Over the past year I have been experiencing an increasing number of equipment failures in my studio. Snap clips releasing in the middle of push through on the tower. Inconsistent spring resistances that are enough to alter the effectivness of an exercise and recently I had a eye bolt snap off at the threads where it screws into the machine. In all cases these were equipment failures that were not caused by wear and tear or misuse. It seems that my newer machines are having more problems than my older machines that show almost no wear. Is anyone else experiencing this type of problem and what are you doing to ensure client safety.

You are Pilates God... can't figure it out yourself?

Stacy, It's nice that you are asking for in put, and I'd like to share this with you.
I am seeing the same thing with newer equipment. My equipment is 9 yrs.old and made by Peak. I just got new springs for my reformers and they are not the same grade and quality as the the original springs.(I replaced the original after 3 years because I know the standard is to replace springs after two or three years, but they were not showing signs of stress when I replaced them. The new springs I just got in the last few months are terrible, I have spoken to Peak about this and they claim that thay are using the same manufacture, but there really is a difference in how they look and feel..., it's like the springs are releasing tension too soon, before the carriage moves. and on coming in they feel very slack.. .I actually just put the old springs back on and my clients have noticed and commented that they like the old springs better. I also noticed that the clips and hooks are substandard. Maybe it's just the stuff made by Peak, I don't know.

LA,
I just had a long talk with Peak about spring resistance. I did a test in my studio with old springs vs new springs for the Wunda Chair. I do not know about Reformer springs, but I am guessing there is the same problem. The test showed a 10 lb difference per spring with the new spring creating less resistance. It would explain your drop off when the carriage pulls in. The spring length is the same but the resistance changed. It is similar to overstretched elastic in a waist band. Too much length and not enough resistance.

Peak understands the problem and has been great about listening to suggestions. Most teachers don't have an understanding about the springs enough to notice a difference. Training programs do not cover effective spring usage as much as they focus on standard spring settings. Standard spring settings work great unless the manufacturer changes the spring resistance.

My equipment breakage and wear is mainly happening on my tower wall units from BB.I see an average of 50 people per week in equipment classes and I am seeing wear on springs and eye bolts at a much greater rate than on my Peak Cadillac that is 9 years old.

I have begun to replace the dog collar snap clips with old fashioned safety clips that we used on the old machines and I am considering replacing my push thru bars because I have had eye bolts completely snap off at the threads because there is not enough length in the screw to anchor them into the bar.

Thankfully, no one has been seriously hurt, but clients get a littel gun shy when a Tower spring rips loose and goes flying across the room.

Next time, try Gratz. Nothing can kill those things.
I have a Peak PPS and the springs were always wimpy. So, never again. Gratz for everything. Closest to Mr. Pilates original specs; correct angles and vectors for all the exercises and very very stable and strong.

Thanks for the input. Colleen I agree that Gratz make a better product, I was going to get gratz springs to replace mine but decided on Peak, big mistake!
And Stacey, Yes,there must be the same problem with the reformer springs. The poundage makes a huge difference in the performance of the exercises as there is a significant relationship to the eccentric contraction and lengthening of the muscles in opposition to the shorting of the springs on the return of the carriage, with the new springs on my reformers that is totally lost in the translation of the exercise, and it seems like the customer service rep at Peak does not understand that concept because he was not getting it when I tried to explain the problem, so with your permission, I will use your response to back up my situation and hopefully resolve the issue, get my refund and order the Gratz springs.

Be sure to check with the equipment manufacturer about any liability issues in your direction concerning you putting one company's springs on another company's equipment.

Wow, that is very interesting about the quality of Peak....I wasn't aware.
I have only used Gratz and I have never had any issues.
I have just closed my studio in Ft. Lauderdale and there are a few GRATZ pieces remaining.

1 reformer/half cadillac combo (claret) + 1 Cadillac (claret) + wunda/high chair combo (claret) + 1 high mat (greystone) + 1 mini barrel (claret) + head pillows and shoulder pads.
If you are interested call 954-655-8650.
Catherine

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I am in the process of shopping for new springs and push thru bars. Question on the Gratz machines? Are they the same company since Basil is no longer with them?

I studied through a contemporary Pilates certification- and I was trained on Balanced Body equipment. Although I have never had trouble with BB or Peak Equipment, literally this month I told my boss we needed to change the BB roll down bar springs as one of them had literally a different tension after only two years. And definitely not daily use.
Either way, the last few years I have spent with classical instructors in their studios. I appreciate the simplicity and ruggedness of the Gratz machines. There are no different colored springs, and no bells and whistles. Gratz is beautiful in its simplicity. The only reason I purchased BB and Peak Equipment is because I was familiar with it and I needed space savers (things that could be easily moved). But overall I enjoy my workouts on Gratz. On on my Allegro I notice all these little things that are supposed to be better, but instead I feel like its more complicated than it needs to be.

I have Balanced Body Reformers, Peak chairs and a Convertable Cadillac and Gratz Towers. I recently went to heavier springs on the reformers - they had been feeling lighter - I just thought we were all getting stronger! Just kidding - I wanted to make the reformers closer to the Gratz feel, so I went to heavier springs. There is a difference in the springs on Peak versus Gratz, but the only failure issues I have had are on the Gratz clips - they break very easily - I replaced tham all with stronger ones from the hardware store. We have had a few springs fly off during tower class - very scary and dangerous. It was not a malfunction so much as a loose connection beacuse of the kickplate resting by those bottom springs. Now we check that all connections are closed and not twisted before doing any exercise. I agree that I can do without all the bells and whistles on the newer equipment - keeping it simple forces a better understanding across programs and teachers. I can't get over how many teachers just freeze when faced with equipment the spring colors they are not familar with!

I have three Reformers at my studio: 2 Gratz and 1 Peak. The Peak was my original one. I got it used and cheap and when I started my studio, it was all I could afford. As time went by, I purchased two Gratz Reformers and I think they're way superior to any other Reformer (though I'm dying to try Basil's new one).

When I have trio lessons, my clients draw straws. The "loser" has to work out on the Peak. As one of them once told me, "Once you've been on a Gratz, you'll never go back!"

OK I am convinced. Is anyone in the market for 4 Balanced body legacy reformers?

I am looking at purchasing Teague equipment. Any experience with their products vs Gratz?

I have six BB reformers that are six years old and I have never had an issue. I am always thinking about how impressed I am with these. Now, if my brand new SPIN bikes could be half as reliable I would be a very happy studio owner!