Having your treadmill belt slip can be incredibly frustrating and make it impossible to comfortably use your machine. Also, if the belt continues to slip, the treadmill belt can start wearing down and taxing the motor. So, if you have noticed that your treadmill belt is slipping, you need to tackle the problem sooner, rather than later.
As your treadmill aficionados, here at Treadmill Reviews, we have had to deal with slipping treadmill belts too. To help you deal with your slipping treadmill belt, below are the reasons why it may be slipping and how you can fix it.
Reasons Why Your Treadmill Belt Is Slipping, And How To Fix It
There can be a range of different reasons why your treadmill belt is acting up. Some of the issues can happen simultaneously, so don’t give up if you have tried one fix, and it didn’t correct the problem completely.
Excess Friction
Treadmill belts can start to slip when there is little-to-no lubrication to help keep the movement smooth. Often, the lack of lubrication is the main reason why your treadmill belt has started to slip.
Depending on your treadmill and type of lubricant, you may need to lubricate your treadmill belt every six or twelve months. That is a pretty big span, so be sure to check your manufacturer’s manual and recommendations.
How To Fix
If your treadmill is slipping due to a lack of lubrication, you will need to loosen your treadmill belt and apply the lubricant underneath. It doesn’t take much lubricant, so start easy on the application and apply more if needed. Allow the treadmill belt to run slowly to help spread the lubricant.
Treadmill Belt Too Loose
Loosening your treadmill belt can leave you with a new slipping issue—now, the belt is loose, floppy, and prone to slipping. Also, your treadmill belt can naturally loosen over time, even if you have never actively loosened the belt.
How To Fix
To correct this issue, locate the treadmill belt tightening bolts on your treadmill. The exact position will differ depending on your treadmill, but your treadmill manual should be able to show you where they are located. If you lost the manual, you may have luck looking online, as many of the larger manufacturers have PDF versions of their manuals available.
Once you have located the tightening bolts, tighten your treadmill belt by quarter-turns. Be sure to tighten the sides equally, or your treadmill belt will skew toward one side.
Treadmill Belt Too Tight
Out of the treadmill belt slipping issues, having your treadmill belt be too tight is not one that will happen on its own. It can be difficult to know how far to tighten your treadmill belt, so you should expect to need to make adjustments after tightening.
How To Fix
This fix is pretty simple—untighten each side of your treadmill belt by quarter-turns, checking on your treadmill belt between each quarter-turn cycle. Once your belt stops slipping, you are good to go.
Motor Drive Belt Worn Out
The drive belt connecting your treadmill rollers to the motor can wear out, leaving you with a slipping treadmill belt, or even a belt that has stopped moving altogether. If you notice that the front roller has stopped moving, but the treadmill motor is still working, then it is likely that your motor drive belt is to blame.
How To Fix
A worn belt will need to be replaced. If you are still under warranty, you can call for service, though parts and labor warranties are not that long with most treadmills. You can also order your treadmill part yourself and attempt replacement if you feel confident. However, this course of action may void your warranty.
Treadmill Roller Issues
There are a number of roller issues you may encounter that can cause the belt to slip, from worn-out end caps to loose pulley systems. These issues are more prevalent with cheap treadmills, which is part of why we don’t end up recommending any treadmills under $500—the quality just isn’t there.
How To Fix
For these cheap treadmills, it is likely that the warranty coverage is over, and you can do two things. Either you order repair kits and attempt to replace the worn-out parts of the roller, or you can upgrade to a better machine, or another cheap treadmill, though we don’t recommend that.
Treadmill Belt Worn Out
With enough usage, even the best commercial-grade treadmill belts can become worn out. As the treadmill belt wears down, it can start to slip, as well as causing you to slip as the grippy surface wears out.
How To Fix
In this instance, to fix a slipping, treadmill belt, we recommend you try to lubricate and tighten your treadmill belt before opting to replace it. Treadmill belts can last a long time, so it may not be worn out. However, if there are visible signs of wear or the other solutions don’t work, it’s time to call in your manufacturer’s warranty service to replace the worn-out belt. You may also be able to order a new belt for your treadmill and replace it yourself.
Rough Usage
There are some exercises that tell you to use your treadmill in a way that it is not suited, such as using it like a manual treadmill, jumping on your treadmill, pushing hard with only one leg, and other things like that. This kind of usage can be rough on your treadmill and lead to your treadmill belt slipping.
How To Fix
Depending on your treadmill, there could be a variety of things wrong. Among the top of issues is likely a worn down treadmill belt and loss of lubrication. After making these fixes, it is time to revise how you use your treadmill in the future.
What To Do If The Treadmill Belt Is Still Slipping
Sometimes, a slipping treadmill belt is a symptom of the whole treadmill breaking down, and it is only a matter of time before it’s game over for your machine.
If you find yourself in the position where you need a new treadmill but aren’t sure where to start, you can begin by checking out our list of the best treadmills. We are sure that one of the treadmills on that list will be the perfect fit for you and your home fitness needs.
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