Treadmill Repair Help?

[lastmile77]

I've got a treadmill problem that I can't seem to fix. The belt keeps slipping to the left on the *front* roller until it hits the drive pulley. If I let it run it might start moving on the back roller as well but it hits the pulley and I've got to turn it off before I can see if that happens.

I've seem lots of info on fixing a loose belt or one that slides to one side = use the two adjustment screws in the back. But I can get it perfectly centered, tighten it, but so far have not been able to stop it from slipping. And I can't see anything wrong with the belt or any parts.

I'm trying to find a few forums where i think people might know enough to help. I really can't afford to pay someone to fix it right now and I *need* to get back to running!

[nbs 4life]

I've got a treadmill problem that I can't seem to fix. The belt keeps slipping to the left on the *front* roller until it hits the drive pulley. If I let it run it might start moving on the back roller as well but it hits the pulley and I've got to turn it off before I can see if that happens.

I've seem lots of info on fixing a loose belt or one that slides to one side = use the two adjustment screws in the back. But I can get it perfectly centered, tighten it, but so far have not been able to stop it from slipping. And I can't see anything wrong with the belt or any parts.

I'm trying to find a few forums where i think people might know enough to help. I really can't afford to pay someone to fix it right now and I *need* to get back to running!

Your rollers must be skewed it doesnt matter if you centre the belt then tighten it because the belt might be stretched on one side (most treadmill belts have a cross weave)

What you need to do is tighten or loosen the allignment bolts while the treadmill is running slowly if you see it movin to one side tighten the opposite bolt. I takes a long time sometimes but you need to make very small changes and be patient.

Once you are comfortable the belt is not moving whilst the treadmill is running slowly you cant test it on a higher speed. Hopefully this helps.

[qaz123]

I've got a treadmill problem that I can't seem to fix. The belt keeps slipping to the left on the *front* roller until it hits the drive pulley. If I let it run it might start moving on the back roller as well but it hits the pulley and I've got to turn it off before I can see if that happens.

I've seem lots of info on fixing a loose belt or one that slides to one side = use the two adjustment screws in the back. But I can get it perfectly centered, tighten it, but so far have not been able to stop it from slipping. And I can't see anything wrong with the belt or any parts.

I'm trying to find a few forums where i think people might know enough to help. I really can't afford to pay someone to fix it right now and I *need* to get back to running!

loosen the back screws until the belt is slack. take the shroud off the front of the motor and check the nuts holding the front roller are tight. center the belt on the front roller whilst also checking the gap between the belt and the side foot rails is even. mark both the front roller and the deck with a sharpie as to where the belt is when it is in the center. tape down the belt on the front roller for the moment with some duct tape. slowly tighten the back screws evenly (check the space between the rear roller and the deck on each side as you do this). once the belt is tight remove the duct tape. slowly run the treadmill with the shroud off and adjust the rear screws if it goes off center... the key is to tighten the rear rollers evenly whilst the belt is taped to the center of the front roller... don't tighten one side fully and then the other but do a bit of each at a time.

[lastmile77]

Thanks for the help. Its been awhile since I tried to do anything with the treadmill - it was just so frustrating. But I have GOT to get it working again - definitely see the results of not using it.

Looking at the front roller more closely I think I might see the problem. Each side of the roller is held in a sort of C shaped bracket - with the open part facing the front of the treadmill. There is a rubber sleeve slid onto the roller within each of these brackets. The rubber on the left is a bit deformed - a oval rather fitting perfectly around the roller. A screw comes down through the top of the C-bracket and pushes on the top of the rubber sleeve to keep the roller in place. For some reason there is no screw on the other side of the treadmill though there is a hole for one.

It looks like I get to have fun taking the drive belt off and the front roller out so I can try to either fix the rubber sleeve so it fits correctly or replace it with a new one. I hope that corrects it since its going to be some work getting that all apart and back together.

Maybe I'll replace the belt at the same time - it doesn't look worn but I haven't really inspected it.

Thanks again, I'll post after I try this. It might take awhile since I have to clear a place to work in the room.