Problem with my WB-LS

[mks]

Has anyone encountered problems with the WB-LS, specifically the adjustable seat. When I tried to adjust the seat vertically, for military press, I couldn't get that bottom screw (at the back of the bench seat) to twist out. I twisted so hard, that the handle just snapped off, and now the screw is stuck in there for good. And now that I see it without the plastic top, I can see the screw holding the bench in place is not alligned with the fram its holding, and thus why it wasnt coming off.
Anyone else got this problem?
No idea what to do now

[PopeyeFAFL]

Has anyone encountered problems with the WB-LS, specifically the adjustable seat. When I tried to adjust the seat vertically, for military press, I couldn't get that bottom screw (at the back of the bench seat) to twist out. I twisted so hard, that the handle just snapped off, and now the screw is stuck in there for good. And now that I see it without the plastic top, I can see the screw holding the bench in place is not alligned with the fram its holding, and thus why it wasnt coming off.
Anyone else got this problem?
No idea what to do now

Not sure, about not being aligned.

That same knob, broke for me, while I was doing leg extension (I realised later, that I should have retracted the bench toward the machine, to reduce the stress on that knob, as shown in their poster), I called (and E-Mail, photo) the store I bought it from (Fitness Depot Ottawa), they contacted Powertec, they told me, that there was a batch of non-compliant knobs, and as soon as new batch come in, they will ship me one (at no cost).

Ten days later (I used a 3.5 inches bolt, in the meantime), I got a box on my front door, with (qty 2) knobs, free of charge.

[mks]

Not sure, about not being aligned.

That same knob, broke for me, while I was doing leg extension (I realised later, that I should have retracted the bench toward the machine, to reduce the stress on that knob, as shown in their poster), I called (and E-Mail, photo) the store I bought it from (Fitness Depot Ottawa), they contacted Powertec, they told me, that there was a batch of non-compliant knobs, and as soon as new batch come in, they will ship me one (at no cost).

Ten days later (I used a 3.5 inches bolt, in the meantime), I got a box on my front door, with (qty 2) knobs, free of charge.

Thanks Im gonna let treadmill factory know. The only problem I got is that i cant get the bolt out, since I cant grab whats left of the plastic top. So even if i get a new knob, i still got a problem

[PopeyeFAFL]

Thanks Im gonna let treadmill factory know. The only problem I got is that i cant get the bolt out, since I cant grab whats left of the plastic top. So even if i get a new knob, i still got a problem

Now, if you still talking about that knob, when it is in the incline vertical position (when the bench is moved away from the "U" shape), you might try this:

Remove the black end cap (closer to the "U" shape arm/support), use a flat screwdriver to do so (gently, not to break the spine), then using two long bar (with some sort of friction pad at the end), grab the knob axle, within the square tube), squezze the two bars, real hard, rotate to unscrew the knob pin (hoping, it won't slip), repeat several time (since the angular motion will be small, in that tube).

If that does not work, try to use a pair of wisegrip, to whatever is left of that knob pin.

Good, luck (you might be out a gym, for a short while).

You could also, manage to get only the broken tube (by removing some of the factory installed bolt & nylon stop nut) to a muffler shop (or any shop, that do welding), so perhaps someone could weld a "T" bar to the remaining of the knob pin. I did once, bring a broken steel chair base to a muffler shop, the owner didn't charge me anything, but I did tip the worker well.

Now, if worst came to worst, unscrew the bench, and bring only the tube in concern to the store, you bought it from (they might try to get it out to a machine shop, or simply send back that broken part to Powertec, and get a new tube unit, from what I saw, Powertec seems to honor their garantee pretty good).

Let us know, how it went.

[The Snout]

I've just purchased and set up my WB-LS yesterday and I have the same issue, but I haven't as yet sheered the plastic knob off. But I haven't been able to unscrew the knob to move the bench either.

Can someone confirm that it unscrews anti-clockwise and offer any advice on how to take the tension of it perhaps.

Should say, other than that I'm very impressed with the built and toughness.

[C Man]

Go to the hardware store and get a Bolt Extractor.

[michaelnel]

Or Sears for a reverse drill bit. I find them easier to use. Ez-Outs break off more often than not for me, then you are really in trouble.

[thinkalot]

this is really a frequently occurring problem apparently and this really discourages me to buy this machine. Apparently a powertec rack would be better because I live in Belgium so if i buy it the spare parts will have to come from america and this could take a while.
could sometake a picture from the problem?

[The Snout]

I emailed the supplier for some advice and they returned my email and also followed up with a phone call, I can't fault their effort to help.

They said the reason it's tight is because the weight of the bench is pushing down on it as it's unscrewing. What I can do is push down on the handles just near it to take the pressure off and hopefully that will allow it to unscrew ok.

Sorry haven't any pictures, but those with a WB-LS should know what I'm talking about. I'll get back when I've tried their suggestion.

[michaelnel]

this is really a frequently occurring problem apparently and this really discourages me to buy this machine. Apparently a powertec rack would be better because I live in Belgium so if i buy it the spare parts will have to come from america and this could take a while.
could sometake a picture from the problem?

It bothers me less that it happens than that it happens apparently frequently, even on recent production machines, and Powertec is familiar with the problem but they keep shipping them that way. Or so it seems.

Leaning back toward power rack & bench again... it's not really much bigger than the wb-ls, and in terms of footprint it's not much worse than my Weider Max Ultra ;-) Not much to go wrong with a power rack, bench and barbells, either.

I'm thinking the power rack is probably the better way to go at this point. Whatever I do, I'll do it Monday.

[The Snout]

Michaelnel, I should point out at this point mine hasn't actually broken anything, it's just I can't get the knob undone and had feared sheering it off if I kept pushing it.

The advice I've received should enable me to 'push things in the right place' so to speak so that it will unscrew without a problem. But it certainly seems that it doesn't just unscrew as easily as it should without instruction.

The contents of the email from the supplier are below.

"Really glad you liked the gym. What is happening is the bench is lifting up on the knob bolt so it will actually feel as though it is getting tighter as you unscrew it. All you need to do is push down on the bar with 2 hand grips just near the knob bolt. This will take the pressure off it and you can continue to unscrew it.

Hope that makes sense – if not just give me a call."

[michaelnel]

Thanks. It does seem like a poor design though, at least in this particular area.

[Test-Freak]

Hmm, ill stick with the basics instead of this stuff.

[iamkman]

When I first got the machine, I had some trouble with the knob seeming very tight when the bench was pushed back towards the machine for military presses. I found I just needed to push the bench slightly forward to relieve the direct pressure on the bolt as I unscrewed it and there was no problem. With this, it's quite easy to screw/unscrew .

While frustrating until you figure out the trick (particularly if you've broken something), I don't really see this is a manufacturing defect. It's more like trying to pull out a pin that has a little bit of weight pushing on it. I've worked with many non-weight machines and it's quite common that you need to relieve pressure on bolts before removing them if holding something in place - particularly hand tightened bolts. And it's often surprisingly easy to strip or snap a bolt.

Of course, I'm assuming this is more or less the same problem as yours, so apologies if it's not. Just trying to reassure folks reading this that it's not a serious enough issue to affect your decision whether or not to buy the machine.

[Poncho428]

I honestly don't know which one you are talking about. The one that sets the angle adjustments?

[The Snout]

When I first got the machine, I had some trouble with the knob seeming very tight when the bench was pushed back towards the machine for military presses. I found I just needed to push the bench slightly forward to relieve the direct pressure on the bolt as I unscrewed it and there was no problem. With this, it's quite easy to screw/unscrew .

While frustrating until you figure out the trick (particularly if you've broken something), I don't really see this is a manufacturing defect. It's more like trying to pull out a pin that has a little bit of weight pushing on it. I've worked with many non-weight machines and it's quite common that you need to relieve pressure on bolts before removing them if holding something in place - particularly hand tightened bolts. And it's often surprisingly easy to strip or snap a bolt.

Of course, I'm assuming this is more or less the same problem as yours, so apologies if it's not. Just trying to reassure folks reading this that it's not a serious enough issue to affect your decision whether or not to buy the machine.

My problem is when the bench is forward but it's the same issue in that there's pressure in the knob screw. Not a big deal but yeah until you learn the small trick of relieving the pressure can be frustrating.

Poncho, not the bench angle (back) adjustment, it's the knob that lets you move the whole bench forward or back.

[iamkman]

I honestly don't know which one you are talking about. The one that sets the angle adjustments?

I'm assuming they mean the knob under the bench that you change when you switch from bench presses (with the seat pulled away from the machine) with a flat bench to seated military presses (with the seat pulled towards the machine). When you screw the knob in in the military press position, you need to position bench so it aligns with the screw hole in the back.

Does this make sense?

[~CoNkY~]

I had a similar prob with the bolt being very tight. I figured out that the bench was pulling up on the bolt, making it seem extra tight. After pushing down on it, I was able to get the bolt out, even though it was still pretty tough.

Then realized the hole in the tube was not quite located right so when trying to put the bolt back in, it had to be started on an angle and obviously wouldn't "thread" correctly. So I just took a round metal file and made the hole in the tube a little longer...now I have no trouble at all removing and replacing the bolt with just a little pressure to hold the bench from wanting to lift up.

And after all of that, I realized I really don't even need to move the bench back anyway since I prefer it in the forward position for all my exercises anyway, even military press. SO the bolt is back in it's home and likely won't need to be moved again.

[Poncho428]

I gotcha ya!! I guess that was a new feature on the newer models. My system just had a regular pin, not a spring loaded one.

[The Snout]

Just to follow up. I got home and tried the suppliers advice and thing unscrewed easily first try, so I'm happy with the whole thing.

Haven't done a workout yet but tried each exercise to get a feel and the thing is as solid as a rock. So despite the hiccup I'm a satisfied customer at this point.