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Heavy Duty Bumping
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Pretty much everyone on the planet over the age of 15 has heard of the inimitable NordicTrack Ski Machines. A wildly popular and original machine that has been around forever and continues to hold a small devoted fan base much like Saab or Volvo. If you have ever tried out one of their skiers, you would not forget your first time. I remember the feeling that I was on ice before I wildly grabbed hold of the frame in order to keep myself from achieving a horizontal position on the floor. I have seen people put the skis through walls, dogs and cats start living together, the dawn of the apocalypse... well maybe I am being overly dramatic. It should suffice to say that learning to use one of their skiers is akin to riding a bicycle. It is not the easiest thing to learn but once you learn it, you have it for life. Towards the end of the run of the original NordicTrack company, they branched off into weight trainers, electric treadmills, manual treadmills, and some products that we won't discuss because to do so would border on verbal pornography.

The brand was bought by Icon Fitness after the bankruptcy of the original NordicTrack company in 1998 and they have since moved the lineup into more mainstream sales venues such as Sears. The name holds a certain level of cache and Icon has taken advantage of this to bump up into higher pricing brackets than most of their other brands could attain. Unfortunately, until a few years ago the price was the only thing about these machines that was high. If you had one of the original EXP1000 machines, our sympathies are with you. They had problems with everything from the plastic parts, to electronic grounding problems, to failed consoles. It was not a pretty picture.

We believe the big driver of this changeover has been Johnson. The maker of the Horizon brand has given the large sales venues an alternative and while Johnson was producing higher end machines for the US market and moving down in price point, some of the quality carried over. Not to say Johnson has not had their own missteps, but overall they have been a big reason why everyone has had to step up in quality, including Icon.

Over the past few years though the quality of the NordicTrack machines has increased drastically and has forced all reviewers to re-examine the brand. Icon has created a series that hits right at the sweet spot price points (below $1000, $1500-2000, and sub $3000). Brands that have previously dominated these ranges, especially the higher ones, need to watch out for these new products that could grow to dominate them in their own ballparks. Icon has the best distribution and most efficient manufacturing in the industry, these two facts alone mean that they can deliver far greater value than the competition, and now that they have turned their focus on to higher quality their brands-especially NordicTrack-could put the old guard in a world of hurt.

The consumers need look no further than the new NordicTrack S3000 treadmill to prove this point. The machine retails for roughly $2700 and delivers higher quality than brands like Landice and Lifefitness in this price point. In Ellipticals NordicTrack tends to shoot lower in the price categories and the prices most of its models are between $700 and $1500. These are really strong market prices and along with their quality improvements should put NordicTrack in a dominating position. The only Achilles heel of the brand remains in the area of service. Like many big companies, think of your local cable company, Icon does not have the responsiveness of many of the smaller companies. In the past, it has been a headache dealing with Icon if you had a problem and that fact was exacerbated by the fact that their machines were not made with the quality that they are today. Icon has made a big push to improve in this area so we'll see if the changes have had the desired effect. Time will tell but if they get their act together in service, many companies will go the way of the dodo.

Check out some reviews of the NordicTrack Treadmills and Ellipticals before you take a trip to go buy a new piece of equipment and see what you think. The most important factor in your new treadmill or elliptical is what you think. If it feels good, you will be more likely to use it and that is the most important thing. You can have the best quality machine in the world but it does not do you any good if it is not used regularly.

Brady Freeman is a regular contributor at Treadmill a site providing unbiased Nordictrack treadmill Reviews and Elliptical Reviews

Mercedes Strut Mount Holds Car Steady

Since a car’s drive train like that of a Mercedes-Benz only has the wheels to prop it up on the ground, it relies on a network of steel braces and sway bars called the strut assembly to support the weight of the car. During cruise speed, the Mercedes-Benz strut assembly serves as catch framework where bounce from bumps is rerouted. Meanwhile, as the car hugs curves, bounce together with chassis flex and longitudinal compression get transmitted into the strut assembly. Every time bounce and chassis flex are redirected in the Mercedes-Benz struts, the cabin is spared from an otherwise uncomfortable ride.

In the case of chassis flex and longitudinal compression, a Mercedes-Benz is theoretically liable to roll off when cornering. But, because of its strut assembly design, chassis flex and compression is transmitted away from the cabin and into the STRUTS, maintaining the car’s bearing on corners. The same is done to the weight of the vehicle and the bounce from bumps. This function of the strut assembly gives the description “passive” shock absorbers to the strut assembly. Compared to shock absorbers, however, the stress on the chassis produced by both drive applications are not absorbed but are rather transmitted down to the strut mounting points.

Mercedes-Benz struts are usually installed across the chassis and at the heart of the drive train, where it is on a high ground to function as chassis frame and support the car. These struts often sport rugged designs and can be used to improve on the upper suspension arms of the Mercedes-Benz. Due to the strain that strut assembly must absorb away from the chassis, they are held firmly by similarly heavy-duty strut mounts. The Mercedes strut mounts serve as pivot points for the strut assembly. For improved absorption of longitudinal compression, struts are lubricated at either ends.

In most cases, the front end of the Mercedes-Benz is equipped with a MacPherson type of struts. This assembly has rubber strut mounts with strut bearings and bushings in the center to provide mobility for steering. A MacPherson strut is also used on the rear end of the drive train if the Mercedes-Benz is capable of 4-wheel drive. Normally, a traditional strut assembly composed of strut tower braces and sway bars affixed to a chrome strut mount shaft is used on the read end of the drive train.

As the struts transmit force, strut mounts keep the assembly still. And as the strut assembly resists the chassis flex in the drive train and supports the Mercedes-Benz’s sideways load, strut mounts can loose grip of a strut quickly. If a metallic under-chassis noise can be heard every time the Mercedes-Benz turns, it is a sign that the strut assembly has become loose on the strut mounts. Hard steering is another indication that the strut assembly may not be in a good condition to spare the chassis from compression. With a strut’s heavy load and the regular pounding that it receives, it is critical that loose strut mounts are immediately addressed to ensure safe driving.

About the Author

Dwyane Thomas is a part time cook and full-time auto-enthusiast. This 31-year old Civil and Environmental graduate is a consultant at one of the engineering firms in Pennsylvania.

How much does it costs to change door locks to deadbolt?

I wanted to know what is the average costs for a heavy duty bump proof deadbolt lock. One lock only. I can always multiply I will need to change all locks in the home.

Also, if you have any recommendations to which deadbolt brand is the best. I've research some online already, would like to hear your thoughts, experience or advice.

Thanks.

I've done my research too and it's Medeco and Schlage Primus. And to sum it up for you here it is... Primus offers a higher level of security against bumping, but Medeco is more secure against picking. so i suggest get each for the highest level of security

Primus deadbolt is bump key proof and pick resistant
Medeco is more difficult to pick and very bump key resistant

Medeco will cost you about $140 for a single cylinder
Schlage Primus also about 140 for a single cylinder but i saw it at www.armstronglock.com for $115

and here is a comment that i found interesting

"I saw a Digg article on key bumping a few weeks ago that linked to a video on youtube showing how easy bumping is. I have nothing of value, but the concern that most homeowners/renters insurance won't cover theft if there is no sign of forced entry.

Well long story short, I found found a local locksmith that convinced me that while Schlage Primus would be overkill, Schlage Everest cylinders while a lot less costly than Primus will give me reasonably good protection against key bumping. The Everest do have a sidecut-type feature that will "help" guard against key bumping.

Reasons given is that Everest blanks are more difficult to obtain than 90% of home door cylinders. Unlike Primus which are very strictly controlled within the lock industry.

If you get a Primus locks,the sidecuts are unique and SPECIFIC only from the locksmith you purchase, which means that you are captive to that locksmith. Also the Primus keys have a breaking weakness due to the regular key cut in combination with the sidecut.

Also there is other low hanging fruit for someone wanting to gain easy entry to a house/apt. Most 999 key sets are for the most common (schlage, westlock, weiser, kwickset and Yale low quality 5 pin cylinders).

Home security is mostly about detering and making it hard for a would-be theives and in turn slowing them down.

my 2 cents"

My life as a carny
In late July, just ahead of a four-day festival in Dane County, Corina Wenzel rallied her crew of 16 carnies. After setting up the bunkhouses, affixing the water hoses and connecting to the electric grid, the crew was moments away from being cut loose for the day in a new city. But not before a little pep talk.

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