Whether it’s a case of an old treadmill or just regular treadmill issues like squeaking, your first thought is to probably over-lubricate the machine. However, this isn’t the best solution. Overlubricating your treadmill can lead to various complications that may reduce your machine’s longevity. So, can one over-lubricate a treadmill belt?
Yes, you can. But, over-lubricating the belt will eventually cause potential motor control board damage, which can induce excess dust to pile up within the motor compartment.
Stay tuned and continue reading if you’re wondering how much is too much when lubricating a treadmill belt.
Table of Contents
How Much Lubricant Should I Apply on a Treadmill
When applying lube on a treadmill, it’s vital to ensure you’re directly applying an even wax coating to the deck, in case you’re using the paraffin system. But, if you’re using a silicone system with a spray nozzle, ensure the amount of lubricant used on each side is not more than half an ounce.
There isn’t a set limit or amount when lubricating a treadmill. Ultimately, the amount of lubricant required will depend on the type/model of machine you’re using. So, be mindful of this factor when/if you’re planning to lubricate your treadmill.
How Often You Should Lubricate a Treadmill Belt
Are you using your treadmill more than thrice a week? Well, you may just need to apply a lubricant to your appliance. However, many new machines have odometers or timers on the inside that will give you a notification when you need to lubricate your treadmill belt.
The timers found inside the treadmills make use of the number of miles or time that your machine is spent in use. It would help if you considered these estimations as guides, not fixed rules.
Some of these approximations will not depend on a few of these:
- The climate conditions the appliance is subjected to
- Individual’s weight when utilizing the machine
- In case higher and more complicated settings are employed
Even if your machine can’t automatically notify you that it needs lubrication, you can still know how often your machine needs lubrication.
8 Steps to Apply Lubricant on Your Treadmill Belt
Step #1: Disconnect the Treadmill
Before applying lubricants to the treadmill belt, you must disconnect the appliance from the power outlet on the wall. This step is vital because it oversees your safety and will help you avoid any accidental start-ups while you’re working on the machine.
Step #2: Place Some Towels
No matter how careful you are with the treadmill and lubricant, some of it will constantly drip out. Owing to this, using towels placed around the exercise machine’s edges is highly beneficial. This can also help you avoid grease staining the floors permanently. You must put aside a bunch of towels to clean the grease off the equipment as you are done working on it.
Step #3: Uncover the Treadmill Deck
After covering the floor with towels, you should uncover the lower part of the belt and expose the deck. Unfasten the rollers and hoist the sides of the treadmill belt. To do this, you can use tools such as a screwdriver, making sure you pick the right size and kind when you’re done with one side of the workout machine and progress toward the next step.
Step #4: Lubricate the deck
As we have discussed before, using a lubricant on a treadmill is reasonably straightforward, particularly if you have silicone spray. You only need to sprinkle the silicone spray evenly throughout the deck’s surface. However, it would be best first to inspect the lubricant’s viscosity as you spray it out from the can. If the compound is too thick, you can remove any excess lubricant to prevent a slippery belt, as this may be risky. Subsequently, you can clean off the silicone spray on the sides of the deck.
Step #5: Reposition the Treadmill Belt
After lubricating the belt’s deck, spread a light layer of grease on the whole running belt. By doing this, you can ensure that portions of the treadmill’s underside are decently lubricated. Reposition the belt while you apply the lube. This ensures that all aspects of the belt are well-lubricated.
But you must avoid rubbing too much lube into a particular part of the treadmill belt. This will make the belt too slippery to use, as it can be harmful.
Step #6: Clean after The Surplus Lubricant
On many occasions, adequate lubrication of the treadmill takes up about 1-1.5 oz of one-hundred percent silicone gel. In the case that you’ve used more than that amount, there’s a chance you might have applied an excessive amount of lubricant. Essentially, this indicates that any excess grease must be wiped before using the machine. Likewise, you must clean off whatever grease you see on the top of the running belt or its sides.
Step #7: Secure the Treadmill Belt
The running belt should be lowered to its original position and have its screws attached and strengthened to ensure the machine is safe. To ensure the belt is secured correctly, you will have to see that the edges don’t rise above the deck by more than 1 or 2 inches. But the belt usually loses overtime if you use the equipment regularly, so you must secure and tighten it now and then.
Step #8: Take it For a Test Run
To examine if the exercise machine is properly running after you have lubricated it, connect it to the power outlet and switch it on. You should let it operate for three minutes at minimal speed and evenly spread the lube over the belt. If you operate the machine at a higher speed, you may splash the lubricant off the equipment. The optimal pace for performing this task is 3 mph.
Finally, take a walk on the treadmill and see how it performs. If the belt seems too slippery, mop up the extra grease and run another test.
When to Apply Lubrication on a Treadmill Belt
How can you tell if your treadmill is in dire need of lubrication? The answer is you simply need to touch the deck and examine whether you can feel any remnants of the lube. Your treadmill must be relubricated if you don’t feel any remaining lube.
Ensure your equipment is not connected to a power source and unplug it from any outlet to prevent accidental power-ups. Nudge the underneath of the running belt and the deck, and you will feel a slimy and greasy layer of lube. You should particularly pay attention to the areas of visible wear and tear when testing the equipment.
If you can’t feel the walking belt being lubricated, perhaps you need to add another layer of oil-based or waxy lube to the deck underneath the belt. Switch the equipment and walk over the belt to move around the lube. You must repeat the process if you still can’t feel any lubrication on the belt.
Can Treadmills Get Damaged Without Lubrication?
Yes, if you let your machine operate for too long without any lubricant, you may cause issues that will damage the treadmill’s parts that are needed for optimal performance, including:
Belt & Deck
With no lube, these parts will become worn out too early because of extreme friction, and they may even break down.
Front & Rear Rollers
Similar to the belt, these portions allow your machine to remain spun, and if there is no lubrication, the friction will exhaust them rapidly.
Motor Control Panel
Dust usually collects around the lubricated areas if the motor panel is exposed, and this can also be abnormally disabled due to overheating.
Electric Elements
If there is no lubrication on your machine, it will work harder in more challenging conditions to ensure you achieve the same outcome. By doing this, the machine can experience malfunctions on several electrical elements.
So, you should perform the ‘feeling test’ on your equipment at least once every month. This will help your machine from experiencing any damage from being under-lubricated.
Final Thoughts
If you put too much lube on the deck of your treadmill, you may harm the machine by causing internal issues and perhaps cause damage to your own home too.
Inspect your treadmill deck every month or every alternate time you use it so that your machine stays well-lubricated and functions optimally.
There are chances you may not use enough lubricant on your equipment as well. This will put your machine at risk of experiencing damages and issues as some portions of it will operate under extreme amounts of friction.
Your treadmill may even stop working before time. If you want your treadmill to operate appropriately for several years, you must use a decent amount of lubrication—not too much & not too little.