• Maintenance & Repair

Many people purchase treadmills in hopes of someday achieving their physical goals, but the machines quit working before they do. There are many problems treadmill owners may encounter with their machines, especially if they are avid exercisers. After a few months of hard running, they may need treadmill repair services for their machines

Treadmills are assembled from many parts, including electrical components, belts, and pulleys. Most owners do not want to repair their own machines; the task is just too complex, or they just don’t have the time. They prefer to hire a service provider to perform the treadmill repairs needed. In most cases, the owners return the machine to the retailer from which it was purchased or to the manufacturer. However, there are companies that specialize in repairing treadmills, and most can provide expert services for a lower price than the retailer or manufacturer.

Why would someone need treadmill repair services?

Many treadmill owners find after purchasing their treadmill that they use it less than they had planned. The treadmill sits in a corner of their home, gathering dust. Unfortunately, the treadmill’s inner mechanisms require lubrication to work properly and sitting unused for long periods of time can cause those oils to dry out. Once the treadmill is finally used again, the lubrication fails and the machine breaks down. Invariably, the owner is puzzled and frustrated that their treadmill would malfunction when it was used so rarely.

Other owners use their machines regularly and encounter different problems. The most common problems occur from wear and tear on the treadmill’s belts and pulleys. These are fairly inexpensive to replace, but average consumers don’t have the knowledge to complete the treadmill repairs on their own. Other parts are more costly and complicated to fix. Whether the task is simple or complicated, some treadmill owners just do not have the mechanical aptitude needed to perform the routine maintenance required to keep the machine in top working order. For these owners, a treadmill service provider would be helpful for performing their treadmill repairs.

How many treadmill parts could possibly need repair?

Treadmills have dozens of different parts, and each one can break down at a moment’s notice. The parts vary slightly depending on the model of treadmill and its capabilities, but generally include the following:

Treadmill belts – the belt on which the user walks
Treadmill decks – the hard surface under the treadmill belt
Drive motors – the motor that controls the treadmill belt’s movement. This part is very expensive but rarely requires treadmill repair.
Motor drive belts – it transfers power from the motor to the treadmill
Incline motors – powers the machine’s incline functionality
Rollers – the wheels on the bottom of the machine
Motor control boards – electronic board that controls the treadmill motor
Electrical parts – various boards and chips for use on control boards and panels
Consoles – that part of the machine with which the user interfaces
Wiring – the wires and connectors from the console and control boards to other parts
End caps – a protective cover placed over the end of the treadmill
Power boards – circuit board that directs electricity throughout the treadmill

The failure of any one of these parts could render a treadmill useless. In fact, many treadmills that have been sold are sitting unused in someone’s home today because a small part broke. Those owners would probably be surprised at the inexpensive cost a repair service would charge to fix their broken machines.

Where can a treadmill owner have their treadmill repaired?

Depending on the age of the treadmill, it may be still be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and can be returned to the factory or retailer from which it was purchased for repair. The owner may have to phone the manufacturer or retailer to learn of the nearest authorized facility. If the warranty period has expired, there are many third party treadmill repair services available.

One of the most reputable service centers is Treadmill Doctor. The experts at Treadmill Doctor are certified to repair all major treadmill brands and will provide an accurate quote to the owner before beginning any work. The company has a complete parts inventory and can ship the repaired treadmill anywhere in the US. Treadmill Doctor offers competitive pricing and can perform treadmill repair services at the customer’s location or at the company’s facility. Their website also offers helpful information on the regular maintenance of treadmills.

Many problems can arise in the life a treadmill, so that means owners should read the owner’s manual and perform the routine maintenance required to get the most use from their machines. Still, treadmills do wear out, so the owner should also keep the name of a service provider at hand for their treadmill repair needs.

About the Author:

Kevin Urban is the chief editor and webmaster at TreadmillTalk.com. Start your search for the best home treadmill with our comparison charts and treadmill reviews

Copyright 2009 TreadmillTalk.com

After you get your new treadmill home you need to know how your new machine works and this means getting to know all the names of the treadmill parts. Unfortunately if something were to go wrong with your treadmill then you would need to know what needed fixing and this would undoubtedly be some or one of the treadmill parts.

The first thing to do if one of your treadmill parts stops working, is to see if the part is covered under its warranty. This will be easy to determine and most treadmills do come with a warranty. However, if your treadmill did not, then you need to look at buying replacement treadmill parts. The easiest way to replace one of your broken treadmill parts is by using the internet. It is relatively easy to get replacement treadmill parts online, and you can do this by putting in a simple search.

One of the most common treadmill parts to break is the belt, and this is something that you will need to research before replacing. Make sure you do some serious research and check that your replacement treadmill parts are compatible with your machine. Most companies will offer advice and help you all they can, so use their customer service before you buy!

However the best way to avoid having to replace broken treadmill parts is by purchasing a good treadmill with a solid warranty, and in particular what policy they offer of replacement of treadmill parts. Also, if you do regular maintenance and take care of your treadmill then you should need replacement treadmill parts less.

Do your research before you buy. Make sure you know where you can get treadmill parts for your machine, then should anything go wrong in the future, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Treadmill-Solutions.com. He provides more treadmill reviews, treadmill ratings and treadmill buying information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Treadmill preventive maintenance begins when you select a permanent location for your unit. First, you will need to make necessary adjustments to assure your unit is level before your first workout. Most manufactures have adjustments to compensate for an uneven floor. Check your owners manual if you can not locate them visually. Use a level, don’t trust your eyes.

There are costly circuit boards in your Treadmill, to protect these electronic components, the treadmill must be plugged in to a surge protector and a grounded AC outlet.

I suggest a Treadmill Floor Mat. Not only does the mat protect your carpet or flooring. It keeps dust and debris from being inhaled into your Treadmill while in use. Lint and Dust may produce a static charge. Treadmill Mats can be purchased online, form a local Sports Store or from the manufacturer.

One of the biggest reasons of Treadmill Failure is dirt, dust and pet hair. When I make service calls, I am always amazed at the dog or cat hair I find under the hood or between the belt and deck. All these contribute to premature failure to your investment.

Below are some tips for extending the life of your machine. Always unplug your Treadmill and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before performing any maintenance. This will give the transformer time to discharge, avoiding possible electrical shock.

Weekly Cleaning and Maintenance:

• Keep the area around your unit dirt and dust free
• Pull a damp towel between the belt and deck, rotate belt and repeat
• Clean and disinfect all handrails and /or grips and traction strips

Monthly Cleaning and Maintenance:

• Remove Hood
• Vacuum all foreign matter, this reduces wear and tear on motor and belt
• Check motor drive belt for wear and adjustment

If in doubt performing treadmill maintenance, you should contact either a reputable repair company, your dealer or the manufacturer for details. The owner’s manual that came with your machine will give you information pertinent to you piece of equipment.

This article written by Rick B Gray, Treadmill and Fitness Equipment Technician. http://www.TreadmillsFitnessReviews.com for more information on servicing Fitness Equipment.

Even though treadmills are usually very reliable, if you do a bit of regular maintenance then they will last longer and become a lot more reliable. It is a very important to make sure that the belt of the treadmill is in good condition as this can have a very big effect on the operation of the exercise machine and it could affect your workout performance. Another point that is worth bearing in mind is the cost of replacing belts if they do go wrong or get broke. As with many maintenance items they can be very expensive, a single belt can cost hundreds of dollars if it needs to be replaced and of course your workout will suffer because you will not be able to use the machine until it is fixed.

One of the easiest ways of keeping your treadmill running smoothly is through regular maintenance. Especially with older machines this is a very good idea because on some of the older fitness machines you need to apply treadmill belt lubricant on a regular basis. Naturally, this can be a lot easier and cheaper than dealing with a broken machine. If you have a newer indoor running machine then it may not need to be treated with treadmill belt lubricant. The newer fitness and exercise machines are relatively maintenance free but the best thing to do is to look in the maintenance manual that comes with the machine to see when normal or routine maintenance needs to take place.

If your machine does need to be treated with treadmill belt lubricant you really need to make sure that you have the right type. Because there is more than one type sold on the market, you need to be sure that you purchase the right one so that the machine runs smoothly and not lethargic or jerky. Some machines require a wax treadmill belt lubricant, but even then that form of lubricant can be in different forms. There are powders and granules and you have to make sure that you have the right sort. The other applicant that is generally used to lubricate the belts on treadmills is silicone and it also comes in two different types, it can either be in a spray can or it can be a liquid treadmill belt lubricant.
Although it is not hard to keep your treadmill running well it is important.

The best way to find out what you need to do to ensure the proper operation of your treadmill is to look in the owner’s manual. This will tell you exactly what you need to do to keep it running smoothly so that you can get the best use from it. A well-maintained machine is a lot less likely to break down, will allow you to continue to workout and will help you to avoid any costly repairs or maintenance bills.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Treadmill-Solutions.com. He provides more treadmill ratings, recommendations and information on finding the right treadmill belt lubricant that you can research in your pajamas on his website.