Treadmill lubricant reduces friction between the tread belt and the motor, significantly extending track life. Treadmill lubricant helps prepare the machine for storage. Without it, the belt could become brittle and break the machine is restarted.
Preventing a tread belt breakdown is always cheaper than buying a new belt. How often should I lubricate my treadmill? Hope you can help. Thanks Val. Hi Val, what is the make and model of your machine? Have you been able to contact customer service for this brand?
Each company has slightly different methods for solving issues with error codes. I brought a second hand treadmill but in good condition very little use but it is very hard to use the belt it seems to me to want to need to be lubricated. I use it on the lowest number 1 can only do a couple of minutes because of the stiffness of the belt or is it the rollers that need greasing?
Hi B, it sounds like the treadmill belt needs to be lubricated and readjusted. Make sure to consult the treadmill manual before you attempt to do this yourself to ensure you are not damaging the treadmill.
Hi, I have used a Dynamix Electric Treadmill for about 9 years. Under normal use, you should lubricate the device every three months, or every miles. If you use your treadmill more intensely, check more often to determine if maintenance is necessary. So, how do you check? Loosen the belt. Start by unplugging your treadmill — a necessary precaution before you do any sort of maintenance work.
Then, loosen a bolt with an Allen wrench or a screwdriver, depending on the model. Once the treadmill belt is loosened, lift it up slightly and put your hand under it. Yes, you most certainly can! Start small, you can always add more. Overlubrication can cause a number of issues. First, the excess lube will be flung out from under your belt at high speeds, your carpet, walls, and anything surrounding your machine could become soaked with silicone. Second, excess lube will also be flung into your motor compartment.
This will coat the interior of your motor compartment with a fine or heavy, depending on the amount used! This results in a layer of grime that builds up in the motor compartment as it has no way to escape without opening it up and wiping it out.
The lube flung into the motor compartment can find its way into the drive motor or onto the motor control board. Within the drive motor the lube will heat up and smell best case scenario or short the motor requiring replacement worst case scenario. In the event it splatters onto the motor controller it may also short that out, resulting in a required motor control board replacement. Lastly, lube can come into contact with the drive belt between the front roller and drive motor causing it to slip.
Odds are the drive motor and front roller pulleys will be able to be cleaned off, but the rubber drive belt will become impregnated with this lube and will require replacement. How often should I lubricate my treadmill? This will vary greatly by the amount of usage your treadmill experiences. Some machines will have internal timers or odometers that will prompt you to lube your machine after a set number of hours or miles, however, these are just set intervals that have no relation to actual machine performance and need and are approximations only.
How do I know when my treadmill needs to be lubricated? The basic rule to follow is that you should be able to touch your deck surface, under the walking belt and feel a slightly waxy or oily coat of lube on the deck. Check under the area where your feet contact the walking belt.
In the event you cannot feel a residue left from your last application of lube, it needs more. For a more in-depth explanation of how we make this determination using amp draws, please see our amp draw article. This belt is in the process of being replaced, but you can see the wear marks created by users feet. On a machine with a belt still in usable condition, the lube should be applied to that area especially.
My machine is under warranty, why does it need to be lubed? For the same reason oil changes and basic maintenance are required on brand new cars that are still under warranty. Yes, warranties are a valuable addition to any machine, however, they do not last forever and failures are much more likely after the warranty expires if a machine has not been properly maintained.
When in doubt, Contact Us , or your manufacturer. Call us out for a preventive maintenance service that includes lubrication or purchase lubricant if you would rather do it yourself. Either way, we are happy to help! Thanks for the cotton candy mention. Used for 3 months, seemed to work fine, then looked under the belt and found mass quantites of cotton candy. I wonder if I ruined the belt. Unfortunately, it sounds like it may have.
Something else could have caused the cotton underlayer to begin coming off, but it could have been the lube as well. So I lubed up my treadmill because it was getting hot.. Any solution? Sounds like there is definitely something else going on there. Do you have the ability to perform an amp draw test? Having those readings will point you in the right direction when it comes to pinpointing the issue. You can see our amp draw instructions page for more details, let us know what you find!
Can you redo this instruction? Pictures would sure help. Do you offer written instructions with pictures? I have a very old ICON that probably needs replacing but it just continues to turn. The only issue to me is my Garmin beats per minute, which are s series of spikes, so I assume the treadmill is constantly changing speeds although it feels smooth to me.
Thank you for your comments David. This post was more written as a guide as to why lubrication of your treadmill is important as opposed to how to a step by step guide on how to lubricate your treadmill, as that is covered in most machine owners manuals. It also stopped while I was on the treadmill. It very well could be Robby. Is the deck surface completely smooth? What does the underside of the walking belt feel like?
Under the belt is a foam pad on top of the deck, which has a clear plastic sheet covering the foam less surface friction with added impact relief. I do not see any signs of fatigue of permanent damage, luckily. This belt does not have a fiber backing.
Would there be an advantage to sticking with the factory belt over a 2 ply fiber-backed belt? My thinking is the treadmill would benefit from the fiber-backed belt over another single ply rubber, but I just run on it so what do I know :D Wanted some professional input before I put money into this one.
Hi DJ, thanks for your question. Are you able to perform an amp draw on the unit? That would provide a definitive answer as to whether or not the belt needs to be replaced, though from what you describe I do believe it is a safe bet. Although we do always recommend OEM parts, there are reputable aftermarket belt retailers out there. As long as the belt is made for your unit you should be ok. While tackling this project I would also recommend replacing the mylar sheet underneath the belt.
Those do not last forever and it is always best to mate two new surfaces together. When replacing that sheet, take care to ensure the rubber pad beneath the sheet is free of any and all debris. Even a small granule underneath the mylar can raise that sheet enough to create a wear spot which will wear prematurely.
Thank for the input Dan! I will do an amp draw during my next workout and monitor to see if I get an increase as the workout progresses my bet is yes due to thermal component resistance increase and belt friction increase. I plan to pop the brushes out on the motor to verify those are still good as well, otherwise I will replace them with the belt and Mylar. Treadmill belt appeared dry and had a lot of static. About 3 weeks later the motor started growling and was replaced. I have seen some places where they say this is ok, others quite the opposite.
By cleaning it etc. The drive motor grinding you described was more than likely due to bearing noise. At the risk of attracting the ire of some manufacturers we service, quite simply, we have yet to come across a belt that performs well without maintenance.
Maintaining a workout routine is enough of a challenge without adding another item to a to do list. However, at this point in time we do not believe the advancements made in belt technology are an adequate replacement for routine lubrication.
The last thing anyone would want would be to invalidate a parts warranty by not following the listed requirements. Once the machine is no longer under warranty, lube it as you would any other belt to protect your investment. The cost of lube is much lower than the cost of a new belt, it is well worth giving it a shot! I recently applied a large amount of aftermarket silicone lubricant and have experienced immediate performance issues, including cotton candy. What should I do next?
Replace belt? How do I effectively remove the residual lubricant? Hi Neil, thank you for your question. Can you elaborate as to what issues you are experiencing with your machine? At this point, I would recommend trying to soak up as much lube as possible. Wipe all excess of the deck, and, depending on how much is left, more may seep out of the belt and onto the deck, wipe all that up as well.
Do NOT apply any cleaners or degreasers to the underside of the belt or the top of the deck surface, I am hopeful they are still salvageable, doing so would require them to be replaced. To remove lube from the walking belt that has already been absorbed, place very clean cardboard or paper grocery bags between the underside of the walking belt and the deck surface.
Naturally, they will need to be removed prior to using the machine again, so place a sign on the console or move the safety key to another location away from the machine as a reminder those need to be removed.
Hi there I bought a second hand discovery xfit7 treadmill am just want to know if the deck needs lubrication can lift one side of belt up slightly but not the other side as it sits under the side frame. Hi Derek, thank you for your question! I was not able to find any documentation regarding this machine online as the manufacturer is no longer around, but these rails should attach either from the top or bottom of the deck. If you happen to have an owners manual for this machine it may also include an exploded diagram.
I am a first time treadmill owner of a used Pro-Form e treadmill. It had been sitting in the previous owners garage for months before it was gifted to me. When I walk on it it feels like the belt is slipping.
I read the manual and adjusted the belt to make sure it was centered but it is still slipping at times. Does that mean it never needs to be lubricated? Hello Andrea, thank you for your question! You would certainly be safe to lube this walking belt as you are well beyond your warranty period and after this much time your machine is almost certainly in need of lubrication, despite the directions in the manual.
The best way to know for certain is to perform an amp draw test. If your walking belt has been tensioned properly and you are still experiencing slippage, tensioning your drive belt would be the next step. In the meantime, do not overtension your walking belt as that will put unnecessary stress on the components of the machine.
I bought a used proform If I lube, does it go between the tread and the plastic or between the plastic and the deck… or both? Thank you for your question, you bring up a good point. Lubricant should be applied to the top of the mylar plastic sheet.
Put another way, the lube should be applied between the mylar sheet and the walking belt. Applying lube between the mylar sheet and deck will likely result in a mess as the lube will not be able to penetrate either of those surfaces, and just pool underneath.
Great, thanks for the quick response Dan. Glad I waited for a reply. Hi Dan, thanks for the previous info. I ordered a belt from Horizon machine is LS Apparently some decks are flippable but mine might not be.
It sounds crazy to replace the deck every time you replace the belt but who knows. Also, do you have a theory about how many miles you should be able to get out of a belt? Thanks very much. Decks are often recommended with belt replacements, especially if they are worn. After you remove your old belt, run your hand along the entire deck surface that will come into contact with the belt.
If it is perfectly smooth, as smooth as glass, and not showing any visible signs of wear, then you should be good to go. If there are any surface irregularities at all, these will only worsen over time and will result in your belt wearing out prematurely. Most belts are rated to last between miles, though regular maintenance will play a large factor in belt life.
Just like with a car, a regularly maintained vehicle will always outlast a poorly maintained one. I have a Sole F Back in July it stoped working. I talked to Sole the day it broke and they said I need a new circuit board. Then I called again today and they asked me to look at the deck and belt.
The underside of the belt edge was slightly darker than the middle barely noticeable. The deck looked fine. They still told me that I need a new circuit board, but this time they said that I need a new belt too.
What do you think? How do you use Treadmill Lubricant? First, you want to clean between the belt and deck to remove any debris that may be trapped. Use a clean, non-fraying rag, t-shirt, or light towel. Halfway between the end of the treadmill and motor cover, shove the garment under the belt until you can grasp it on both sides of the belt.
Drag the garment the length of the entire belt times. Remove the garment. Once clean, use the following procedure to apply the lubricant: Ensure that your machine is off, and unplugged to minimize risk of injury. Reach between the belt and the top of the treadmill base to verify that lubrication is present. While kneeling beside your treadmill deck, use one hand to hold the treadmill belt up and away from the treadmill base just enough so you can use your other hand to reach the lubrication underneath.
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