subject: Selecting The Correct Treadmill Motor And Lubrication [print this page] If you are in the market to buy a treadmill, it is extremely important to choose a motor that will last for many years, without encountering any problems or hiccups along the way. It must be strong enough to endure the weight and wear and tear that you will put on it.
Treadmill motors range from one horse power to two point five horsepower. This may sound like a drastic difference but nearly all of today's treadmills come with a two point five horse power motor.
Cheaper treadmill motors are only one horse power. Treadmill motors are just like any other small motor and needs to be kept up or repairs are going to be inevitable.
Treadmill motor repair is hard to do yourself, and may need to be taken into a shop. Treadmill motor repair needs can be as small as a simple bolt that is loose, to needing an entirely new treadmill motor.
Treadmill DC motors are in all newer treadmill models. When you need to replace a treadmill motor, many treadmill DC motors only come with a ninety day warranty on parts and labor.
These treadmill motors need to be well taken care off or they will not propel the belt on your treadmill properly. The treadmill motor is encased in the treadmill and a protruding arm is hooked to the treadmill belt in order to propel the belt round so that you can walk on it.
If your treadmill motor has a malfunction in it, and needs to be replaced, then you really have no choice but to shell out around two hundred dollars in order to replace it. Once you've replaced the treadmill motor, it should work like new.
The average cost for new treadmill motors is around two hundred dollars for a two point five horse power motor. There are cheaper treadmill DC motors that go for a little over one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars.
When you need treadmill motor repair or to replace the treadmill motors, you should first consult your user manual. This will make sure that you have the right treadmill motor and the knowledge to make treadmill motor repair.
Once you have a good quality motor, it is very important to keep your motor properly lubricated so that it will continue to work the way you want it to. The belt and deck of a treadmill are very important parts and if they both require regular maintenance.
When one breaks, it is highly recommended to replace them both so they will work perfectly together. Replacements can cost up to five hundred dollars or more depending on your brand of treadmill.
The life of your treadmill deck and belt can be extended with regular maintenance. By using treadmill belt lubricant wear and tear of the belt and deck as well as other components can be greatly reduced.
There are two types of treadmill lubricant, these are wax and silicone. Both come in a variety of forms, wax lubricant can come in powder, granular, and solid form, whereas silicone is only available in liquid or in a spray can.
Check with the manufacturer's instructions as to which type of lubrication your treadmill requires. It is important that you do not use your treadmill belt lube too often as unnecessary lubrication can damage parts including the motor.
Also using the wrong type of treadmill belt lubrication can also damage parts of your treadmill, causing expensive repair bills. The frequency of lubrication will also depend on which treadmill you own, the user's manual will tell how often and which type of lubrication to use.
As a guide, lube your treadmill once a year for walkers and joggers, and every six months for runners. Adjust these times depending on how long it is used a day, and how many people are using it.
However, not all treadmills need to be lubricated, nowadays most decks are made from materials that do not require lubrication or they are pretreated. Using treadmill belt lubricant on these belts would do more harm than good.
It is highly recommended to check with the manufacturer's instructions before attempting to lube up your belt. If you keep your motor and belts well lubricated, they will last much longer.
As you can see, there is much to research to make sure that you have the quality piece of equipment you are paying for. If you care for your treadmill parts carefully, you will be running for years to come!
