forum threadBrotherAli posted Feb 14, 2026 10:07 PM
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forum threadBrotherAli posted Feb 14, 2026 10:07 PM
Mikolo M4 2.0 Smith Machine, Squat Rack with LAT-Pull Down System & Cable Crossover Machine $746.28
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I did not want a big footprint rack, did not need functional trainer cable pulley feature, so I bought the Mikolo F4 version 2.0 for about $330 (as of 2/15/26 the price has dropped to $297), (also a SD from Walmart with free shipping) which was also a nice improvement over F4 version 1.0.. It came with so many accessories, smaller foot print, 2-inch spacing between the holes, red color frames was cool, and I love it. Mikolo brand is stepping up its quality.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mikolo...om=/search
I do squats, bench press, deadlifts, 2-hand overhead press as primary exercises... Then the lat pull, row pulls, dip bars, pull up bars, tricep ropes, etc. round out the routines. I attached a rope with D-rings on the ends and a pulley in the center to the lat pull down cable with a clip. Can also clip it to the row cable down low for variation of the fly. That gives me a cheap functional fly feature with nice stretch which complements the PowerBlocks I use for floor flys (safer than bench flys).
ChatGPT AI Prompt: Can the Mikolo M4 squat rack which has 2:1 ratio cable pulley system be changed to a 1:1 ratio cable pulley system?
Short answer: Yes — you can change the pulley ratio on the M4‑2.0 Standard All‑In‑One Home Smith Machine with Cables / similar Mikolo M4 systems, but it isn't a simple "plug-and-play" swap and typically isn't supported by Mikolo as a direct upgrade or included mod.
What the 2:1 Ratio Actually Is
On the M4, the cables are routed in a way that gives you a 2:1 mechanical advantage — meaning for every 1 lb you pull at the handle, 2 lbs of weight are lifted. That's why a user effectively "feels" half the plate weight on single-cable movements.
Can You Change It to 1:1?
Technically yes — but you'll need to physically re-engineer the cable path:
You would have to change how the cable runs through pulleys so it attaches directly to the weight(s) rather than going through an extra pulley before returning to the handle.
This often means relocating pulleys, shortening the cable, and ensuring the path doesn't foul on the rack.
It may also require custom brackets, new cable stops, or additional pulleys sized for the new routing.
Many home-gym builders talk about modifying pulleys or adding a weight stack to achieve a more direct 1:1 feel, but it's not supported by Mikolo and will likely void any warranty if you alter the frame or cable system.
What Users Say
From community DIY experience:
Some people have tried converting 2:1 towers to 1:1 by re-routing cables and adding new pulleys, but it's specific to the rack and often requires custom fabrication and careful planning.
Others note that most Mikolo racks with 2:1 cables don't have an easy built-in way to flip to 1:1 like some commercial functional trainers do, so conversion is more a DIY engineering project than a simple adjustment.
Alternative Options
If you want true 1:1 resistance with minimal fuss, consider:
a rack or trainer that comes stock with 1:1 pulleys (e.g., some Mikolo models and other brands)
....END of ChaptGPT reply.
11:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39PRGUS
Basically need a climbing pulley and a hitch pin.
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On my Mikolo F4 version 2.0 squat rack, I have essentially a climber pulley with rope through it which has D-handles on the ends of the rope. It is clipped with carabiner to either the Lat Pulldown cable, or the lower row cable. I can do some stretch flys with this set up as a poor-man's functional trainer. I suppose I could use a couple hitch pins on the front of the rack frame and attach a climber pulley to each hitch pin to widen the fly attach point so I could do cross pulls.... With a hitch pin, I can slide the height easily and have more variety of "functional trainer exercises with wide stretch".... hmmmm, I'm liking this idea more more and more.... just need to have longer rope.
UPDATE: Well, ChatGPT said the Mikolo F4 version 2.0 frame being 2x2 inches and 14 gauge steel is engineered for vertical forces more than horizontal or torque forces. By trying to modify with the above idea of using climber pully, hitch pins which could be at different heights, pulling with vector forces more horizontal than vertical, there would be considerable torque & horizontal stress on the holes with the hitch pins at higher weight stack resistances. It recommended to stay under 150lb stack at 1:1 ratio on the F4 version 2.0 for such DIY functional trainer set up which was not intended for this frame. They said to frequently inspect the holes used for evidence of distortion. I suppose you could use two hitch pins on each side and use a carabiner to attach the climber pulley to both. That may reduce the torque on each hole of the hitch pin...But then the set up gets kind of wonky. One hitch pin on each side may be good enough for my needs of wanting some safe stretching fly exercise. For even heavier weights, can do safe floor flys to avoid a fail load injury.
In the mean time, fly exercise with the climber pully on the lat pull down or the lower row cable are nice and safe.
Thanks — now that I know it's the Mikolo M4 with 2:1 cable pulleys, here's the clear engineering answer:
🧠 Can You Convert the Mikolo M4 Cable from 2:1 to 1:1?
Not just by adding a pulley on a hitch pin or similar.
Here's why:
🚩 What Defines the Ratio
The 2:1 ratio on the M4 comes from how the cable is routed through the moving carriage pulley. That pulley doubles the cable travel — and halves the load felt at the handle.
To make it 1:1, you must change the core routing such that:
- The handle is attached directly to one end of the cable,
- AND the other end is anchored solidly to the rack itself,
- WITHOUT passing through a moving pulley.
Until you remove or bypass the moving pulley on the carriage, the system will always be 2:1 — no matter how many extra pulleys you add above it.🚫 Why Your Hitch-Pin + Climber Pulley Idea Doesn't Change Ratio
It might look like:
handle → hitch pulley → carriage pulley → weightBut mechanically, that still has two segments supporting the carriage, so it's still 2:1.
Adding more pulleys just changes direction, not the mechanical advantage.
Think of it this way:
- Redirecting cables ← good for ergonomics
- Changing ratio ← requires changing how many load-bearing segments connect to the weight
A single extra pulley on a pin only changes direction — it doesn't remove the moving pulley on the carriage.🔧 What Would Actually Give You 1:1?
✅ Option A — Re-route the Cable
To achieve 1:1, you need to:
- Anchor one end of the cable directly to the rack frame
- Route the cable over the top pulleys
- Then down to the handle
This means the weight stack is connected with just one cable segment — so handle load = stack load.On the M4, this may require:
- New attachment point on the frame
- Longer/shorter cable
- Different end stops
- Possibly new hardware
This is not just a "drop in a pulley" — it's a real cable re-engineer.✅ Option B — Use Both Sides Together
If you have dual adjustable pulleys:
- Clip both ends of the same handle together
- Pull them together
Two 2:1 sides together with 50 lb on each side feels like 100 lb at 1:1.This doesn't change the physics, but it does change how much load you can apply comfortably.
🚫 What Won't Work
❌ Simply hanging a climbing pulley from a hitch pin
❌ Feeding the cable through that pulley
❌ Any scheme that still uses the carriage pulley as a moving pulley
None of these remove the 2:1 mechanical advantage — they just add friction or redirect.
📌 Why Manufacturers Use 2:1
- Smooth movement
- Longer cable travel
- Smaller stack feels heavier
- Better for functional work and ROM
That's fine — but if your goal is to load heavy like a 1:1 machine, you must re-design the cable path.🧰 What You Could Do (Realistic Fixes)
🔹 DIY Cable Anchor Mod
Add a fixed anchor on the upright so:
- Cable no longer loops under the carriage pulley
- Pulls straight into top pulley
- One segment to carriage
This can work — but it needs:- Proper cable length
- Secure anchor
- Safe routing (no interference)
- Knowledge of swaging / cable crimps
If you want, I can walk you through a diagram of how that routing looks.📌 Summary
❌ Hitch pin + climber pulley will not turn 2:1 into 1:1
❌ It will change direction but not the force ratio
✅ True 1:1 needs changing the cable routing and anchor
✅ Or use both sides together to get heavier feel
11:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39PRGUS
Basically need a climbing pulley and a hitch pin.
But what if you anchor the hitch pin to the frame of the M4 squat rack and then attach the climber pulley to that hitch pin?
Great — this is the exact point where pulley intuition tricks people.
If you:
Put a hitch pin through the M4 upright
Hang a climber pulley on that hitch pin
Run your existing cable through that pulley
You have created a fixed pulley.
And here's the rule:
A pulley fixed to the frame only changes direction — not mechanical advantage.
🔎 Why That Still Does NOT Change 2:1
Your Mikolo M4 is 2:1 because:
The weight carriage has a moving pulley attached to it
The cable loops around that moving pulley
Two cable segments are lifting the carriage
As long as that moving pulley remains in the system,
the carriage is supported by two strands.
Adding a frame-mounted pulley does not remove one of those strands.
It just reroutes the cable before or after the carriage.
🧠 Think of It Like This
Imagine you have this:
Carriage pulley (moving) → 2 strands lifting it → 2:1
Now you add:
Handle → frame pulley → rest of system
The carriage is still lifted by two strands.
So it's still 2:1.
The only way to change it is:
Remove the carriage pulley
Or change how the cable terminates
⚠️ Important Distinction
There are only two types of pulleys in terms of force:
1️⃣ Fixed Pulley (attached to frame)
Changes direction only
Does NOT change force ratio
2️⃣ Moving Pulley (attached to load)
Changes force ratio
Increases number of supporting strands
Your hitch-pin pulley is Type #1.
Your carriage pulley is Type #2.
Only Type #2 changes ratio.
🧮 Quick Mechanical Proof
Mechanical advantage = number of rope segments directly supporting the moving mass.
On your M4:
Count the strands touching the carriage pulley.
There are two.
Unless you reduce that to one, it remains 2:1.
⚠️ Why People Think It Works
Sometimes it feels heavier because:
Added friction
Shortened range of motion
Different pull angle
Cable drag
But friction ≠ true 1:1.
It just wastes energy.
🎯 Bottom Line
Anchoring a hitch pin to the frame and hanging a climber pulley:
✔ Changes direction
❌ Does not remove the carriage pulley
❌ Does not reduce supporting strands
❌ Does not convert 2:1 to 1:1
It remains 2:1.
Insert AI slop here
https://www.reddit.com/r/GarageGy...are_
EDIT here enjoy some AI slop:
Yes — you *can* change a 2:1 ratio to 1:1 on a cable machine using a "loop" method (sometimes called a coop loop), **but only on certain machines** and only if the pulley design allows it.
Here's how it works
---
## What 2:1 vs 1:1 Means (Quick Refresher)
* **2:1 ratio** = You move the handle 2 feet to move the weight stack 1 foot.
➜ Feels like half the listed weight (100 lb feels like 50 lb).
* **1:1 ratio** = You move the handle 1 foot to move the stack 1 foot.
➜ You feel the full listed weight.
Most functional trainers (dual adjustable pulley machines) are 2:1.
---
## How the "Loop" Method Changes It
.
---
### To Make It 1:1 (If Possible)
Instead of attaching the handle directly to the end of the cable:
1. Run the cable through the pulley as usual
2. **Loop the cable back and clip the handle to the frame or the original cable anchor point**
3. Attach the handle to the returning cable end
This removes the moving pulley advantage and effectively turns it into 1:1.
---
## ⚠️ Important Limitations
✔ Works on:
* Some functional trainers
* Some adjustable pulley columns
❌ Usually NOT possible on:
* Selectorized single-stack machines with internal routing
* Machines where the pulley system is fully enclosed
* Machines without an exposed anchor point
---
## When You'd Want 1:1
* You need heavier loads
* The stack isn't heavy enough
* You want more accurate load matching
* You're doing strength-focused movements (rows, presses, pulldowns)
---
## Safety Tips
* Make sure the cable is not rubbing against sharp metal edges
* Don't bypass safety guards
* Check that clips are fully secured
* Test with light weight first
* If unsure, ask gym staff — some gyms don't allow re-routing cables
---
If you tell me what specific machine you're using (brand/model or gym type), I can tell you whether it's realistically possible on that setup.
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