My Treadmill Is Skipping A Little When I Walk On It

If you use a treadmill at home, you will have to perform some basic maintenance to keep it running smoothly. If the belt is loose, it may feel as if it is skipping or slipping slightly under your feet. The belt also may need lubricating if it is skipping.

Treadmill Belt

The treadmill belt is the large tread that revolves around the deck of the machine. Treadmill belts come in different sizes and thickness. If you do not take care of the belt, it may prematurely wear and fray, meaning you will have to replace it sooner than expected. The main maintenance tasks you perform on your treadmill belt are tensioning, centering and lubricating the belt. You can do each of these tasks at home with minimal tools.

Causes

Several different factors can make your treadmill belt skip. Manufacturers recommend first testing the tension of the belt. A loose belt will skip or slip under your feet. If the belt is at the proper tension and it still skips, you may need to lubricate it. Excessive friction between the deck and the belt can result in the belt getting caught and then suddenly skipping. Not all belts require regular lubrication. Consult your owner's manual before applying lubricant to your treadmill.

Adjust Tension

The procedure for tensioning the treadmill belt is similar on most machines. Lift one side of the belt in the middle of the deck and measure how far you can pull it off the deck. Most manufacturers suggest a 2- to 4-inch give. If the belt is loose, use an Allen wrench to adjust the rear roller bolts, on the back-end of the treadmill, recessed in the end caps. Depending on the make and model of your machine, you may need to adjust just one or both of the bolts.

Check Lubrication

Some treadmills have "maintenance-free belts." These treadmills do not require any lubrication. Other treadmills need lubricating regularly to preserve the belt. Check with your owner's manual or your treadmill manufacturer for the type of lubricant to use: wax or silicone. Typically, you lift the belt and spray or squirt the lubricant across the deck, but follow the directions provided by your treadmill maker.