When and How to Lubricate a Treadmill Belt

We are often asked about how often you have to lubricate your treadmill belt and how to do it.  Fortunately the job is not difficult, particularly if you assembled your own machine, and should take no more than about 20 minutes.

The reason treadmills need lubrication is to stop the motor overworking, and to keep the belt running smoothly.  If you have noticed that your belt is sluggish, or worse – sticking, then it’s time to think about a little maintenance to keep everything running nicely.

Over time, if you don’t lubricate the belt then you will put additional stress on the motor, which can lead to an expensive repair down the line.  Regular maintenance will keep the noise down and make running quieter and more comfortable, so if your machine is showing signs of slowing down, or it’s been over 6 months since you last did the job it’s time to break out the tool box.

What tools will you need to Lubricate your Treadmill?

This is a fairly simple job, for some machines you won’t need any tools, others you will have to loosen the belt to access the area under it.  Some treadmills make it very easy to release the roller.
Normally you will need no more than a screwdriver and an allen key.

However we often find that spreading the lubricant evenly across the bed of the machine can be fiddly so we like to use the Lube-n-walk kit to provide a consistent application that keeps things clean and simple.

You have a brand new treadmill – should you lubricate its belt?

The short answer is yes.  Most manufacturers recommend applying lubrication before it’s first used.  While treadmills should be lubricated when they come out of the factory they can be sat in warehouses for a few months before arriving with the final customer.  In this time the lubrication can break down and become sticky, this can degrade the performance of the treadmill.

Which Lubrication to Use?

Of course if your treadmill recommends a lubrication then use that!  Or choice is a silicone lubricant.  The most popular one is the Lifespan Lubricant which costs about $14 a bottle, although you can pick up a generic version that contains the same stuff for a few bucks less.  Which ever you go for they will be silicone lubricant.  Silicone is great because it’s super slippy and non reactive, so it won’t gunk up your machine.  Some treadmills recommend a paraffin lubricant. If this is the case then that’s not a problem.  Here are some of the most popular treadmill brands and their recommended lubricant:

Best Generic Silicon Lubricant

Lifespan Treadmill Lubricant

ICON Treadmills Lubricant.

Part 1 – Safety

Safety first!  Make sure your treadmill won’t start up while you are working on it by ensuring it’s unplugged from the wall.

Part 2 – Expose the Deck

Now you need to expose the treadmill deck (the smooth bit under the belt).  If it’s not possible to lift the edge of the belt, because it’s too tight, you may have to loosen the rollers, according to the instructions that came with your treadmill.  If you can see to the other side of the treadmill then you are ready to break out the choice of lubrication

Step 3

This is the tricky part, applying the lubricant.  It’s fiddly because you want to create an even layer of lubricant across the deck of the treadmill.  A great way of achieving this is to use a  Lube-n-walk kit

Step 4

Lower the treadmill belt and re-tighten the treadmill screws. Make sure they are secure.

Plug the treadmill back in and turn it on. Walk on your treadmill at a speed of 1 mph for up to five minutes. This will ensure the lubricant spreads evenly across the deck surface and reaches its center.

Summary.

Lubricating your treadmill is a quick and easy task, that will ensure your machine gives thousands of miles of reliable service.  The best time to start applying lubrication is when you first get your machine, this will ensure that it’s running smoothly from day one.  It will also show how best to apply the lubrication.  Then, depending on use, every 3 to 6 months.

	Product name	Rating	Price
	100% Silicone Treadmill Belt Lubricant with Application Tube - Easy to Use for Full Belt Width Lubrication	(4.5)	$13.95	View on Amazon
	Lube-N-Walk Deluxe Treadmill Maintenance Kit	(4.3)	$14.99	View on Amazon