Treadmill maintenance is important, if you want your treadmill to stay optimized and last longer for you. The proper maintenance will ensure your machine is running efficiently, so you get the maximum benefit from it every time you work out with it. If you don't take care of your treadmill properly, in time the damage caused can ruin your investment. Let's face it, you invested wisely in purchasing a treadmill to keep yourself in good shape, shouldn't your machine deserve the same respect?
Good treadmill upkeep should include dusting and belt lubrication on occasion. Treadmill maintenance on a good unit does not require a frequent maintenance schedule that you need to adhere to every single week. A quality treadmill is built to be durable and lasts for many years. Most treadmills will have maintenance tips included in the owner's manual for you to read.
Treadmill Maintenance Tips
Keeping it Clean
When finding a home for your treadmill to stay, make sure that the area is dust free. Dust and grit is a major cause of premature failure of the belt. Vacuuming underneath the treadmill's belt and deck every week will help to ensure your treadmill motor won't suck up any debris and cause belt failure.
Belt Slippage
Some treadmill belts will stretch when used initially and may need to be tightened. Most treadmills provide easy access to the belt track, for adjusting. The belt adjustment screws are generally in the rear of the treadmill. Using the right size Allen wrench, tighten down both of the belt screws with a 1/4 turn clockwise. This should sufficiently tighten up the treadmill belt, from the initial break-in. When adjusting the belt tracking make sure that the belt is running at a low speed, at about 3 M.P.H. Make sure not to turn either side more than a quarter turn at a time, because this could interfere with the belt's proper alignment.
Belt Alignment
Ensuring that the belt is aligned correctly is also good treadmill maintenance. Roller knocking sounds could indicate a defective roller, or a result of the belt tracking being out of alignment. Usually, roller knocking takes place when the belt is putting too much pressure on the roller from side to side. Correct tracking will reduce the pressure on the belt guides and ensures the rear rollers and the front ones are parallel. Take care not to over tighten the belt, to correct the alignment issue. It's always best to follow the manufacturer's guidelines, concerning belt tracking for your unit. This should ensure that don't over stretch the belt or misalign it.
Keeping the Treadmill Level
Pool belt tracking is often caused by poor treadmill placement. Treadmill maintenance for this is very easy and straight forward. Ensure that the treadmill is leveled out correctly. A lot of times, especially in older homes, the floors are not level. Most treadmills have level adjusters in the rear supports. In most cases, using the treadmill's level adjustment will remedy this problem and stop the squeaking.
Ensuring Low Friction
Correct treadmill maintenance is to have low friction contact between the deck and the belt. A high friction will eventually cause damage to the electronics in the treadmill's motor. Belts with high friction do not coast when the power is not on. High friction can also make the motor stall out.
The Owner's Manual
The best thing you can do for yourself to ensure that you are doing everything correctly toward proper treadmill maintenance is to read through the owner's manual. All of the proper maintenance procedures should be listed for you to follow. The manual should also provide you with solid troubleshooting tips, all of the parts that make up the unit and repair instructions. If you do not follow the manufacturers guidelines you could damage the machine from improper usage; this can result in voiding the manufacturer's warranty. When in doubt, contact an authorized dealer before trying to fix the problem yourself.
If you follow all of the manufacturers recommendations concerning the treadmill maintenance, you should have years of worry free workouts with your treadmill, without having to deal with unnecessary breakdowns of your machine.
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