WHY DOES MY TREADMILL BOG DOWN

Treadmills bog down for several reasons, but if both the drive belt and the running belt are properly adjusted, by far the most common cause is that the running belt and deck are worn out. The wear on the treadmill’s running belt may not be visible. When the treadmill is used, the treadbelt is pressed down by the user’s foot onto the deck, the hard surface that supports the user’s weight, and is dragged along by the power of the drive motor. This eventually wears out the bottom of the running belt and the top side of the deck. As they wear simultaneously, the friction between the two increases until the treadbelt can no longer slide easily over the deck (sometimes referred to as the treadmill’s bed ). When the running belt and deck get to this point, the treadmill can bog down. Sometimes it does not bog down evenly and the trouble is often reported as the running belt is sticking, slipping or having a jerky motion or some similar description. In some cases, this condition will trip the treadmill’s internal circuit breaker, if it has one, or the house circuit breaker. Continued use of the treadmill with a worn belt and deck will damage the motor control board and/or the treadmill’s drive motor. It is normal for the walking belt and deck to wear out, like tires on a car.

Although worn running belts and worn decks are the most common cause of treadmills bogging down, there are other causes. The next most common problem that will cause a treadmill to bog down is a defective motor controller that outputs insufficient power to the treadmill’s drive motor or the drive motor itself could be defective. If the drive motor is defective, it may only be a matter of worn motor brushes but it may also be something more significant that will require the replacement of the motor.

There are additional troubles that can result in the same symptoms, but they happen very infrequently. If your treadmill bogs down, sticks, slips or jerks, it is best to have it evaluated by a qualified service technician, who has the expertise to accurately diagnose the trouble with the treadmill and who has the ability to replace parts if necessary.