Know Your Treadmill FAQs
Posted: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
by Kevin Urban
Whether you are a first time treadmill owner or have owned a treadmill for years, it's important to know how to care for and maintain a treadmill. Without the proper care, a treadmill could break down and require expensive repairs to work properly again. This is why studying the treadmill faqs for your machine is important.
Routine Maintenance
After each workout, the owner should use a damp towel to wipe the treadmill in order to clean off any sweat residue. Occasionally it is necessary to perform a more thorough cleaning of the treadmill. The treadmill owner will need to remove the hood cover and vacuum any dust from inside or around the motors and assemblies. They should then use a mild soap and water mixture to wipe off the outside of the treadmill. It is important to practice caution when cleaning the control panel as spraying some cleaning solutions on the controls could damage them. The control panel should be cleaned with a damp rag and dried promptly.
Depending on the model of the treadmill, occasional lubrication may be needed. The owner should refer to their manual's treadmill faqs to determine its requirements, and to identify which type of lubrication should be used.
Occasionally the treadmill belt will slip, or begin to slide to one side. If this happens, it means the belt's tracking bolts need to be tightened. If the belt is slipping the bolts should be tightened simultaneously, one forth turn at a time, until the belt stops slipping. It is important not to tighten the bolts too much, as this can cause the machine to malfunction. If the belt is sliding to one side, then only the bolt on the side the belt is sliding towards should be tightened. The owner should tighten it one-fourth turn, just as before, until it is even with the other side. It is important that the treadmill owner refer to the treadmill faqs in their manual for complete instructions before performing this task.
Also, while performing routine maintenance on their machines, it is important for owners to inspect it for any lose or worn wires, or anything that may need repairing.
Errors and problems with control panel and display
Many different things can cause an error message to appear on the treadmill's display. It could indicate a problem as miniscule as dead batteries, or a problem as important as a malfunctioning motor. It is important for the owner to refer to their manual and treadmill faqs for the meaning of the error message, and for the steps needed to resolve it. If the manual is unclear or does not list the given message, the owner should call the manufacturer's technical support department for further help.
If the control panel will not turn on or is broken, the owner should first try replacing the batteries or checking that the treadmill is correctly plugged into a live power outlet. If the control panel still will not turn on, they should refer to the treadmill faqs for further assistance. If the buttons or other parts are broken or not responding, the owner should contact the manufacturer to have the control panel replaced.
Calibrations
Calibration ensures the accuracy of the treadmill's measurement of rotations per minute, effort, time, and speed. Calibrations should rarely be needed, and if the machine does need calibrating, the differences in display and actual readings are obvious. Calibration can only be done by a treadmill repair professional; so in the case that calibration is needed the owner should contact the manufacturer.
Problems with the belt and speed
If the belt stops moving or begins moving sluggishly, it is possible that the motor or assembly parts are malfunctioning or have broken. The owner should first refer to the treadmill faqs for instruction. For most tread mill models, the owner should remove the hood cover and ensure that all the wires and cables are not damaged or disconnected. If everything appears to be assembled correctly, then the owner should contact the manufacturer's technical support department for help determining the cause.
Occasionally the treadmill belt will slip when walking or begin to slide to one side. If this happens, it is possible that the belt's tracking bolts may need to be tightened. As with any maintenance procedure, however, the owner should first refer to their treadmill faqs. If the belt is slipping, the bolts should be tightened simultaneously until the belt slipping stops. It is important not to tighten the bolts too much, as this can cause the machine to malfunction. If the belt is sliding to one side, then only the bolt on the side the belt is sliding towards should be tightened. The owner should tighten the bolt until the belt is even with the other side.
Problems adjusting settings
Every treadmill manufacturer provides different user settings, depending on the machine's features and limitations. Also, each treadmill model has a different user interface on its control panel. For help with changing settings or programming different features, the owner should refer to his or her user manual and the treadmill faqs.
Whatever the problem, the user manual and treadmill faqs should be the first place to check for a solution. Many people don't acknowledge the importance of their user manuals. If the user manual does not address the owner's concern, it should list a telephone number for the manufacturer's technical support department. The manufacturer is best qualified to address customer concerns and problems regarding its product when the treadmill faqs do not address the issue. About the Author:
Kevin Urban is the chief editor at TreadmillTalk.com, the web's best address for unbiased treadmill reviews. Find the best home treadmill with our at-a-glance comparison charts.
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