This article was originally written by Aaron Co
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date_saved:2007-07-25 12:30:12
category:health
article:
Why Use Treadmill Belt Lubricants?
The belt and deck are both important parts of a treadmill. When one of them breaks, it is highly recommended that both be replaced as a pair to ensure that both will work perfectly with each other. Replacements like this can cost you up to $500 or more for a quality treadmill.
However, the belt and deck life of a treadmill can be doubled through regular maintenance. Not only that, treadmill belt lubricants also reduce wear on the machine’s other components thus, giving you less headaches in the future.
A Word of Caution
Not all treadmills need to be lubricated. Most decks now-a-days are made with materials that does not require lubrication or are pretreated. Lubricating these types of belt would actually do more harm than good. It could increase friction between the belt and the deck that can damage the motor. So be sure to read your owner’s manual for lubrication recommendations.
Also, not all treadmill models are the same. A brand might make one machine that requires lubrication and another that doesn’t. So do not make the mistake of assuming that a unit needs lubrication just because previous or other models from the brand needed one. To be certain, contact the manufacturer or a certified service representative.
Types of Treadmill Belt Lubricant
There are 2 types of treadmill lubricants, wax and silicone. Both of these come in a variety of forms. The wax has a powder, granular, and solid form while the silicone are available in liquid or spray can form. Read your owner’s manual to know which type of lubrication is needed by your machine,
How Often to Lubricate a Treadmill?
The lubrication frequency of a treadmill varies from one model to the other. How often you should do maintenance would ultimately depend on the type, size and quality of your machine’s belt and deck. But as a general guideline, lube at least once a year for walkers/joggers and every 6 months for serious runners. You might want to adjust these figures depending on the number of users and how long the machine is being used per day.
Before You Begin
And finally, before you start lubricating, be sure that the treadmill is unplugged from the power source. Also, always keep in mind that unnecessary lubrication, as well as using the wrong type of lubrication, can damage both the treadmill motor and its other components. Again, always check the manufacturer’s guideline or with an authorized service representative to be sure that you’re doing your treadmill lubrication correctly.
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