What’s the proper tension for the belt on a treadmill?

Asked by: Alicia Yang

Using the Hex Key, turn both idler roller screws clockwise 1/4 turn. When the walking belt is correctly tightened you should be able to lift each edge of the walking belt 2 to 3 inches off the walking platform.

How tight should treadmill belt be?

e) As a general rule, you should be able to lift the belt in the center on the side by approximately 2″ to 3″. As a general rule, if you cannot lift it by 2″ to 3″, the belt is too tight. 2) The drive belt between the motor and the front roller may be slipping.

What happens if you over tighten a treadmill belt?

Question: Can you over-tighten a treadmill belt tension? Answer: Most definitely. When it comes time to adjusting the walking belt tension, it’s very important to not “over tighten” the tension bolts because it can cause damage to the walking belt. It’s recommended to only adjust the belt in 1/4 turn increments.

How do I know if my treadmill belt is off center?

It's important to determine which the belt is drifting towards insert the hex key into that bumper first. And give it a quarter turn clockwise.

How do you measure belt tension?

In a multiple belt. Drive simply deflect until the bottom o-ring is in line with the top of one of the other belts.

Why do my feet slip on the treadmill?

If you feel a slipping sensation when using your treadmill, it may be in need of minor treadmill repair. To fix treadmill problems associated with slippage, align and tighten the running belt. Belts can slip when there’s too much friction or if the belt is over-tightened.

Can you put too much lubricant on a treadmill?

Can I overlubricate my treadmill? Yes, you most certainly can! Start small, you can always add more. Overlubrication can cause a number of issues. First, the excess lube will be flung out from under your belt at high speeds, your carpet, walls, and anything surrounding your machine could become soaked with silicone.

How do I know if my drive belt is tight?

If you're not able to twist it half a turn then you have too much tension if you're able to twist it more than half a turn then you do not have enough tension.

How do I know if my belt tensioner is bad?

One of the most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started.

Is the belt tensioner supposed to spin?

Spin the pulley to see if it spins freely. If you hear grinding or the pulley doesn’t spin freely, replace the tensioner. When you replace the belt, it should take a lot of muscle power to move the tensioner. If you can move it easily, the spring tension is most likely not tight enough.

Is the belt tensioner supposed to move?

The tensioner arm should move smoothly and freely. Solution: If you notice a binding, sticking or grinding tensioner arm, the tensioner should be replaced.