How to Fix a Treadmill Belt That Slips

Treadmills are the most preferred exercise equipment when it comes to starting a home gym. With a branded treadmill at home, you do not have to take out time from your busy schedule to hit the health club. Also, irrespective of the time or weather condition, you can jog or run within the comfort zone of your home itself.

But it is most unfortunate that not many owners consider regular servicing of home treadmills as necessary, which is suggested for proper functioning of all mechanical products. As a result of this, we end up facing the most common problem of slipped belt when running or jogging on this equipment.

In the present scenario, nearly all health-conscious people use the benefits of a treadmill. Imagine that you wake up in the morning with a good mood and are all geared up for your workout. You step on the treadmill and find out that the belt is slipping off the center. This can be a really frustrating situation.

But, what causes this problem? As with any type of machine, your treadmill is subjected to wear, tear, and loosening of the parts with constant usage. The point is that you need to do more than just apply the belt lubricant to maintain optimal efficiency.

Probable reasons for a slipped treadmill belt are:

• Too loose or too tight fixing of the walking belt. A properly fixed belt should be able to lift from the center by about 2-3 inches.

• The pulley of the front roller system is not contributing its part on gripping the roller. This malfunctioning of the pulley is another probable cause.
• Misalignment of the drive belt, which is positioned between the front roller and the treadmill motor. Very loose drive belt can be a cause of the slip.

A treadmill belt that doesn't remain in the center of the deck is a case of slippage and requires alignment. On the brighter side, repair work can be carried out with simple do-it-yourself (DIY) tips, provided that you have the right kind of tools (hex wrench, screwdriver) with you.

Before you busy yourself with troubleshooting the treadmill though, understand the user guide thoroughly. Look for the mechanical components associated with the belt.

The following are some useful tips for treadmill repair, which you can consider for fixing the slipped belt:

• Switch on the treadmill and see which side the belt is slipping to. Most probably, the roller of the particular side requires tightening. Accordingly, you can adjust the bolts located on each side of the belt.

• At the rear end of the treadmill, locate the belt adjustment knobs. Consider adjusting one side to about ¼ inch and check whether the belt is moving in the center.
• If not, make a small adjustment on the other side and check again.

• Refer to the user manual provided with your fitness equipment and check for the optimal tightness of the drive belt.
• Strictly follow the instructions for tightening the drive belt (if required). While loose drive belts cause the treadmill belt to slip, increased tightness may cause damaging effects to the associated parts.

• Turn on the treadmill and check if the pulley grips the front roller the way it should. If not, replacing the roller will troubleshoot the problem.

Any malfunction, including slippage of the belt, requires correct fixing and servicing before the problem becomes too tough to handle. Otherwise, accidental stepping on it or performing exercises poses danger of severe falls and injuries.

If at all you cannot adjust the belt, get it checked by a professional mechanic. After analyzing the problem, the mechanic may suggest replacing the belt or associated parts altogether. In general, belt replacement is done if its underside is worn out and has become rough.