Common Reasons for Treadmill Belt Slippage

Treadmills are very popular indoor exercise equipment that provides robust cardio workouts for achieving a healthier and fitter body. It is a versatile machine that can be used anytime and anywhere at your home or gym, as per your schedule.

With a treadmill, you can walk or run within the confined space of your home in all weather conditions. While a treadmill does provide you with a wide range of workout programs, sometimes you may encounter problems or issues while doing your workouts.

Treadmill slippage is one of the most common complaints reported by treadmill customers. It is a serious issue, and it needs to be resolved quickly as it may lead to poor workout experiences and pose risks of severe falls and injuries.

Various reasons may cause your treadmill belt to slip. You need to identify the exact reason for the precise troubleshooting of the problem.

Lack of Proper Belt Lubrication

Your treadmill belt might be slipping because it requires lubrication. It is one of the major causes of belt slippages in the treadmills. Your treadmill belt usually runs over a series of rollers from the deck of the treadmill.

For ensuring the smooth movement of the belt, the friction between the belt, rollers, and deck should be minimized. The lack of sufficient lubrication between these components causes the belt to slip and interferes with its normal functioning.

If you have identified the lack of proper lubrication as the reason for treadmill lubrication, you should get your treadmill belt lubricated using any compatible lubricant. The silicone-based lube is commonly used as it doesn’t evaporate.

It’s recommended to go through the user manual for checking the list of recommended lubricants. Also, ensure that you should not lubricate the belt as it may interfere with its normal functioning.

If you don’t know how to lubricate your treadmill belt, call treadmill maintenance professionals to lubricate your belt properly.

Loose Drive Belt

Another prominent reason for your treadmill belt slippage is the loose drive belt between the front roller and the motor.

When you step on your motorized treadmill and notice that the belt stops moving while the motor keeps running, it indicates the front roller issue. In case your pulley and roller also stop functioning, it strongly suggests that the drive belt has worn out.

The loose drive belt results in frequent belt slippage, and you have no option but to replace it. Please don’t attempt to tighten the loose belt as it may raise the operating amps and result in the motor’s burning.

Another option is to treat the drive belt with a belt dressing spray as a temporary fix. However, the permanent solution is replacing the drive belt.

Ensure to check the user’s manual before replacing the drive belt. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, you can take treadmill maintenance professionals’ assistance.

The Front Roller Pulley Loses its Grip

If the pulley on the front roller loses its grip, it may result in treadmill belt slippage.

This pulley moves the belt to complete the operating cycle and accommodate the weight on it. The misalignment between the front roller and the pulley results in the treadmill belt’s misalignment and causes it to slip.

Do a simple exercise for determining if the pulley has lost its grip. Switch off the machine, take a permanent marker and draw a straight line from the pulley to the roller tube.

Now switch on the machine and observe the machinery when the belt slips if the drive belt and the pulley are moving while the front roller and walking belt stop; it suggests that the pulley has lost its grip.

If you cannot comprehend what happened when the belt slips, check if the line drawn by you is separated. If it is separated, then it indicates that the pulley is loose and it needs to be repaired, or else you need to replace the roller.

If this sounds too technical for you, you can always call a treadmill technician to help you in fixing the issue.

Loose Walking Belt

If the walking belt of your treadmill is loose, it may result in belt slippage. In such a case, you are required to increase the tension on the belt.

Over time, the constant treadmill workouts may cause the treadmill walking belt to get stretched out. This may result in a lot of slippages during workouts. This issue can be fixed by tightening up the belt that would stop the slippage effectively.

To confirm if your walking belt is loose or not, try to lift the belt from the centre. If it lifts higher than 2/3 inches, it indicates that the belt needs to be tightened up. Refer to the user’s manual for the instructions regarding how to tighten the loose belt.

If the walking belt is worn out, it is better to replace the belt rather than tightening it because the over-tight belt may cause damage to the treadmill components.

It is important to identify the exact cause of the treadmill belt slippage so that you can address the issue perfectly. Some of the causes can be easily fixed, while others may require professional help.

You can avoid or delay the common reasons for the belt slippages by ensuring your treadmill’s regular maintenance and care. The regular servicing of the treadmill by a qualified technician also helps you fix the issues in time and prevents injuries.

You shouldn’t get complacent if you notice that your treadmill belt is slipping. Because it may not only ruin your workout experiences but also leads to serious injuries.