Most treadmills, like any investment with a motor, need regular maintenance. However, even though, this is mentioned in all treadmill user manuals, we have found that most treadmill owners tend to neglect this necessary recommendation. Because of that, sooner or later, the treadmill will begin to exhibit some unusual behaviors, such as whats called slipping.
Slipping can be caused by a number of different things, all of which produces the same result:
- Lack of lubrication: Lack of lubrication will cause a treadmill to slip and is an early indicator that worse problems lie ahead if not professionally serviced soon.
- Loose walking belt: A loose walking belt occurs because the belt has been stretched over years of use. Regular maintenance and tune-up can eliminate this.
- Loose drive belt: A loose drive belt will no longer grab the front drive pulley and may need to be replaced.
- Drive pulley faulty: Sometimes the slippage is caused by a faulty drive pulley, in which case you will need a new front roller.
Very often, the cause of the slippage comes down to a loose walking belt, so I will outline here how to make proper adjustments without damaging your belt. Damage to your walking belt can be very expensive. Walking belts averages from $100.00 to approximately $500.00, depending on the make and model of your unit.
The first thing you want to do when attempting to adjust your walking belt is to secure the tool necessary for this operation. Most treadmills use a standard allen wrench which is usually included when you purchase the treadmill. If you don't have one, they are available at any hardware store.
Second, turn your treadmill on and adjust the speed to 1mph. If your walking belt is shifted to the right or left, concentrate on that side first. There are generally two adjustment screws located in the rear of the unit and is accessible via a small hole in the cosmetic cap. Once the hole is located, insert the allen key firmly into the left hole and turn clockwise 1/4 of a revolution. The tread belt will slowly adjust itself to the right. Watch the movement of the belt until it stops drifting. Repeat procedure on the right side.
Walk on the unit and check if the slipping has improved. If the unit still needs adjustment, repeat the procedure again, on both sides. If you have tightened the adjustment screws a full two revolutions, and the unit still slips, you most likely have one of the other problems I mentioned earlier. At this point, we recommend you contact your local treadmill repair service center. We recommend one that do home service so as to avoid moving the unit out.
Keeping you fit for life!
