Tag Archives: Fitness Equipment

HOW TO OWN A TREADMILL THAT LASTS FOREVER!

Posted on by
Reply

Well, maybe not forever but I promise the information you are about to read will add years to your treadmill and $$$ in your wallet.

When purchasing a treadmill, many people don’t consider the importance of proper maintenance. All new owners of treadmill must be willing to take the time to maintain the equipment just as you would any other major investment. Treadmill owners must make a conscious effort to factor the maintence time into your schedule and consider this prior to purchase. Just like anything, if you are proactive in the maintenance of your treadmill, you will add years to the life of your investment.

Proper cleaning for the exterior of the treadmill is required due to sweat being highly corrosive. This exterior maintence can be accomplished by merely wiping down the unit after each and every workout. In addition, wiping down the belt and deck with a damp cloth will clean any debris that may effect the performance of the treadmill.

That being said, the most important component of the treadmill is the belt. The belt is what drives the motor and your workout. A malfunctioning belt can cause many problems within the internal workings of the machine.
There are really just a few rules to follow in maintaining and ensuring the longest life of your walking belt.
*The most crucial ingredient to adding years to your walking belt is adding supplemental lube when recommended (see your owner’s manual). Proper lubrication will extend the life of any treadmill walking belt considerably.

http://www.treadmilldoctor.com/Walking-Belt-Lube-Instructions

*Keep the treadmill clean, and evacuate any debris on or around the treadmill.
*Do not place your treadmill in any extreme conditions. Treadmills should always be in a climate controlled room away from sources of dust and dirt.
*Maintaining proper belt tension and tracking (belt should run parallel to the treadmill frame). This will maintain the belt in good working order.

http://www.treadmilldoctor.com/Drive-Belt-Adjustment

*Keep your treadmill on a level surface. Some treadmills have level adjustments on the rear supports. A treadmill will not track properly if it is not on a level surface.

WHEN TO CHANGE A WALKING BELT

It is rarely too soon to change a walking belt, but it is often too late and then major damage may have occurred that cannot be undone without a wad of cash being spent.
Although the exterior or walking surface of the belt may not be esthetically pleasing this does not mean it is ready for replacement. It is the underneath side of the belt that is not visible that matters the most.
If your treadmill belt is torn, curled up or bare you are in need of a new belt.
A telltale sign of needing a new walking belt is usually noticed first when users are having problems with speed change at the beginning of a workout.
Another rule of thumb, a walking belt should almost always be changed every 2 to 3 years with regular use.
Many times, you can change a treadmill belt yourself to save additional money!

http://www.treadmilldoctor.com/Troubleshooting-Belt-Installation-Keys-kf

If you are uncomfortable with the idea, call a reputable treadmill repair company in your area.

While changing the belt you may notice that the deck of the treadmill has major wear (bare areas or ruts). Often, you can turn over a used deck (see owner’s manual) if you have a reversible deck. Cheaper treadmills typically only have a single sided deck.
If the treadmill deck is not reversible, you will need to purchase a replacement. You can visit us (treadmilldoctor.com) for a lower cost replacement deck. Make sure you have the make, model and serial number of your treadmill handy so that we may assist you quickly.

Hopefully the pointers listed above will greatly extend the life of your treadmill belt, wallet and your ability to utilize your treadmill to its fullest capacity.

WILL YOUR TREADMILL KILL YOU??????

Gallery

Posted on by
prop-65-state

This gallery contains 1 photo.

A few years ago NordicTrack placed a warning on their treadmills regarding the California Proposition 65 (Prop 65).  The Prop 65 is as follows: “Requires businesses to notify Californians about significant amounts of chemicals in the products they purchase, in … Continue reading →

How to Properly Lube a Treadmill Belt,

Posted on by

 

 

I get many emails on this subject and thought I would go ahead and give everyone a step by step instruction list so that it can be pulled up at any time you treadmill enthusiasts need some help in this department.

1. Always read your owners manual to find out the exact lube that your treadmill requires (TreadmillDoctor.com offers an excellent general lubricant for all treadmills).
2. Check the treadmill deck, or the deck that is directly under the walking belt for any ruts or indentation in the surface. If you DO notice any deep wear, you may want to call a treadmill professional. If you are comfortable with the process, you may want to call Treadmill Doctor.com and purchase a new deck. Do not continue to use the treadmill if you notice major wear on the treadmill deck, as this may cause major damage to electric components.
3. Prior to putting any lube on the treadmill, always clean the treadmill deck and belt. Any dust or debris may be blown out with a blower. The treadmill should be cleaned thoroughly. To clean underneath the belt, you may need to loosen the tension on the belt. Please review your owner’s manual for instructions on tension reduction.
4. If the treadmill is overly dirty, you may need to lay the treadmill on its side, loosen the belt and take a brush and thoroughly brush any debris that may have caked or accumulated on the deck and the underside of the of the belt . (Another tip: use mineral spirits to clean any dirt or sweat from the deck)
5. After cleaning the deck and allowing to dry, take the tube (if using TreadmillDoctor.com lube), and spread ½ the tube lengthwise under the walking belt. Move to opposite side, and repeat the lube process. Beware: do not put anywhere that you foot may come in contact. Although lube is not known to be harmful to skin, it may cause fabric to stain permanently.
6. If cleaning of the belt and deck prior to applying the lube was needed, adjust the tension and centering of the belt according to manufacturers manual. If the deck was not overly dirty, there may be no need to loosen belt prior to applying lube.
7. Start the treadmill at a slow speed, approximately 2 to 3 MPH. Allow the treadmill to run without any weight on the belt or deck. After allowing treadmill to run art least 5 minutes, check the centering and placement of the belt. If any problems persists’ consult your manufacturer or the manual and adjust accordingly.
8. After making any necessary adjustments, CAREFULLY attempt to walk on belt at the speed of 2 to 3 MPH. CARE MUST BE TAKEN DUE TO POSSIBLE HESITATION IN BELT. If the belt is not centered and properly tensioned damage may occur to belt. Within 5 minutes the lube should be well saturated into the backing of the belt.

BEWARE!!! Do not run on your treadmill until you are positive that you belt is properly centered and tensioned according to owner’s manual specifications. Also, make sure that lube is properly spread onto the deck and belt. If there are any dry areas, your belt may hesitate.

Keep all lubricates out of reach of children! If swallowed seek immediate medical attention, and contact Poison Control. All chemicals may cause discoloration to fabric, carpet or skin. Do not allow to come in contact with eyes or skin.

Sole Treadmills and Ellipticals lower pricing than ever before……for a limited time only!

Posted on by

Sole fitness, Dicks Sporting Goods Retails locations and Sears are having a HUGE sale on all of their Treadmills, Elliptical and Exercise Bikes!

Moving around the Internet like I do, looking for great buys on fitness equipment I fell upon Solefitness.com! I had heard grumblings about Dicks dropping their brand and confirmed this information just recently.
The meat behind the story is that Sole Fitness and Dick’s Sporting Goods have been in bed together for about 8 years. Dick’s liked the fact that Sole equipment had a good standing in the internet market and the fact that Sole was only sold online, therefore the Dick’s Sporting Goods had the opportunity to be the only retail outlet that a consumer could visit to try out a Sole Fitness piece of equipment! A few years later Johnson Health Tech began courting Dicks Sporting Goods and had a brand spanking new line with a very recognizable name, Lance Armstrong and the LiveStrong Brand! Dicks Sporting Goods Stores, being the smart and savvy company they are, bit and gobbled up the Livestrong Brand. In turn this hurt Sole Fitness and the market share they had with Dick’s.
Sole Fitness, not wanting to lose their share of the pie offered Sears rights to sell their products online and in stores. This did not sit well with Dicks! Sears is also known for undercutting their competition, and did just that! They cut the already low price of Soles Fitness Equipment by 10 to 30%. So, Dicks decided to cut loose Sole from their online and retail locations. Sole was not aware of how mad this would make Momma Dick and with the extra inventory Sole is carrying; the consumers will reap the rewards! Dicks still has some of Soles inventory in their possession (retail stores only), and they are fire selling them to get the products out!
The reason for the huge sale on the Sole direct site and Sears is the surplus they are now carrying for the anticipation of sales thru Dicks Sporting goods.

Now that Dick’s Sporting Goods is done with Sole Fitness Products, they both need to drop product fast and the consumers are going to reap the rewards! Sears and Sole have the F80 listed (normally $1499) listed for $1199! That is 20% under the already reasonable price of a great machine!