How to Fix a Slipping Treadmill Belt?

Has your workout session on the treadmill been disrupted due to the belt slipping? It is quite infuriating and although you might be tempted to replace the treadmill, that’s not the best solution. Treadmills are very expensive and solving the problem is much cheaper.

There are certain causes for your treadmill belt slipping. This guide will illustrate some of the reasons and teach you how to fix a slipping treadmill belt.

Why Does a Treadmill Belt Slip?

Before you can begin fixing the problem, it’s best to understand what’s causing it. There are several reasons why a treadmill belt can start acting up. These include:

Loose Belts

One of the most common reasons is that your treadmill belt is loose or not properly tightened. A treadmill belt can also come loose with use or time. When the belt is not tight, you can experience slipping.

Lack of Lubrication

A treadmill works via the smooth movement of rollers in the machine. To maintain this smooth movement, maintenance and lubrication are necessary from time to time.

This ensures the treadmill works smoothly and that there is very little friction. Friction between the moving parts can cause the belt to become loose.

Improper Tightening

The screws used to tighten the treadmill belt can be badly fastened which can affect the treadmill. Sometimes one set of screws is tightened more than the other causing an imbalance which results in the belt slipping when you’re trying to run on it.

Damaged Rollers

Worn out or damaged rollers are a huge indicator of age and a big reason for slipping treadmill belts. There are usually other signs accompanying this including noise.

Worn-Out Treadmill Belt

When your treadmill belt is worn out from use, it’s very likely for it to slip. The surface can also become damaged and hard to use.

How to Fix a Slipping Treadmill Belt?

There are several things you can do either to prevent your treadmill belt from slipping or fix the issue. For both, it is always recommended to have your model’s instruction manual or guide with you.

It proves to be useful by alerting you of any special instructions you need to follow when attempting to fix the problem.

So, some of the methods you can perform are:

Proper Lubrication

Making sure your treadmill belt is properly lubricated is an important step to prevent slipping. Regular maintenance will keep your machine smooth. You should do this every 6 to 8 months or whenever your model’s belt starts to show signs of slipping.

To properly lubricate your machine, follow the below steps:

1. Make sure your machine is turned off before working on it
2. Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws and remove the belt
3. Clean the treadmill belt properly. Dust and grime can mix with the lubricant and end up damaging the machine. Use a clean cloth to properly rinse it
4. Spray the lubricant onto the surface of the belt. Don’t spray too much in one spot as it can make the belt too loose and won’t make your workout smooth
5. Clean off any residual lubricant before putting the belt back in place

After lubrication, walk on it slowly for 5 minutes. This will help the lubricant spread more and make the movement smoother. Make sure you have a good quality lubricant for use as low-quality ones will do more harm than good.

Proper Tightening

Making sure the screws on your machine are properly tightened will prevent slipping. This is a very delicate process and you need to be careful when performing this method as over-tightening can also cause problems.

Before beginning, make sure you have an Allen wrench and know where the screws are located on your model. Then follow the steps below:

1. Make sure your machine is turned off before working on it
2. Locate the screws, and then place the Allen wrench on it making sure it is a good fit
3. Rotate clockwise if you want to tighten the screw and make a quarter turn. For loosening, turn it anti-clockwise
4. Repeat the quarter-turn motion for the opposite side. This ensures that both sides are equally tightened
5. Raise the belt from the running deck and check the height. Three inches is a good height to maintain. Note the center alignment as it will tell you if one side is tighter than the other
6. In the case of the center alignment being off, you will need to loosen the side that the belt is leaning towards
7. Test your treadmill by running on it for a few minutes

Never over-tighten the belt. This puts a great strain on the motor and can reduce the lifespan of your machine. If tightening does not fix the issue, it is better to try a different method.

Replacing Parts

As mentioned above, some of the reasons a treadmill belt can slip are because of worn-out parts. These include roller issues, a worn belt, or a worn motor drive.

Before replacing a worn belt, you can try to clean and lubricate it before seeing if it needs replacing. Often it does the trick. However, damage from rough use will often mean that you need to get a new one.

Roller issues can be numerous and can include worn out caps or internal damage. As such it can be hard to point out what is wrong with the roller unless you’re experienced or have a mechanic to help you.

Some issues can be repaired but others might need replacement. These problems are more prevalent in lower quality treadmills.

Conclusion

We hope you found this guide on how to fix a slipping treadmill belt helpful. Maintaining the machine and lubricating it from time to time will be very helpful in preventing this. Also, make sure not to subject the treadmill to rough use. This can very easily damage the belt and end up making it slip.

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