How To Repair Your Treadmill
By bull6072
TREADMILL REPAIR
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
The first and most important part of owning a treadmill or any piece of equipment is preventive maintenance.
If you are not currently doing this then start today!
Items required for a good preventive maintenance program on your treadmill:
Vacuum cleaner
Screwdriver- philip's and flatblade
Sockets and allen wrenches depending on your model
Grease
Cleaning Rags
Now let's get started!
ALWAYS UNPLUG THE TREADMILL OR ANY EQUIPMENT BEFORE SERVICING!
Remove the hood or motor cover. There's probably anywhere from 2 to 8 screws.
Now vacuum the dust from around the motor and drive mechanisms. What you can't
get to with the vacumn, use a small cloth or brush. A clean motor doesn't become clogged and overheat.
After you have cleaned around the motor, look for any grease fittings, these are usually found
on commercial grade units, but your's might have some also.
For those of you who have never seen one, they are about the size of a pencil eraser and
have a hole in the end. they are ususally found on bearings. If you don't have a grease gun
you can buy a small gun and grease at your local auto parts store for less than $10.00.
If your unit is chain driven, clean the chain of excess dust, and apply a small amount of
grease to the chain, also grease the drive chain and elevation chain as necessary.
Use white lithium grease if available.
Check all drive belts for wear, look for cuts and nicks, and replace as neeeded.
Loosen the walking belt, most treadmills have either a bolt or screw on each side
at the rear of the unit. Loosen these, push the rear roller toward the walking deck until
the belt is loose enough for you to look underneath.
Raise the belt and inspect the underside for wear. If it looks worn or burned you need to replace the belt.
Inspect the walking deck for wear, you will be able to tell if itĘs worn. If it has little ruts worn
into it or bear spots it needs to be either flipped or replaced.
Many treadmills today have walking decks that can be flipped. If your deck is worn flip it,
but it is recommended that when you flip the deck you replace the walking belt.
Wipe the deck and underside of the belt with a soft cloth, depending on your model of treadmill
you should lubricate the walking deck at least every 6 months. Some unit use silicone spray or gel.
Others use wax. Check your ownerĘs manual for what the manufacturer recommends.
After you clean the belt and deck and lubricated the deck as needed center the belt on the walking
platform and tighten the screws at the end of the treadmill.
Turn each bolt the same amount to keep the belt centered. Tighten the belt until it does not
move freely on the rollers. Then with CAUTION straddle the belt and start the treadmill at low speed.
Wait for the belt to start moving then step on the belt. If it stops it is not tight enough.
Step off the belt and tighten each side 1 turn then step on the belt again. Repeat as necessary.
Once you can walk on the belt at low speed without it stopping or slipping increase the speed
to 3 miles per hour. This should be a fast walk. If your unit has side rails hold the rails and try
to stop the belt with pressure.
IF ok then increase the speed to 5 MPH. Run on the treadmill, if you feel any slipping tighten the
bolts another 1/2 turn each. Repeat if necessary.
If the belt is not centered, stand behind the treadmill and run the belt at full speed, if the belt
is tracking to the left. Tighten the left bolt or screw 1/2 of a turn, and loosen the right bolt or
screw 1/4 turn until the belt is centered.
IF the belt is tracking to the right, tighten the right side bolt or screw 1/2 turn and loosen the left
bolt or screw 1/4 turn. Repeat as necessary, this should center the walking belt.
Always wipe the treadmill down after each use, perspiration is very corrosive.
If your treadmill inclines increase the elevation to maximum and vacuum underneath.
If it doesn't incline pull it out and vacumn.
Most operating problems are usually easily seen, detected and repaired. If the cause of
a problem is not obvious, follow a logical process of checking each component in the system.
For a Free report on Treadmill Repair visit
http://treadmills.cc
Paul Webb
Paul Webb-Paul is the owner of treadmills.cc and seniorshealthinfo.com. He is a firm believer in exercise and health. He has more articles,and information on health and fitness on his websites.
