Comments on: REVIEW: Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:00:12 +0000

Lee, did you ever contact Schwinn about the noise? My eliptical also makes a noise if I increase or decrease the resistance level. It’s not very loud and sounds normal. I wouldn’t think that is a defect.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:08:25 +0000

Hi Vijay, and thanks for the reply. Yes the noise is heard when changing automatically through the use of a program and manually.
I will contact Schwinn to see if they can have someome come out and look at it..It has good resistance but it just makes that noise, I guess it is when the gears or what ever is adjusting in there is moving,

Thanks!!
Lee

By: victorjuliet

victorjuliet — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:58:05 +0000

Lee: There should be no extra noise when changing the resistance level. The only indication of a change in resistance should be the readout on the console and what you physically feel while using the machine. Just out of curiosity, does the sound occur while the resistance is changing automatically through the use of a program?

Either way it sounds like there is a mechanical problem with your elliptical, and this issue should be covered by the warranty.

Vijay

By: victorjuliet

victorjuliet — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:51:07 +0000

Jia: First I want to say I *am not* a personal trainer. With that said, I also had a tough time adjusting to the elliptical at first. I could barely do 10 minutes before having to quit. But now I can go 45 minutes and have to maintain a resistance at 3 or 4 to keep my pulse from dropping too low (133 BPM is my calculated minimum for my age and fitness goals.)

To answer your second question, the resistance doesn’t go lower than 1, at that point it is just the inertia of the flywheel that is providing resistance. You can see on the screen what the current resistance is set at, and it can be adjusted on the fly using the up and down arrows on the console.

Vijay

By: Lee

Lee — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:22:50 +0000

Hi, Just purchased a 431. Wanted to know if the noise I hear when changing the resistance level
normal? When it is increased or decreased there is a kinda loud whirling noise, I guess a motor of some sort which moves something to create the more or less resistance.? I did not notice this noise from the display I tried in the store, but there may have been more surrounding nose in the store that I did not notice it. But wanted to know if anyone else has noticed this. Also my fan is noisy to. I also had a problem when plugging in the adapter the console would beep then the console would not come on..But I found out that the blades on the adapter was not apart far enough for the plug. So after making them wider by pushing them apart some it comes on like it is supposed to. But Again is it normal to hear that motor sound when changing the resistance level?

Thanks!!
Lee

By: jia

jia — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 03:00:38 +0000

So far, I’ve been able to only complete a total of 12 minutes on this machine without huffing, puffing, and quitting. I usually hit quickstart and start moving, but it is so difficult. I’m out of shape but not that out of shape. I used to be able to do an hour plus on the gym ellipticals. What am I doing wrong? Can I adjust resistance any lesser than the quickstart?

Thanks,

Jia

By: victorjuliet

victorjuliet — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:42:38 +0000

Ashley: That is too bad about the average speed issue. I agree the fan isn’t much to talk about, but I do find that little extra breeze helps a bit.

Your grease idea sounds good; it will prolong the life of the machine if nothing else. What grease did you use? I’m thinking of putting some on the bolts that hold the foot pads since they support a lot of weight and also have to deal with constant motion.

So far I’m loving my elliptical. I worried that I would grow tired of it and stop altogether, but I actually find that it has become part of my daily routine. My blood pressure has dropped a tiny bit too, and though I haven’t lost weight, I look thinner. I believe some of my excess weight has turned into leg muscle. So far so good!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:21:10 +0000

hey, I contacted Schwinn about the average speed problem and they were able to reproduce this on one of their Schwinn 431 ellipticals. The woman told me that she was going to report the problem and get back with me on the solution (which there probably isn’t one). I also received a new console for my eliptical because my fan didn’t work. Now my fan works, but it still isn’t much to talk about. I believe the fan is just there for looks and to help sell the machine. I believe that this elliptical is one of the best I’ve tried and I really like it. I also tested out the results on this new console and I still didn’t get an average speed. The only other thing that I would recommend to others buying this machine is to get some grease to put on the moving parts. It comes with some grease on the parts, but not enough. I took mine apart and put some grease on it and it is silent and smooth. It would be better to do this the first time you are putting it together. How are you liking yours Vijay?

By: Eileen Winters

Eileen Winters — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:13:03 +0000

Again, thanks so much. I couldn’t believe when I came upon your website from a google search. Those photos of the shipping box, contents and info. on set up are “priceless.” I’ve got to place the order now. I just hope I use the thing once I get it…yeah, I’m one of those….

By: victorjuliet

victorjuliet — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:20:20 +0000

Eileen: This elliptical is was quieter than any treadmill . . . there is no “stomp stomp stomp” sound from running. It is instead a very quiet constant sound from the spinning flywheel.
The elliptical shouldn’t be more noisy than normal movement. I think putting a layer of thick carpeting or one of those exercise machine mats to spread the weight out and to absorb any shifting weight would help with the downstairs neighbors. I use an extra carpet and it is very quiet for those in the same room, but I don’t have a downstairs to see how much noise goes through.

Vijay