How to Lubricate a Treadmill Belt

Treadmills are among the most popular home workout machines for good reason. The good news is, they’re easy to maintain. The bad news is, so many people just don’t. Lubricating a treadmill belt is just too simple a task to ignore, and it’s a crucial step in maintaining your deck, belt, and motor. Depending on training frequency, you should lubricate the machine’s belt every three months, or 40 hours of use. This is true even if you use the machine sparingly as you don’t want the belt to get brittle.

Treadmill lubricants are easy to find, whether from the manufacturer or online. We recommend a silicone lubricant, but whatever you do, never use WD-40 or other petroleum-based substances as they’ll break down the material in your belt and necessitate a replacement.

Step by Step: How to Lubricate a Treadmill Belt

Video by Johnson Fitness.

1. The first step in any treadmill maintenance is to unplug the machine from its power source. You’ll want to make sure the unit doesn’t accidentally kick on at any step of the process.
2. Have the necessary materials at hand. This would include the belt lubricant, applicator, and wrench or Hex key if you need to loosen the belt. Treadmill lubricants can be purchased in many different containers as they’re almost always 100% silicone. But you’ll want to make sure the lube is in the device you’ll use to spread it across the deck before you begin. You’ll need about 20 milliliters of silicone for the job.
3. If you use an applicator with a long nozzle, you shouldn’t need to loosen the belt too much. If the belt is properly secured, you should be able to gently lift about 3″ off the deck with your fingers, no more or less. If using an applicator with a nozzle, you can slide that under the deck and run 10 milliliters of the lubricant up and down the deck on the right side. If you’re using a spray can, or a smaller bottle without an applicator, you may need to loosen the belt to reach.
4. Step onto the machine and manually walk the belt forward about half a revolution to spread the lubricant evenly.
5. Get off the machine and take the applicator to the left side of the machine, raise up the belt, and apply another 10 milliliters of lubricant on that side.
6. Get back on the treadmill and manually walk the belt forward about half a revolution to spread the lubricant.
7. Tighten the belt if needed. You should be able to gently lift only 3″ up off the deck.
8. Plug the machine back into the power source.
9. Turn the treadmill onto a slow, walking workout at the lowest speed and allow it to run for three minutes with no one on it.
10. Next, step onto the treadmill and walk slowly for another three minutes.
11. Be sure the treadmill belt is in proper alignment.

If you’re shopping for treadmill lubricants, consider getting one that comes with a long applicator.

Easier With An Applicator

Your better treadmill lubricants are 100% silicone, but that comes in any number of different containers. I strongly advise getting a tube with a long nozzle or some kind of nozzle which you can slide under the belt. If your belt is tightened properly, you should be able to lift up about 3″ and slip that tube nozzle underneath. That makes the job so much easier than if you have to significantly loosen the belt, or even remove it, to directly contact the bare deck. If you’re planning to own the machine for any time whatsoever, it just makes too much sense to get the right tools.

Treadmill belts should be tight enough that only about 3″ of tread can be lifted up.

Lubricating a treadmill belt doesn’t have to be difficult at all, but it’s very important you do this every 40 hours or three months. If left without lubrication too long, the belt can become dry and brittle and will begin to break down.

Consider the cost of your treadmill. Whether it was $800 or $8,000, for the low, low price of perhaps $15 a year, you can easily extend it’s life and that of your belt, motor, and rollers. It’s just too simple a step to skip.