Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Since there are so many reviews on this product out there already, I'm going to do my best to make this review as useful as possible for those who have run into problems or think they may potentially run into problems with this machine before purchasing. All the major parts of the machine come pre-assembled out of the box so setting up the Elliptical is easy. The problem with having a pre-assembled machine however is that you don't get to see all the little components that make all the major parts up - and this can be problematic when you need to repair it. The manual that comes with the E1000 is invaluable since there is a piece-by-piece diagram to refer to should you need to order replacement parts. However, since there is no guide to actually assemble the device in its entirety, you're going to need someone a little mechanically inclined to open things up and fix them should the need arise. My wife and I have used the machine religiously every day since we got it back in May (great results too). We have had a few parts fail on us that we believe are exactly the same problems others have experienced in their negative reviews. By identifying these problems and then fixing them when they come up, you should be able to make your machine like new the day you got it - if not even better than before. 4 parts that you guys should be familiar with very quickly are... #08 - C-Ring #31 - Large Washer (16.3 x 24mm) #32 - Pedal Arm bushing #36 - Roller The first 3 parts are all related to one another as they all go on the Left or Right Pedal Arms. The Pedal Arm Bushings (#32) get worn over time VERY quickly if you use the machine a lot. Since we used our machines every day for at least 2 hours, it was only a couple of months in before ours wore out and the pedal arms started to wobble. Finally the day came when we were exercising and we heard a loud metal CLANK followed by a ricochet sound of the C-Ring (#08) and Larger Washer (#31) go flying out into the great void never to be seen again. On further inspection of the now collapsed pedal arm, we saw that the Bushings were so worn out they had started to grind up against the pole itself and leave black dust everywhere on the bottom of the machine. We were relieved that the wobble of the arms was related to this little part and not the arms itself - since at this point we were getting ready to call it a total loss once the arms completely failed. When we got our replacement parts from Stamina and changed out the new Bushings, the arms felt stable again and all was well like new. The Roller wheel (#36) attached to each pedal arm is also prone to wearing down. If you were one of the unlucky ones to get a gray colored wheel with your machine, then these will break down very quickly compared to the black ones you should of gotten. These wheels are no different than in-line skate wheels you find for roller-skates - so you need the ones with a proper bearing load rated in ABEC. On one of our machines, the pair of roller wheels we got were ABEC 5 bearings, while another pair were ABEC 7 bearings. So if you noticed any strange sounds coming from your wheels like high-pitched squeaking or rough sanding - chances are your bearings in the roller wheel are about to give out. Even with the above problems, keep in mind that the price we paid for the E1000 was under $100 each, and it's really a great compact machine to work on compared to your simple stepper. As long as you keep an eye on things when they're about to go bad and fix them, you should be really happy with the E1000. UPDATE: May 07 2012 At last, our machines have finally broken beyond repair. The main cranks on both units (#68 in the parts manual) have fractured and cracked. The reason this happens is due to the strain on the metal after excessive heat and force day after day wears down the hinge connecting the pedals to the crank. For what it's worth, we liked the unit while it lasted. We got results out of it, it was compact, we used it religiously since the day we got it back in November 2011 and although we did have to make it go under regular maintenance - it wasn't a huge hassle to fix the minor things. Shame it wasn't built to last (complete failure not even up to a year), but you get what you pay for.