To summarize, the "fault" of this issue lies in the console itself. What in the console is the "cause" I do not know. I suspect a wiring issue or "blown" electronic component on the circuit boards of the console. I recall waking to a faint but distinctive "burnt electronics" odor the morning after first assembling and using the unit after which the unit never did function correctly. Replacing the console resolved the issue as of the date of this writing. Fingers are crossed this issue does not re-present itself sometime in the future.
One other thing I would like to mention upon closing this out. The issue about unplugging the unit from the power source as the instruction booklet suggests which I had commented on earlier in my first initial comments here. That passage is plain and utter horseshit! I studied the wiring very closely and all the power to the machine passes through the rocker switch on the front of the treadmill. That rocker switch cuts "all" the power to the electronics of the machine. There is absolutely "no" need to unplug the unit except to service the machine. It is obvious NordicTrack does not invest the proper resources to ensure their documentation is accurate. That said, I believe this treadmill will give us good service and will be fun to use. However, those individuals not mechanically or electronically inclined, may find this machine beyond their ability to cope if it does not run "as expect" out of the box.
Over the course of the next two weeks, the parts slowly dribbled in. First the fan bar, sensor bar and lower controller. A week later, the wiring harness. Last to arrive was the console. Before the console arrived, I decided to install all the new parts and test the operation with those components installed. Nope! It was not to be. Same exact issue. The machine may run for a set then fail to "boot" up and stay booted up. Most often the screen would boot up to the red screen to the selection screen and then just die and cycling this routine three times then completely refusing to cycle again until the unit was unplugged for a half hour or so. The last bastion of hope, the new console. After the console arrived, I removed old console and just set the new console in place and just hooked up the wiring to test it out. Upon firing up the machine with the new console wired in, it booted up and when the first selection screen came up... it stayed running without issue. I poked and the menus and set the network connection and entered a run selection or the 250 calorie run. It ran without issue throughout the complete set. I had my wife do her set and it ran without issue for her as well. The following three or four days, the machine worked "as expected" without issues of any kind. Maybe, just maybe... we will get to use our investment after all. (smile)
Back to the treadmill. I power cycled, unplugged and power cycle and nothing. The only response I got was an electric static sound when I power cycled the unit off. The sound, of course was coming from the speakers. I sit and scanned the instruction booklet once again. While reviewing the booklet, I noticed the red Ifit screen appeared on the display after about 10 minutes. I jumped up and watch the narrow while line progressing across the lower edge of the display, stopping about three quarters way across. Then, the main menu appears. Puzzled, I selected the 250 calorie run and the treadmill began to run. I successfully completed the complete program which ran for approximately 41 minutes or more. Satisfied that I must have not gave the machine enough time to "boot" up as it were. Winded, I turned the machine off and went about my day. That afternoon, my wife wanted to try it out so I plugged it in.. waited.. the red screen appeared.. and the main menu appeared. However, this time, when a selection was pushed.. the speakers made a deep quick rrripe sound and shut down again. It would not come back on and stay on no matter what we did. My wife was NOT impressed at all! We had to get back to work so I made a quick call to Icon and explained the situation. They said they would get someone sent out to check the machine over. Later that afternoon, I received a call from a fitness Service Center verifying a date and time to visit. We set up a date and time for next Friday. I tinkered with the machine a bit more trying to discover a pattern, but the machine was not going to cooperate. I quit fiddling with it and elected to wait for the service tech to figure it out. Needless to say I was beginning to believe that I had made a huge error in judgment purchasing the NordicTrack 1750 Commercial.
We huffed and we puffed and carefully managed to maneuver the very heavy, very large box out of the truck trailer into the back of my Windstar mini-van. The box had "no" place to hang on to and was very slippery to maneuver. It was a struggle, but we managed to get it off the trailer and into the back of my minivan. Obviously, they used a forklift to load it on the trailer. At one point during the struggle, I noticed a significant amount of damage to one corner the cardboard box and it appeared someone tried to smooth it over with shipping tape. Concerned, I tore open that corner of the box and carefully viewed and felt for any signs of damage to the treadmill. I could not see or feel any damage and the freight driver showed me on the freight ticket where someone wrote on it verifying the freight damage found on the box. Satisfied the freight damage had been noted on the shipping ticket, I released the driver. The driver seemed relieved that I was ok with the damage, because I am sure he did not want to attempt to reload that heavy box back on his trailer. (chuckling) I am guessing NordicTrack is attempting to cut corners shipping these very large and very heavy treadmills in "cardboard" boxes. It is totally "nuts" to ship these units in "cardboard"! Of course, from a Company CEO's point of view... the freight company's insurance carrier is who eats the freight damage, not NordicTrack.
Upon arriving at home, I decided that it was a good thing I went to pick up the freight rather than having the truck deliver it. It would have been a far more difficult task trying to wrestle that large box without the aid of some mobile device after getting it off the trailer. Here is a photo taken by my security camera when I backed up to the door. As it turned out, the height of my house door and the minivan was nearly the same with the minivan being a tad lower. I used a small sheet of 3/4 plywood between the van bumper and the house steps. I then removed the cardboard top and every thing loose and small out of the box. I use the cardboard box bottom as a "slip" of sorts. I managed to get the treadmill base on its side and with great difficulty, slowly inched it out of the minivan and into the house. At this point, I would encourage individuals NOT attempt this task on their own without two or three others to maneuver this unit. God help ya if you have to place this in an attic or basement with the basement being easier because it is downhill. However, think twice about putting it in any location requiring the need to transport "up stairs"... either installation or uninstalling. It is very heavy and very difficult to handle.
Getting everything inside without damage to myself or the NordicTrack 1750, I set about assembling the unit. This was possibly the least difficult task up to this point. The instructions were clear and assembly went without any confusion or difficulty. It was nice to see they sent a few extra screws and washers. Following the instructions to plug in the unit and zeroing the incline in order to fold up the treadmill to install the stay, went without problem. Finally, the assembly of the unit was complete. Time to "try it out". (smile) Familiarizing myself with the operation of the unit from the instruction sheet, went through and listened to the "demo" and managing to get the "demo mode" shut off. I then set up a 30 minute "run" while testing the touch screen options. WiFi setup was easy and worked great. Being late in the evening, I was satisfied everything was "as advertised" about the unit. I was tired and headed to bed. I was looking forward to a "morning run" on our new NordicTrack 1750 treadmill. (smile)
On the Sears.com site, while searching for a phone number to call, I noticed a "Live Chat" option. Curious, I clicked the option and very shortly an entity responded to my query. The entity inquired how they could help me. I replied I was checking on the status of my order. The entity responded by asking for my onfirmation number. I typed in the number and the entity politely responded stating he/she would be right back. Two or three times the entity apologized for the seeming long delay with their reply. The entity finally responded with "your order is still being processed". My immediate reaction was.. WHAT!! "still being processed after a little over a week!!" I then asked the entity.. "Please clarify for me what still being processed means." The entity replied that there was some confusion and that my order was still being processed and probably was the reason I did not see tracking information because it had not shipped yet. The entity also stated that their suppliers have up to 28 days to ship their product. Where the the hell is the "fine print" stating this fact on their web site??? Needless to say, my patience went into the red zone. I informed the entity that Sears.com didn't take but a mere couple of minutes to bill my Sears card for the purchase and now they are telling me shipment had not taken place up until this date, 1/19/2011 and the original order date was 1/8/2011!! The entity apparently noted my frustration and stated they were willing to give me 5% off on my order for the inconvenience. I replied.. "10% and I will let the order ride"! The entity responded that he/she did not have authorization to offer more than 5% and gave me the option to cancel my order. I replied that I wished to cancel the order and inquired as to what form of confirmation I would receive to verify the order had indeed been cancelled. The entity replied that I would received an email within 48hours confirming cancellation. Now I wait another 48 hours. (sigh) Needless to say, my wife was extremely disappointed that the unit ultimately had not shipped and that I ended up canceling the order. Up until this order, which happened to be my first with Sear.com, I have never had one issue with any of the products I have purchased through Sears over the years. This has been a very bad "online purchasing experience" for me and it is extremely doubtful I will ever trust, recommend or use Sear.com for future purchases. I will stick to "walk-in" shopping at Sears retail outlets.