Exercise equipment comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles made up of detailed materials, designs and features. At times, wear and tear on the equipment can lead to damaged parts that require replacements. Replacing these parts is generally an easy process, but properly fixing the problem requires several considerations for choosing the correct part.
Function
Replacing an entire piece of exercise equipment every time it malfunctions or needs a part is expensive, especially if you manage a fitness club or have several pieces of equipment in your home. Exercise equipment is generally designed to accommodate simple replacement procedures with the installation of replacement parts.
Types
Cost and availability of replacement parts for exercise equipment depend on the manufacturer and model. Simple bolts, screws and washers can be universal among multiple pieces of equipment, but specific buttons and belts for treadmills will need to be properly fitted for the specific model. Other common types of replacement parts include lubricants, oil and grease for moving parts on equipment such as weight machines, treadmills or bikes, weight pins for multi-use weight machines and pedals for cardio machines such as elliptical trainers, cross trainers and bikes.
Identification
Properly identifying the brand and model is the first step to replacing parts. Gold's Gym, for example, recommends having the model number or specific part number to identify the correct parts. You can also register the product on the manufacturer's website, which allows the manufacturer to send warranty information and obtain part information for service calls. Registration typically requires your name, address and contact information, along with the model number, serial number and purchase information for the equipment.
Resources
Some companies provide online technical support for replacement parts by entering the specific model number, but the owner's manual is one of the easiest resources for replacement parts. The owner's manual includes step-by-step installation instructions and can also include a "troubleshooting" section with a list of parts that may require replacing. You can also contact a local exercise equipment retail store.
Considerations
Exercise equipment will commonly feature a limited warranty on parts and labor. If you need a replacement part, contact the company first to see if it qualifies for a warranty. You can also purchase extended warranty plans or service plans from companies such as Universal Technical Services. These companies will offer service plans that include nationwide coverage, unlimited in-home repairs and trained phone operators.
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