Treadmill Maintenance
Once you have invested in a treadmill it is important to maintain
it properly to keep it running smoothly. This doesn’t have
to require too much effort as many treadmills sold these days
are actually very low maintenance. Always read your user manual
thoroughly and keep it handy as it is likely to contain important
care and maintenance instructions relevant to your particular
treadmill.
Keeping it clean
One of the most important things to do with any treadmill in
terms of upkeep is to keep it free of dust and dirt. They do
tend to attract quite a lot of dust and if this is allowed to
build up it can lead to several problems including belt failure,
motor overload or dangerous sudden speed changes due to dirty
speed sensors. Once a week you should give your machine a good
clean to avoid these problems occurring. Before starting, ensure
that you unplug your treadmill from the wall socket. Use a dry
clean cloth to dust the running belt and between belt and deck
wherever possible. Do not use any cleaning solutions on the belt
as they can make the surface slippery. Use a clean slightly damp
cloth to clean the frame and console. Once you have finished
wait until the treadmill is completely dry and then turn the
machine on and test all your control panel and safety cut off
functions.
Every few months you should remove the hood to very carefully get rid of any
dirt from under the hood and the motor area using a brush and vacuum cleaner.
Blow any dust away from electronic components and then vacuum it up rather
than directly touching the electronics with the vacuum cleaner. Make sure you
replace the hood correctly and that you always use the right screwdrivers.
To minimise the amount of dirt the treadmill attracts in the first place, vacuum
around and underneath the machine regularly and do not use the same pair of
shoes outside as for exercising on the treadmill.
You should also take care to wipe down all treadmill surfaces after any particularly
intense workouts as sweat is very corrosive and could cause surfaces to rust.
Deck maintenance
The majority of modern treadmills do not need any lubrication
and you should check your manual before lubricating any of the
components. Many treadmills have pre-treated decks and lubricating
these may do a lot more damage than good. Other models may require
initial waxing to reduce friction of the belt, but only wax or
lubricate the deck if recommended by the manufacturer and always
follow the directions for doing so. Low friction between the
deck and belt is important as high friction will cause amp draw – power
being pulled away from the motor and electronics and will end
up damaging these parts.
Belt adjustments
You may sometimes need to adjust the tension and alignment
of the treadbelt. If the belt is too loose or too tight it can
cause wear and tear of both the belt and the deck. Belts often
tend to stretch slightly the first few times you use the treadmill
so check regularly in the beginning if it needs tightening. Tracking
the belt is very easy on most treadmills. There will often be
two belt adjustment screws at the rear of the machine. You will
not need to turn the screws much – a one-quarter turn is
often sufficient if tightening the belt due to initial stretching.
Make sure to follow the instructions in your manual for tracking
the belt, especially as on some treadmills the belt needs to
be looser than on others. After the initial few months, you should
not need to tighten the belt much.
You also need to make sure that the belt is properly aligned
and again you should consult your manual’s belt tracking
instructions. Any adjustments needed are usually minor and you
should not have to do this on a regular basis. If you find that
the belt is often poorly aligned it may be that the treadmill
is not being kept on an even surface. On many treadmills there
are level adjustments at the back so that you can compensate
for an uneven floor. If this isn’t possible with your treadmill
you will have to try to level the floor instead or move the machine
to a more suitable space.
By following the above instructions, or of course the instructions in your
user manual if different, you should get many trouble free years of use out
of your equipment. If you are ever unsure about any care or maintenance issues
related to your treadmill, do contact the manufacturer or dealer for advice.
Improper handling of your treadmill may mean that you will not be covered by
the warranty if anything goes wrong.
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