Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
apparently I forgot to publish this even though I uploaded it in 2024 .... sighs
This was fun to fix but honestly it wasn't that bad and i can't really complain because i haven't really had many problems with the bowflex max m8 since i bought it in 2018. When you consider i use this an average 150 times a year, sometimes way more and sometimes slightly less, its really been a great workout machine for HIIT and Steady State cardio. I'd buy it again if anything permanently went wrong with it and the durability is also why i purchased a bowflex t22 treadmill in 2022 plus i absolutely love the bowflex jrny app now which works with both devices.
That's not to say i haven't had problems with both but the problems were all covered under warranty. The 2 issues i had with the bowflex max I purchased in 2018 were:
August 2019 the console went bad - bowflex shipped a new one and it took less than an hour for me to replace
July 2021 the resistance adjustment stopped working and there was a crunching sound - bowflex sent me a new stepper motor that controls the resistance brake and it also took about an hour to replace.
January 2024 this current noise and problem which i fixed after completely going through every possible thing that could go wrong but wasn't. So this video can hopefully save you a lot of time.
As far as the bowflex t22 treadmill, at 1 year old the right upper handlebar buttons that controls speed stopped working and bowflex sent me a new one under warranty and it took me about 10 minutes to install.
So i think bowflex has been a great company and again when you consider how often i use their products (4-7 days a week, every week) then that indicates they are super reliable and quick to send parts if something does go wrong.
If you need silicone spray and can't get to a store to purchase it, here are some links to several brands that will all work - just moisten a paper towel and apply it on both sides of the belts:
To remove the lower right cover - remove 4 #2 phillips screws and remove cover to expose the belt.
To remove the upper left cover - remove the rubber bolt cover on the bar that attaches the foot pedal to the flywheel. Remove the 6mm allen head bolt. Lift the foot pedal up and slide it off the flywheel post. Remove the 2 #2 phillips head screws from the upper cover. Slide the upper cover off to expose the belt.
silicone spray: amzn.to/47UkO21
silicone 4 oz squeeze bottle: amzn.to/3HJaK15
silicone spray: amzn.to/42mHqa4
treadmill belt lubricant: amzn.to/47Z9bXq
apparently I forgot to publish this even though I uploaded it in 2024 .... sighs
This was fun to fix but honestly it wasn't that bad and i can't really complain because i haven't really had many problems with the bowflex max m8 since i bought it in 2018. When you consider i use this an average 150 times a year, sometimes way more and sometimes slightly less, its really been a great workout machine for HIIT and Steady State cardio. I'd buy it again if anything permanently went wrong with it and the durability is also why i purchased a bowflex t22 treadmill in 2022 plus i absolutely love the bowflex jrny app now which works with both devices.
That's not to say i haven't had problems with both but the problems were all covered under warranty. The 2 issues i had with the bowflex max I purchased in 2018 were:
August 2019 the console went bad - bowflex shipped a new one and it took less than an hour for me to replace
July 2021 the resistance adjustment stopped working and there was a crunching sound - bowflex sent me a new stepper motor that controls the resistance brake and it also took about an hour to replace.
January 2024 this current noise and problem which i fixed after completely going through every possible thing that could go wrong but wasn't. So this video can hopefully save you a lot of time.
As far as the bowflex t22 treadmill, at 1 year old the right upper handlebar buttons that controls speed stopped working and bowflex sent me a new one under warranty and it took me about 10 minutes to install.
So i think bowflex has been a great company and again when you consider how often i use their products (4-7 days a week, every week) then that indicates they are super reliable and quick to send parts if something does go wrong.
If you need silicone spray and can't get to a store to purchase it, here are some links to several brands that will all work - just moisten a paper towel and apply it on both sides of the belts:
To remove the lower right cover - remove 4 #2 phillips screws and remove cover to expose the belt.
To remove the upper left cover - remove the rubber bolt cover on the bar that attaches the foot pedal to the flywheel. Remove the 6mm allen head bolt. Lift the foot pedal up and slide it off the flywheel post. Remove the 2 #2 phillips head screws from the upper cover. Slide the upper cover off to expose the belt.
silicone spray: amzn.to/47UkO21
silicone 4 oz squeeze bottle: amzn.to/3HJaK15
silicone spray: amzn.to/42mHqa4
treadmill belt lubricant: amzn.to/47Z9bXq
