What should you do if your treadmill’s walking belt keeps slipping while you’re using it? First, you must answer the question that prompted this one. “Why is the running belt slipping?” is the question at hand. What’s the big deal about this? You need to know why your belt is slipping before you can figure out how to stop it slipping.
“I have tightened the belt on my treadmill as tight as it will go and the belt is still slipping.” This is a regular concern we hear from customers every day.
“How do I solve this?” First and foremost, pounding your skull against a wall will do you more good than you have already done. Then, if you recall where you put the belt, release it to its original tightness.
The Belt Needs Lubrication
Treadmill belt slippage is frequently the result of improper lubrication. In order for a treadmill to run properly, the belt must travel from the treadmill deck to a set of rollers, and this causes friction between the rollers and the belt.
As a result, not only will the treadmill be difficult to operate, but the belt will keep slipping, preventing you from getting the most out of your workout session.
Treadmills marketed as “no maintenance” treadmills, on the other hand, make it seem like there is no need to maintain the treadmill once you purchase it. As far as I’m concerned, this is nothing more than an attempt at marketing, and the first problem that you’ll face is belt slippage, which is the result of a lack of proper maintenance.
This means that you should try to apply any compatible lubricant (Most manufacturers recommend silicone base lube since it does not evaporate) to your treadmill belt in order to stop the belt from slipping if you suspect it is due to the lack of proper lubrication.
Check your owner’s handbook for a list of suggested lubricants, and be careful not to overlubricate the belt, as this could cause it to break down. It’s important to get your treadmill belt greased by a professional if you have a “no maintenance” model.
Drive Belt May Be Loose
If the drive belt between the motor and the front roller is slipping, then belt slippage is inevitable. If the treadmill’s belt stops but the engine continues to operate, you should examine the front roller. If the roller and the pulley also quit working, the drive belt is worn out and needs to be replaced.
Consequently, the belt will always be slack, and no matter how hard you attempt to hold it in place, it will always drop from time to time. It’s best not to try to tighten it, since doing so could result in an increase in operating amps and a possible motor failure.
The best course of action is to simply replace the drive belt in order to relieve the motor of any further stress. Another option is to temporarily mend the drive belt by spraying it with a belt dressing spray, which you can purchase at a treadmill store.
When replacing the motor’s hood cover’s drive belt, be sure to consult your owner’s handbook, since certain manufacturers advise against doing so unless specifically instructed to do so by an approved repair facility. If the manufacturer hasn’t suggested it, performing this type of repair will likely void the manufacturer’s guarantee.
The Pulley on the Front Roller May Have Lost its Grip
If the pulley on the front roller of the treadmill loses its grip, the belt may also slip. This pulley is critical for distributing the belt’s weight and completing the operational cycle. The treadmill belt will eventually slip if the pulley and the front roller are misaligned in the event of a slippage.
Using colourful tape or a permanent marker, draw a straight line from the pulley to the roller tube to identify if the pulley on the front roller has lost its grip. Alternatively, switch off the machine and attach a piece of tape to a visible area of the pulley.
Turn on the treadmill and see what happens if the belt slips while you are running. You may tell that the pulley has lost its grip if its drive belt continues to move while the front roller and walking belt stop.
The tape or the line marked should be checked if you’re unsure of what happens when your belt slips. if it doesn’t, it signifies that the pulley and roller are rotating in tandem and the belt is slipping for any other reason. You may be sure that if it does, the pulley is loose and either the pulley or the roller has to be changed.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, you might want to call a tech to help you out.
Walking Belt May Be Too Lose
There is a possibility that your treadmill belt may be slack and that the belt tension has to be increased if you are still unable to find out what is causing it to slip.
You should expect a lot of slippage if the walking belt is loose. Tightening the belt can successfully stop the slippage if it has stretched out naturally with frequent use and age as one of the causes for the belt becoming loose.
As a test, you can raise it from the centre and see if it lifts approximately 2/3 inch off the running deck; if it lifts higher, the belt is too loose and will need to be tightened. It’s best to consult your treadmill’s owner’s manual for instructions on how to tighten a loose belt.
We recommend that you replace the worn out belt, as it is easy to overtighten it. The treadmill parts could be damaged if the belt is too tight.
Conclusion
These are some of the typical reasons of treadmill belt slippages along with how you can repair them, with some being basic solutions, while others being a bit involved. But one thing to keep in mind is that if you’ve neglected your treadmill, you may run into difficulties like treadmill belt slippage, so it’s important to get it serviced on a regular basis so that you don’t run into any other issues that may get in the way of your workout.