I have a used Spirit SL 188 Programmable treadmill which from
time to time runs fine, responds to input from the control panel, and
then stops. The duration of its operation seems inversely
proportional to the speed at which it is asked to operate. When it
stops, it remains stopped for days and weeks, with no response to
hitting the reset button, pulling the plug and replugging the unit.
Abracadabra, plug it in and it starts! The manufacturer tells me over
the phone, based on my description of the above symptoms, that it
needs a new control board which they will send me for $300. I cannot
find anyone local (Albuquerque) who wants to deal with it, because it
is 11 or 12 years old. There is no apparent wear or tear and it seems
nuts to me that this thing can't be fixed. Any advice?

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:25:33 -0800 (PST), nearysr
wrote:

I have a used Spirit SL 188 Programmable treadmill which from
time to time runs fine, responds to input from the control panel, and
then stops. The duration of its operation seems inversely
proportional to the speed at which it is asked to operate. When it
stops, it remains stopped for days and weeks, with no response to
hitting the reset button, pulling the plug and replugging the unit.
Abracadabra, plug it in and it starts! The manufacturer tells me over
the phone, based on my description of the above symptoms, that it
needs a new control board which they will send me for $300. I cannot
find anyone local (Albuquerque) who wants to deal with it, because it
is 11 or 12 years old. There is no apparent wear or tear and it seems
nuts to me that this thing can't be fixed. Any advice?

Like buy another one? Try eBay. Personally, these things sell for less
thatn $50 used, and it is hard to say if even that may be too much.

PeterD writes:

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:25:33 -0800 (PST), nearysr
wrote:

I have a used Spirit SL 188 Programmable treadmill which from
time to time runs fine, responds to input from the control panel, and
then stops. The duration of its operation seems inversely
proportional to the speed at which it is asked to operate. When it
stops, it remains stopped for days and weeks, with no response to
hitting the reset button, pulling the plug and replugging the unit.
Abracadabra, plug it in and it starts! The manufacturer tells me over
the phone, based on my description of the above symptoms, that it
needs a new control board which they will send me for $300. I cannot
find anyone local (Albuquerque) who wants to deal with it, because it
is 11 or 12 years old. There is no apparent wear or tear and it seems
nuts to me that this thing can't be fixed. Any advice?

Like buy another one? Try eBay. Personally, these things sell for less
thatn $50 used, and it is hard to say if even that may be too much.

I would be worth inspecting for bad solder connections.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
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| Mirror Sites: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.

On Dec 5, 4:52�pm, Sam Goldwasser wrote:
PeterD writes:
On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:25:33 -0800 (PST), nearysr
wrote:

I have a used Spirit SL 188 Programmable � � � treadmill which from
time to time runs fine, responds to input from the control panel, and
then stops. �The duration of its operation seems inversely
proportional to the speed at which it is asked to operate. �When it
stops, it remains stopped for days and weeks, with no response to
hitting the reset button, pulling the plug and replugging the unit.
Abracadabra, plug it in and it starts! �The manufacturer tells me over
the phone, based on my description of the above symptoms, that it
needs a new control board which they will send me for $300. �I cannot
find anyone local (Albuquerque) who wants to deal with it, because it
is 11 or 12 years old. �There is no apparent wear or tear and it seems
nuts to me that this thing can't be fixed. �Any advice?

Like buy another one? Try eBay. Personally, these things sell for less
thatn $50 used, and it is hard to say if even that may be too much.

I would be worth inspecting for bad solder connections.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/
�Repair | Main Table of Contents:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
� � � � | Mirror Sites:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. �Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you for the advice. Will do. Steve N., Albuquerque.

Once in a while, I see treadmills at the Goodwill store.I have tried a
few of them out before.They seemed to work ok.
cuhulin

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 20:49:00 -0800 (PST), nearysr
wrote:

On Dec 5, 4:52?pm, Sam Goldwasser wrote:
PeterD writes:
On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:25:33 -0800 (PST), nearysr
wrote:

I have a used Spirit SL 188 Programmable ? ? ? treadmill which from
time to time runs fine, responds to input from the control panel, and
then stops. ?The duration of its operation seems inversely
proportional to the speed at which it is asked to operate. ?When it
stops, it remains stopped for days and weeks, with no response to
hitting the reset button, pulling the plug and replugging the unit.
Abracadabra, plug it in and it starts! ?The manufacturer tells me over
the phone, based on my description of the above symptoms, that it
needs a new control board which they will send me for $300. ?I cannot
find anyone local (Albuquerque) who wants to deal with it, because it
is 11 or 12 years old. ?There is no apparent wear or tear and it seems
nuts to me that this thing can't be fixed. ?Any advice?

Like buy another one? Try eBay. Personally, these things sell for less
thatn $50 used, and it is hard to say if even that may be too much.

I would be worth inspecting for bad solder connections.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/
?Repair | Main Table of Contents:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ:http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
? ? ? ? | Mirror Sites:http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header above is
ignored unless my full name AND either lasers or electronics is included in the
subject line. ?Or, you can contact me via the Feedback Form in the FAQs.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you for the advice. Will do. Steve N., Albuquerque.

If you are going to play with it, check all the connectors too. Remove
and replug them all.

Some of those treadmill control boards have a battery (or batteries) in
them, I have seen them before..Check yours out.Although I doubt if that
would have anything much to do with your treadmill problem.
cuhulin

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 14:25:33 -0800 (PST), nearysr
put finger to keyboard and composed:

I have a used Spirit SL 188 Programmable treadmill which from
time to time runs fine, responds to input from the control panel, and
then stops. The duration of its operation seems inversely
proportional to the speed at which it is asked to operate. When it
stops, it remains stopped for days and weeks, with no response to
hitting the reset button, pulling the plug and replugging the unit.
Abracadabra, plug it in and it starts!

Is the display blank when this happens? If blank, then it would appear
to be a power issue, otherwise I'd be looking at the motor (brushes?)
or the motor control board.

The manufacturer tells me over
the phone, based on my description of the above symptoms, that it
needs a new control board which they will send me for $300. I cannot
find anyone local (Albuquerque) who wants to deal with it, because it
is 11 or 12 years old. There is no apparent wear or tear and it seems
nuts to me that this thing can't be fixed. Any advice?

My treadmill (different brand) has a safety key which kills the power
if you fall off the belt. It consists of a plastic key which you
insert into the control panel. This key is linked to your body via a
clip on the end of a string. It may be that the keyswitch contacts on
the control board are dirty.

Here are some troubleshooting tips:
http://www.treadmilldoctor.com/Troubleshooting

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.