The Importance of Changing Treadmill Decks & Belts

The importance of Changing Treadmill Decks & Belts

All Treadmill running belts and decks have a lifespan and when the Treadmill motor overheats from the effort, this is almost always due to the high coefficient of friction between belt and deck (Base)

Does the belt stop or doesn’t seem to have the strength to carry the person using the treadmill? Do you notice an excessive consumption (high amperage)?

This is a warning signal that the belt or the deck are in bad shape and need to be replaced urgently.

If you don’t change the belt and deck, the motor brushes wear out faster (for DC motors) and you risk compromising your controller (both for DC and AC motors). The smell coming out from motor that sometimes smells like “burnt paint” indicates that the windings are overheating, and protective resin is likely to melt. If you do not control and sort out the belt and deck, sooner or later it causes irreversible damage to motors, and electronic circuit boards, therefore creating a highly expensive repair.

Belt manufacturers indicate a useful lifespan of two or three years for a belt on one machine. In practice, for domestic use a standard belt lasts 3-4 years, a quality one up to 5/6 years. In the fitness facility the lifespan does not exceed more than 2 years.

Running decks have two sides to them with a phenolic coating on both sides.  This means that they don’t have to be replaced every time.  Once one side is worn it can be flipped over and the other side will still have a fully intact phenolic deck.  A new running belt can be placed on top of this.  So, not always an expensive belt and deck repair every time.

It is important for treadmill owners to understand what they must replace regularly, therefore establishing in advance the expenses.

A preventive maintenance plan for treadmills (Things to do at least every two months in commercial gyms)

• Basic cleaning (dust and impurities) with suitable, NOT aggressive, cleansing agent.
• Vacuum the engine compartment (NO water, use a vacuum cleaner and do not directly touch the electronic components).
• Motor control (check brushes if DC motor).
• Check the drive belt and its tension.
• Inspection of the controller (connectors).
• Tilt motor control (functional tests and cleaning/lubrication of screw only).
• Cleaning and lubrication of the deck.
• Belt monitoring: upper and lower side inspection, cleaning, lubrication with spray lubricant for treadmills, tension, and alignment. Ensuring that the belt hasn’t tracked away from the centre of the running deck.
• Checking/cleaning the rollers and the drive system.
• Where necessary: calibration of the speed.
• Amperage testing with no load and with load.
• Final functional test with no load and with load.