How to adjust the running belt in a treadmill

by JLL Fitness · Published March 10, 2014 · Updated June 5, 2015

After a period of time, you may feel a pause sensation whilst running on the treadmill. This is caused
by a loose belt. Running belt can loosen and stretch a bit over time causing a slipping sensation if it is
not adjusted and tightened when is needed. If the belt is too tight, this may cause harm to your motor
and/or roller. A belt too loose or too tight can cause wear and tear of both the belt and the board.

No worries, that does not mean that you have to throw your running machine away and buy a new
one. You just need to tighten the running belt. The method of solving this problem is pretty easy; you
just need to tighten an adjustable bolt, which is respectively in the left and right end of the treadmill,
until you no longer experience this sensation.

How to check if the running belt is loosen:

One way of checking is every day you use the treadmill, stand on the sides of the treadmill
(frames) and set the speed of the running machine around 1-2 kilometers per hour.
Walk on the machine and try to stop the running belt with your feet while holding the
handrails and pulling your body on the opposite direction. If the belt does not stop, means
that it is tighten for using. But, if the running belt stops while you do it, the belt is loosen and
you have to tighten it.
Another way is checking the gap between the running belt and the running board. If that gap
is between 5 to 6 millimeters means that the belt is tighten for using. But, if the gap is smaller
than that means that the running belt is loosen.

treadmill repair

How to tight the running belt:

Power off and turn the two belt adjustment screws, located at the rear, clockwise to tighten
the belt slightly by quarters.

How to check if the running belt is loosen:

One way of checking is every day you use the treadmill, stand on the sides of the treadmill
(frames) and set the speed of the running machine around 1-2 kilometers per hour.
Walk on the machine and try to stop the running belt with your feet while holding the
handrails and pulling your body on the opposite direction. If the belt does not stop, means
that it is tighten for using. But, if the running belt stops while you do it, the belt is loosen and
you have to tighten it.
Another way is checking the gap between the running belt and the running board. If that gap
is between 5 to 6 millimeters means that the belt is tighten for using. But, if the gap is smaller
than that means that the running belt is loosen.

How to tight the running belt:

Power off and turn the two belt adjustment screws, located at the rear, clockwise to tighten the belt slightly by quarters.
Get back to the treadmill and check it again if belt is loose or not. If still loose, readjust the belt screw by another quarter: Untill you get a tighten belt
Run the machine on its own for 1-2 minutes to see if the belt keeps in the middle. If the
running belt is still in the centre, we can use the treadmill straight away.
Do the last test. After tighten the belt, you should check if it is in the centre. For that reason
leave the machine running for a couple of minutes at high speed, between 6-8 kilometres
per hour.

How can I fix the belt when is not in the centre (bear left or right):

You can see a gap between the frames and the running belt which is approximately 5-6
millimeters in both sides. If that gap has different distance means that the belt is eccentric. So we
have to put it back in the right position by following these easy steps:

Power on and set the speed on 2-3 kilometers per hour and adjust slowly the screw, which is
at the end of the treadmill, with an accompanying tool included in the box.
If the belt slants to the left, please adjust the left bolt in a clockwise sensation or adjust the
right bolt in a counter clockwise sensation. If the belt slants to the right, it needs to be
adjusted in the opposite manner.
At the same time you screw, you must check if the gap of difference has disappeared, if it is
still there, screw again. Repeat this procedure until you get the running belt in the centre.
Set the speed on 6 kilometer per hour to check if the running belt is still in the same
position. Once you checked that, the treadmill is ready for being used.