Treadmills Repair

Repair treadmills at home

Treadmills are becoming common exercise equipment in homes today. Different models of treadmills are available in the market and they find their way into homes. As you use your treadmills, they will need maintenance and repair from time to time, treadmill repair is becoming more frequent. The best way to keep you treadmills running as good as new is to take some preventive maintenance. Proper maintenance of your treadmill will ensure that you will have to make fewer repairs on your treadmills. The basic construction of a treadmill is quite simple and is made of simple parts. So repairing the treadmill yourself at home would not be tough. But make sure that you go through the manual for maintenance and also check out the ways you can repair your treadmill from various sources.

The basic items you would need for maintenance and repairing your treadmill would be a vacuum cleaner, screwdrivers, wrenches and some rags to clean the grease. Before you start repairing make sure that you unplug your treadmill from the socket. Then remove the top cover of your treadmill that covers the sides and the motor. You will have to unscrew anywhere between 4 to 12 screws for this depending on the model. Once the cover is off, vacuum the dust that is present on the motor and on the sides. No matter how dust proof your home is there is always going to be dust settled inside your treadmill. Make sure that you vacuum the drive mechanism also. You would find it tough to reach some places with your vacuum cleaner and for such places use a brush or a cloth. A clean, dust free motor will not overheat and ensures that your motor will last longer.

Once you are done with your vacuuming, look for the grease fittings. All drive mechanism would need grease to ensure smooth running of the parts. They are easy to find – just look for a small block similar to an eraser with a small hole in it. The best way to grease is to use a grease gun. If you don’t have a grease gun you can always pick up one from your local store. They are inexpensive and it helps you to grease parts easily. The best grease that you can use for your treadmill would be white lithium grease. Don’t under grease the parts – adding more grease than required would not harm the parts.

If the treadmill is chain driven then you will have to clean the chain from dust and other particles. Grease the chain properly and also grease the drive chain and elevation chain. Proper greasing of chains will ensure that you don’t end up with a scenario where your chains will cut. Also make sure that you check the drive belts for wear and tear. If you feel that the drive belts are worn out, replace them. Even a small cut on the drive belt can become bigger and eventually break. So don’t hesitate to change drive belts with small cuts too. Once the drive mechanism is done you can start looking into the walking belt.

The walking belt is the part of the treadmill that faces the brunt of your usage. You can loosen the walking belt by loosening the bolt or screw that holds the rollers in place. Normally walking belts are made to last and many of the latest treadmills have the facility to flip the walking belt. If you feel that the walking belt is worn out either flip it or replace it. Some treadmills also allow you to flip the walking deck allowing you to make maximum use of the walking area. Wipe the deck and also the underside of the walking belt with a soft cloth. Make sure that you lubricate the walking deck properly using silicone spray or gel. Once lubricated tighten the screws that hold the walking deck.

Do check the tension on the walking belt by stepping on it and adjusting as per your requirement. You have to make sure that you tight the screws on either side identically to avoid the belt from sliding to the sides. Run the treadmill and if you find the belt moving a side adjust the screws to make sure that it runs straight. First run the treadmill at a slower speed and then slowly increase the speed until you are satisfied that the treadmill runs properly. After setting up the walking deck you can fit the outer cover and your treadmill is ready to be used again.

Treadmills can have various problems that may arise. Some can be repaired at home whereas some might require assistance from an expert. If the motor in your treadmill needs to be repaired it is always advisable to contact the dealer from whom you purchased the treadmill. Small repairs can always be done by you easily, but never try to repair the more serious ones yourself. Proper maintenance of a treadmill is absolutely essential as it would reduce the number of times you would have to repair your treadmill. Also make sure that you buy good durable treadmills from a known dealer. Cheap treadmills will tend to breakdown often and you might end up spending more repairing it to buying it.