Easy DIY Tips for Repairing Treadmill at Home

Are you avoiding your treadmill workouts because your machine is not functioning properly or it needs repairs? Don’t put your exercise routine on hold and let your fitness suffer as you can repair your treadmill at home with easy DIY fixes.

Every time your treadmill does not work does not mean that it would need an expensive repair and professional help. Your treadmill comes with a set of components that can be repaired at home.

Some of the common issues you may face with your treadmill include it won’t operate, the walking belt slips, it makes loud noise such as squeaking or knocking noise, etc.

What Are the Tools and Replacement Parts You May Need?

Before you set out to repair your treadmill, ensure that you have the following tools with you.

• Set of Regular Allen Wrenches
• Non-Abrasive Cleaner
• 100% Silicone Lubricant
• Soft Cotton Cloth
• Replacement Large T-shaped Allen wrench

Moreover, you may need the following replacement parts.

• Treadmill Belt
• Console Wire
• Drive Motor Belt
• Power Cord Replacement
• Roller Pulley
• Extra Safety Key
• Drive Motor Belt

Fixing Treadmill Belt Problems

Most of the treadmill problems are related to treadmill belts. It is the core of your treadmill and takes the maximum workload.

Aligning the Belt

For the efficient functioning of the treadmill, ensure that the belt alignment is perfect. Ideally, it should be aligned straight down the centre of the track. However, it may shift out of alignment from time to time.

You can easily fix this issue by adjusting the bolts that are located on both sides at the rear end of the treadmill. Once you have made the adjustments, check the alignment again and repeat it if needed. Refer to the user’s manual for alignment instructions.

Test the alignment by walking on the treadmill for a few minutes and ensure that it stays centred.

Maintaining the Belt Tension

Your treadmill’s belt is kept at a pre-set belt tension that prevents it from slipping. However, the belt gets stretched out over time as it is subjected to the workloads of rigorous workout sessions.

This results in the belt getting loose and starts slipping during workouts. On the contrary, if the belt gets too tight, it may interfere with the normal functioning of the motor and rollers.

To determine if your belt has perfect tightness, you should try to lift the side of the belt from its centre up to 2 to 3 inches.

If you are not able to lift it this high, it indicates your treadmill belt is too tight. On the other hand, if you can easily lift the belt more than this limit, it indicates that your treadmill belt is too loose.

To keep a perfectly balanced belt tension, you should tighten the bolts of the loose belt and loosen the bolts of the tight belt.

You can adjust the rear roller by using the large T-shaped Allen wrench and tighten the rear tension bolts up to one-quarter turn. For a tight belt, you should loosen it up to a one-quarter turn.

Ensure to read the instructions given in the user’s manual before making any such adjustments to your treadmill.

Lubricating the Treadmill

Your treadmill belt needs lubrication for proper functioning as it is subjected to regular friction. Depending on the model of the machine, the lubricating procedure may vary from one treadmill to another.

There are some advanced treadmills that come with a self-lubricating mechanism. In such machines, a special wax is released by the machine automatically over time for lubricating its components.

You should check your user’s manual to find about the lubricating guidelines for your treadmill because any unwanted lubrication may damage the treadmill’s components. If your machine needs lubrication, always follow the instructions given in the manual.

Ensure that you have silicone- or paraffin-based lubricant with you. Loosen the belt. Lift one side of the belt and slightly pull it up. Insert the lubricant spray nozzle underneath and spray it over the centre area. Repeat it on another side.

Move the belt manually for about half a revolution and lubricate in a similar fashion again. When finished, retighten the belt again. Run the treadmill at a slow pace for about 5 minutes for spreading the lubricant evenly.

Take special caution to not spill the lubricant on the treadmill belt surface as it poses risks of slipping.

Replacing the Worn Out Belt

Over time, your treadmill belt may get worn out due to regular high-intensity workouts. You should replace your worn-out treadmill belt as it may lead to poor workout experiences.

To determine if your treadmill belt is worn out or not, lift the belt from one side and run your hand underneath its surface. If it feels rough and worn out from the underside, replace it with a new one, or else it may wear your deck rapidly.

Fixing the Problems With the Treadmill Motor

Apart from the treadmill belt, the next component of your treadmill that experiences a heavy workload is the treadmill motor. Thus, you may face various issues related to your motor as your treadmill gets older.

Treadmill Won’t Turn On/Off

If you are not able to power on/off your treadmill machine, then the fault may lie in the outlet that might have tripped off. Reset your power outlet and check if your treadmill is powered on.

If you observe that the outlet is working fine, then check the power is reaching the console.

If the console is not powered on, you should unplug the machine and remove the motor hood. Check for any unattached wires or loose pin connections.

If you see that all wires are properly attached, try to unplug and plug the plastic connectors. If this does not fix the issue, you should seek help from a qualified treadmill technician.

Irregular Speed

If you feel that your treadmill is not moving at a regular or smooth pace, the issue could be either electrical or mechanical. If the issue is mechanical, you should adjust the tension bolts or lubricate the treadmill belt.

If the issue seems to be electrical, you should remove the motor housing and inspect the plastic roller pulley and the drive belt.

If the drive belt fails to properly grip the roller, it may interfere with smooth power transfer and result in loss of speed.

Burning Smell

If you smell of burning rubber, it may be due to the over-tight belt dragging through the treadmill deck. It results in excessive friction and hence produces a burning smell. You can fix this issue either by lubricating or loosening the belt.

If this is not the case, then check the motor housing after unplugging the machine. Replace any moving parts like pulley or drive belt if they are producing the smell.

Do Simple Treadmill Maintenance Checks 

• Ensure to do regular cleaning of your treadmill. Use a vacuum cleaner for collecting the dust, debris, and pet hairs that may accumulate on the treadmill and enter its motor housing resulting in malfunctioning of motor components.
• Ensure to check and tighten the bolts and nuts every month so that they are fixed securely in their place.
• Every week check the walking belt and deck if there are any signs of wear and tear.
• Check regularly if the treadmill belt and deck are perfectly aligned and centred.
• Ensure to do regular vacuuming of the area surrounding the treadmill and its underneath surface by using specific vacuum attachments.
• Check the electronic components such as power cords regularly for ensuring the safety of your treadmill during any incidence of power fluctuations.
• Look out for the signs of rubbing or scraping on either side of your belt and deck.
• Ensure to replace the rough and worn-out belt or any motor component periodically for increasing the lifespan of your treadmill.

Seek Professional Help

If you face any difficulty while repairing your treadmill or your troubleshooting is not fixing the issue, it’s better to call a qualified treadmill professional for assistance.

The treadmill is expensive equipment, and hence you need to take its proper care for ensuring that it serves you for many years. You must invest time and effort regularly for keeping your treadmill in the best shape.

Whenever there is an issue with your treadmill, you should identify the source of the issue and see if you can repair it yourself. Most of the time, some smaller adjustments do the trick, and you may not need expensive repairs.

Do regular maintenance of your treadmill as it ensures great workout experiences and helps you to maintain uninterrupted fitness schedules.