Whether you just bought your treadmill or you have had it for a number of years, if your treadmill smells like burning rubber then that is not a good sign.
As soon as this happens, you should immediate stop using the treadmill until you have identified the problem with it and have fixed it. In this article I’m going to go over a list of troubleshooting solutions with you and a few of the common problems when your treadmill smells like rubber.
Don’t be overly alarmed this sort of stuff happens all the time and you aren’t the first person to have this happen. So let’s go over a checklist of all the possible problems and solutions that your treadmill may be facing.
If none of the below troubleshooting sections are able to help you then continue to the final thoughts section at the end of this guide where I will recommend a few resources that you can check out to help you with your treadmill problems.
Actually, before you read this guide I highly recommend you check out he manual that came with the treadmill itself. A lot of treadmill manufacturers include a troubleshooting guide right in the manual. If you misplaced your manual, then you can usually find it online. Just search on Google “TREADMILL MODEL” + user manual.
In this manual you will learn about the preventative maintenance for your treadmill as well, such as how often your belt should be lubricated.
Contents
Check the engine
One of the main causes of the smell of burning on a treadmill is engine failure. Over time, it is logical that a treadmill motor becomes clogged by the accumulation of dust, debris and other substances that may have accumulated under the cover of our treadmill.
When this happens, and you suspect that the burning smell is caused by a motor failure, the first thing you should do is turn off the treadmill, remove it from the power supply and remove the cover according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once you have the motor in front of you, you can check if it is obstructed; if so, you should clean it thoroughly using a vacuum cleaner or a compressed air cleaning machine.
Usually there is excess dust on the fan shafts that prevents the motor from overheating, so if we remove all the dirt and clean the motor fan thoroughly, we may solve part of the problem that generates that unpleasant burning smell.
It is important to perform these cleaning and maintenance tasks on a regular basis, at least once or twice a year, so that you can avoid early breakdowns and not wait until your treadmill starts to smell of burning.
Check the cover and belt
Another part that we will have to check thoroughly to avoid problems is the treadmill cover and belt. It is natural that the belt of the treadmill wears out over time, since the sporting activity carried out on this machine involves constant friction with the rubber that ends up losing density and burning.
However, through good annual maintenance this problem can be avoided: by correctly lubricating and cleaning both the belt and the cover of our treadmill as indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions. In this way, we will reduce friction and increase the life of the belt.
If doing this the problem persists, what we will probably have to do is replace the parts or consult a specialized technician for advice and a quick look at the machine.
Look for possible short circuits or electrical contacts
If the engine is running well and you don’t notice that the belt or cover has any problems, the next thing you should do is look for the burning smell coming from some kind of electrical short in the engine, the wiring or from the main console.
While you can do these checks yourself, it’s best to call a light technician to do it for you; these types of repairs have to be done with the treadmill on, so it’s best to have a professional do it and not take any more risks.
Caution first and foremost
All treadmills come with an instruction manual in which we can find different tips for maintenance or occasional repair of our machine. Prevention is the best tool to prevent our treadmill from starting to smell of burning and following the manufacturer’s instructions is the best strategy to follow.
However, if we see that in spite of following all the recommendations, our treadmill still fails and smells bad, the best thing we can do is stop using it and call a professional to check it thoroughly.
Walking instead of running
One of the strangest causes of a treadmill smells like burning rubber is to stop using it for running, that is, to use the treadmill for long walks at a moderate pace.
It may seem strange to you, but these machines are designed to be used for running, so your treadmill and the motor need to run at least at an average speed of 6 km/h, otherwise they could stagnate due to lack of use; it is as bad to use it too much as not to use it at all, the key is to find a middle ground.
The intensity of your workouts
One of the aspects we may not take into account when buying a treadmill is the intensity of the workouts we do on it, since depending on the use we make of the treadmill, it will end up needing more or less maintenance.
If you are a homebound elite athlete and need to train for two to three hours a day, you should know that your treadmill will need weekly maintenance to keep running at that pace. Otherwise, the treadmill and engine will most likely overheat and create that unpleasant burning smell we’ve been talking about all along.
That’s all there is to it.
Final Thoughts
So did any of those sections help you? If not here are a few resources you can check out.
Here you can find Sears troubleshooting guides and instructions for treadmills – https://www.searspartsdirect.com/diy/article/how-to-troubleshoot-treadmill-problems
Youtube has a plethora of videos to help you fix your treadmill. Here’s a bunch of them – https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=treadmill+troubleshooting
And finally here’s a video that specifically talks about what to do if your treadmill has a burning smell from it.
With all of that, I’m sure you have gotten closer to your solution with your treadmill and that annoying burning smell.
