When you work out on a treadmill, elliptical, climber, or other exercise machine, the belt moves all the time. Normal wear and tear, on the other hand, can make the belt less useful and high-quality over time. If you know when to change the belt on your exercise machine, you can keep doing safe, comfortable, and effective cardio.
Changes in look and texture
Regularly look at the belt’s surface for signs of damage. If you see a lot of cracks, peeling, popping, thinning, or discoloured spots, that means the material of the belt is breaking down. Also, check for changes in the appearance, such as roughness getting worse. These tactile and visual cues show that you need a replacement running machine belt.
If you slip, hesitate, or jump,
During workouts, pay attention to any pauses, skips, or times when you feel the belt slip under your feet instead of keeping moving continuously. This most likely means that the belt’s inside surface is too worn and smooth to properly grip the deck. Get a new one before it gets dangerous.
Smell of burning
If your machine has a burning smell, it could mean that there is more friction because the worn-out belt is having a harder time moving over the deck. If you smell this, you should change it right away to keep the belt, motor, and other parts from getting burned or melting. Do not ignore smells that warn you.
Too much noise or vibration
Noises like loud clicking, squeaking, grinding, or whirring that get louder over time could mean that the belt isn’t aligned properly, isn’t balanced, or is under too much stress. The belt may be breaking or coming loose from use, so it’s best to get a new one before the problems get worse.
Limits on mileage or usage
Belts for treadmills and elliptical machines just wear out after a certain amount of use and mileage. This is because the constant action wears down materials. Although it depends on the type, belts usually need to be changed every 2 to 5 years or every 2,500 to 5,000 miles. See the manufacturer’s instructions for how long the belt should last.
Too Much Work for the Motor
If you hear sounds like the motor is struggling to get going or keeping the belt moving normally, don’t push it aside. In other words, the motor has to work harder to make up for a belt that is losing its usefulness. Motors don’t burn out when new parts are replaced regularly.
Damage to the Deck
Check out the deck below by lifting the belt. If the belt is wearing out and leaving swollen spots, deep holes, cracks, splinters, or a lot of scratches, the deck may also need to be replaced along with the belt. Stop the deck from getting worse.
Issues with Misalignment
If the belt tracks off-center or always moves to one side, even after realignment changes, it’s likely that the edges of the worn belt don’t sit straight on the deck guides. A new belt will fix the tracks and make the ride more even.
Incorrect Speed or Pace
If you’re keeping track of your exercise pace, you may notice that the numbers seem slower than you would expect for how hard you think you are working. This shows that belt sliding slows down the machine. Change it out so the belt stays at its true speed.
Risks to Safety
If you keep using a broken belt, especially one that slips, you could hurt yourself or someone else. Don’t put safety at risk. As soon as it starts to act up, get it checked out and make plans to replace it.
Knowing what wears out belts and inspecting them on a regular basis can help you decide when the risk of using a worn-out belt is greater than the cost of installing a new one. Do what you need to do to keep your workout equipment working right.