something I'll upgrade them
@@michaelderenne9838 if you have a few minutes, search my channel for the used buyer's guide. Some of the info may help when you go to inspect those 1090s. $200 for a pair is a steal if they're mostly in good shape. Primary things I'd look for are cracked discs and fractured/cracked tabs on the weight plates.
@@AverageJoeInnovationsLLC I'll check your buyers guide thanks. They do seem to be a steal they even come with the stand
Do you have an email address I could discuss my issue not quite addressed in this video ?
Hiya, Joey. You can reach me at joe@averagejoeinnovations.com. I'm not always able to reply quickly, but I'll reply as soon as I'm able to. Cheers, Joe