How To Lubricate A Treadmill Belt - Top Maintenance & Safety Tips 2023

In order to get optimal performance from your fitness equipment, you need to regularly maintain it. That includes knowing when and how to lubricate your treadmill belt. Treadmill belts that are not regularly lubricated are prone to becoming jerky and uneven and will have a tendency to move to the side. It will also become noisy.

Failing to lubricate a treadmill’s belt can result in an excessive amount of friction that leads to either the motor or the controller burning out. It can also cause delamination of the running board and premature wear on the treadmill belt. All of these problems can be prevented by following a schedule of regular treadmill belt lubrication. In this article, I will show you how to lubricate a treadmill with a comprehensive 10 step guide. I’ll also answer the most frequently asked treadmill belt lubrication questions.

How To Lubricate A Treadmill – Instructions

Here is a step-by-step guide to lubricating your treadmill belt:

Step 1: Gather The Tools That You’ll Need

For this job, you will need an Allen wrench (one should have been supplied with your purchase). You should also have a cleaning cloth, some towels and your treadmill lubricant.

Step 2: Turn Off Your Treadmill

You should always turn off your treadmill when doing any type of cleaning or maintenance work on it. I recommend pulling the plug out of the wall to be doubly sure that it will not start during the maintenance process.

Step 3: Arrange Towels

Place towels under the sides of the deck to prevent any lubricant from getting on your carpet or other floor covering.

Step 4: Expose The Deck

The lubricant gets applied to the deck of the treadmill which is underneath the running belt. To get to it, you will have to loosen the treadmill belt. To do this, use your Allen wrench to loosen the rear roller bolts. You should now be able to lift the sides of the belt sufficiently to allow you to reach underneath and spray the deck.

Before applying the lubricant, get down on your hands and knees and look under the belt to check for dust and debris between the deck and the running belt. Use your cloth to remove it. You should also take this opportunity to check the deck for scratches or other signs of wear and tear. If you notice these things and if your treadmill deck is reversible, you should flip the deck over. Check your owner’s manual on how to do this.

Before applying the lubricant, get down on your hands and knees and look under the belt to check for dust and debris between the deck and the running belt.

Step 5: Apply Lubricant To The Treadmill Running Deck

Once you have cleaned away dirt, you are ready to apply the treadmill lubrication. With the lubricant spray in your hand, reach under the treadmill belt and begin spraying in a zigzag motion to cover all areas.

Step 6: Move The Running Belt

Move the belt with your hands to allow you to get into all areas. Include the top and bottom of the running board. Once you have completed the treadmill lubrication process, manually move the running belt by hand to allow it to travel over the running board.

You can now plug the treadmill back in and turn it on at a very slow speed of no more than 3 mph. Let it run for about five minutes as this will evenly distribute the lubricant across the surface of the running belt.

Step 7: Wipe Out Excess Treadmill Lubricant

Use your cloth to wipe out any excess lubricant that has spilled onto the edges of the treadmill or onto the floor.

Step 8: Tighten The Running Belt

You have now completed the lubrication of your treadmill. Use your Allen wrench to tighten the rear roller bolts.

Step 9: Start Up Your Treadmill

Turn the treadmill back on and run it at a variety of speeds for another five minutes or so.

Step 10: Unplug Again

You can now unplug the treadmill, knowing that it is properly lubricated and ready for your next workout.

What To Use To Lubricate The Treadmill

Before buying a lubricant, check the owner’s manual to see what is recommended by the treadmill manufacturers. Most treadmill manufacturers will provide a can of lubricant. If that is the case, continue using that brand going forward.

You should use a lubricant that is a 100% silicone spray. It may be either in a spray or liquid form. Do not use general purpose lubricants such as WD-40. We also do not recommend using Teflon as a lubricant.

You should use a lubricant that is a 100% silicone spray. It may be either in a spray or liquid form. Do not use general purpose lubricants such as WD-40.

Determining When Lubrication Is Needed

As a general guide, you should plan to lubricate every three months or every 130 miles, whichever comes first. By following such a regular maintenance schedule, you will avoid the complications that come from neglecting this vital aspect of looking after your investment.

Even if it is not time to lubricate your treadmill in accordance with the above schedule, you should do so if you notice that the treadmill running deck has become squeaky or if the belt feels jerky or slippery. People who live in an extremely warm climate may also need to lubricate their treadmill deck more often than others.

Looking for a treadmill that’s easy on your joints? Check out our review of the best cushioned treadmill on the market right now.

Safety Advice

Make sure that the treadmill is powered off whenever doing any maintenance work on your treadmill.
Have the right tools ready for the job – your machine should have come with an Allen wrench to loosen bolts.
Give yourself plenty of working space around the treadmill. You will have to get down on your hands and knees to be able to reach under the treadmill belt so that you are not constricted with your movements.
Never spray lubricant onto the running surface of a treadmill.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Lubricate Your Treadmill At Home?

You lubricate your treadmill at home by firstly unplugging it, then loosening the rear roller bolts to allow you to get your hand between the belt and the treadmill running deck. Reach under the belt with a silicon spray in your hand and spray the deck in a zigzag motion to cover all areas. Then turn the treadmill on at a low speed and run it for five minutes to allow the lubricant to spread evenly across the bottom of the treadmill belt. Once this is done you can re-tighten the rear roller bolts and the job is complete.

What Can I Use To Lubricate My Treadmill?

To lubricate your treadmill, you should use the lubricant as specified in the treadmill user manual. If there is no recommendation given, go out and buy a 100% silicone lubricant that is specially designed for use on treadmill running decks. Do not use a general-purpose lubricant like WD-40 on a treadmill.

How Do I Know If My Treadmill Needs Lubricant?

You will know if your treadmill needs lubricant if it becomes stuttery and squeaky. A treadmill running belt that moves toward one side may be another indication that your deck needs lubricating. Apart from these signs, you should lubricate your treadmill running belt every three months or every 130 miles, whichever comes sooner.

What Happens If You Don't Lubricate Your Treadmill?

If you don’t lubricate your treadmill, an excessive amount of friction will be created between the bottom of the running belt and the treadmill running deck. This will prevent the treadmill belt from running in a smooth, natural fashion. Instead, it will be jerky and squeaky. The excessive amount of friction will also put an undue amount of strain on the motor, which may cause early burnout.

Conclusion

In this article, we have clearly laid out the steps on how to lubricate a treadmill. As you can see, it is a relatively simple process that will only take you a few minutes. Investing that time regularly, however, will help to ensure that your treadmill runs smoothly and noiselessly and will go a long way toward preventing major problems with the motor further down the track.

How To Lubricate A Treadmill