Re-engineering the Treadmill

[xtexan]

Hi folks!

I just uploaded 5 pictures into the gallery under miscellaneous.
I modified my treadmill elevation system a bit. Seems like when I would do multiple elevation changes, the little 1/12 hp motor would overheat, and the thermal overload circuit would trip, and no more elevation changes until it cooled way off. Bummer.

I took the hood off the treadmill guts, and took a look. Being the engineer, a technician, and mechanic I immediately saw the problem. Poor engineering of small component interface.

Now the treadmill is brand new, and under warranty for this type of thing. But it would have meant a big hassle, and they probably would have just replaced the little motor, and the same problem would have still existed. It is a small design flaw. Also would have taken Sears forever to get out here, and more hassle. This was a minor thing, and much less hassle, and only out a few cents for the little delrin washers I used.

So the pictures explain what I did, and that is cool.

Anyway, I also got my new footpod sensor for the Garmin 305, which tracks pace, distance, and speed, with the heartrate curve. Seems like my first treadmill run with the footpod indicated a big difference in mileage. Treadmill said 2.7 miles in 30 minutes, and the Garmin by way of footpod said only 1.85 miles. What the $%^&!!!

So I read the little books, and I need to calibrate the Garmin 305 to my stride, which is quite long. It is adjusted to a small stride apparently from the factory (maybe a Japanese or Chinese persons stride?) Being 6'2" with a little longer legs than average, it is a fair bet that the stride factor needs major adjustment.

So I also got a little calibrated wheel for doing real estate distance surveys from the hardware store, and will measure out exactly 440 yards down the road out here on a fairly level place (not much level out here at all!) Then there is a procedure to manually calibrate the Garmin over this measured distance.

Stay tuned, and we'll see if I can get this all dialed in.

Gotta get the numbers right, or I go nuts!!!! The curse of the engineers obsession with proper function.

Neil

[Flip]

you guys, you just can't help yourselves - you just HAVE to mess with all things mechanical!

[Flip]

I've just taken a look at your photos, I am particularly interested in the head of the elevation jackscrew. i could really do with a pinch point at the skin to skin contact - I need it Very bad. My motor would overheat, and shut down if I did several elevation changes because of the friction overload.

[xtexan]

Flip,

There are plenty of websites I think, that cater to the type of "engineering" you are referring to.

Do you know what the thing in the toilet is that floats, and shuts off the water when it gets full is called? Hmmmm.

It is called a "ballcock". Another engineering marvel.

Neil

[Flip]

oddly enough Neil, I am familar with ballcocks, having had to jiggle a few in my lifetime, some I've even had to replace as they just weren't up to scratch any more.

[xtexan]

Flip:

The wonderful world of engineering terminology. You see the treadmill has a power jackscrew, but there are also manual jackscrews.

Just today, an fellow manager at work was bluing in a section of dieplate steel, and marking in some drill points. I asked him what the deal was, and he said he was going to "bore some f^&#ing jackscrew access holes"!

We also have a pet term for a experimental metal dosing slug, which is used to determine proper production calibration for a computer controlled furnace system. It is called a "donkey dick".

We engineers are a strange lot, are we not?

Neil

Very!!! lol

Starlight Impress x

[12many]

Hey Neil-

Love the mods to the treadmill. Don't give much creadence to the horsepower rating on any chinese motor. The chinese horse is apparently somewhat smaller than the western horse, besides which, your hungry again a half hour after you use one.

Speaking of great names:
The part of a motor where the power line goes in? pecker head
The smallest unit in a machine shop? an RCH (Tex knows, wouldn't want to offend star's finer sensibilities.

Cheers,
Dave

Dave,
Perhaps my resistance is greater than you think........I mean, I even remember all about ohms and farhads, for goodness sake!!! Who`s a clever girl.......not!!!

Starlight Impress x

[Flip]

Stop speaking in tongues you lot and tell me what this all means!