To access the resistance motor on an elliptical, you will need to remove a number of components. Be sure to unplug your machine before attempting this repair, and do not use power tools to make the repair.
Parts and tools needed:
Elliptical resistance motor replacement steps:
- Remove plastic covers
- Remove elliptical right-hand arm
- Remove the plastic disk
- Remove right-hand pedal
- Remove left-hand pedal
- Remove the resistance motor
- Install the new motor
- Reassembly left-hand side
- Reassembly right-hand side
First, remove the plastic shield cover, and the shield cover cap located above the crank pulley at the base of the upright. Now remove the plastic cover over the joint where the right-hand upper body leg, and the right-hand roller arm pivot together. Gently press the cover seam until it pops apart. Next, remove the screw and washer that hold the plastic cover in place on the inside of this joint, and remove that cover.
Now using an Allen wrench, remove the bolt, nut, and washers that pull the two arms together. Then remove the spacers on either side of the axle, and carefully separate the arm and leg. Now remove the pivot axle. Now you must separate the right-hand pedal arm from the right-hand crank arm.
With the Allen wrench, remove the bolt that holds them together along with its cover plate and washer. Then pull the pedal arm from the crank arm. Using a standard screwdriver with a thin tip, remove the plastic disk on the right side of the elliptical. Release gently. It should just pop off.
Remove the right-hand pedal ring, and remove the ring from the peg on the crank arm. Remove the plastic side shield covering the right side of the elliptical. You will not at this point be able to remove the right-hand side shield from the elliptical until you have removed the screws from the left-hand side shield.
Now remove all the same components from the left-hand side of the elliptical. Once you have removed the six screws from the left-hand side shield, you will be able to remove it and have full access to the resistance motor. You do not need to remove the right-hand side shield, but it is now unattached and can be removed if it is more convenient.
Detach the wire harness from the resistance motor. Take the tension off of the resistance cable. To do this, press down on the part of the eddy mechanism shown here with a flat head screwdriver. This will loosen the cable allowing you to pull it off of the resistance motor. Remove the four screws that mount the resistance motor to the frame of the elliptical.
With a new resistance motor in place, screw in the four screws that hold it to the frame. Replace the resistance cable and reset the tension. Reconnect the wire harness to the motor. Replace the right and left-hand side shields and reattach the left-hand side with its six screws. Now reattach the left-hand pedal ring, and snap the left-hand disk in to place. Then reattach the left-hand pedal arm to the left-hand crank arm.
Next, reattach the left-hand upper body leg, to the left-hand roller arm and replace the inner and outer plastic cover for that pivot joint. Now fully attach the left and right-hand side shields by replacing the three screws to the right-hand side shield. With this done, reattach the right-hand pedal ring, and snap the right-hand disk in to place. Then reattach the right-hand pedal arm to the right-hand crank arm.
Next, reattach the right hand upper body leg to the right-hand roller arm and replace the inner and outer plastic cover for that pivot joint. Now snap the plastic shield cover and the shield cover cap back in to place. And the elliptical is ready to use. If you have any questions after watching this video, be sure to consult the replacement instructions that came with the replacement resistance motor.
