The Lifestyler 8.0 is a discontinued treadmill model. Icon Health and Fitness stopped making Lifestyler treadmills in the 1990s. Many factors can attribute to a grinding noise in your Lifestyler 8.0 treadmill, including the walking belt, bearings and rollers. Replacement parts for this treadmill still were available in 2011 through the manufacturer's website.
Belt Lubrication
The walking belt on the Lifestyler 8.0 treadmill requires regular lubrication. If the belt dries out, this causes increased friction between the belt and the deck and rollers. The increased friction may result in a grinding noise as the belt rubs against the other moving parts. Icon Health and Fitness recommends lubricating the belt after every 10 hours of use. The Lifestyler 8.0 owner's manual suggests using a silicone spray lubricant, specifically the Uni-Sport brand.
Belt Tension
As with other treadmills, you should regularly check the tension and alignment of the walking belt on your Lifestyler 8.0. The grinding sound could be a result of the belt being too tight. This can damage your belt and motor so you want to adjust the belt as soon as possible. Lift the middle of the belt on one side of the treadmill. It should lift 3 to 4 inches off the platform. If not, use an Allen wrench and follow the directions in your owner's manual on how to adjust the rear roller bolts to properly tension your belt.
Motor
If the walking belt isn't causing the grinding noise, it is most likely coming from under the motor hood. The sound might be caused by the rollers, bearings or the drive belt, among other possibilities. Treadmilldoctor.com recommends using a long-handled screwdriver to place the origin of the noise. Touch the metal end to non-moving parts around the motor and place your ear next to the handle. The screwdriver will amplify the sound when you touch an area near it.
Replacement Parts
If you can figure out where the grinding noise is coming from, you can order replacement parts for your Lifestyler 8.0 from Icon Health and Fitness. However, the machine is not under any type of warranty, so you will have to pay for repair costs out-of-pocket. Whether it is worth it to repair your machine is a decision based on the cost of the repair, the cost of a new treadmill and the likelihood of the part breaking again.
Member Comments