Treadmill Motor Or Controller Issue, OR... Is it Friction Coefficient?

May 14, 2020

Friction Coefficient: The Enemy Within

We often have individuals buy a controller or motor to replace another, only to have the same issue immediately or shortly thereafter replacement.  So, if you were a treadmill doctor, you could ask yourself... Am I treating the symptom or providing a cure, many times we find it to be the symptom similar to treating nausea from cancer with pink stomach medicine... You still have cancer despite going through bottles of medicine.

Before self righteousness hijacks your mind into believing you are correct in your analysis, please take a step back and consider the following.

1)  How often did I lubricate my belt and deck, we write about this here, this is critical and ties into the topic

and

2) How often do I use this machine and how long have I had it

Why?

Excessive Friction coefficient, the enemy.  What is this?
The physical definition..
The coefficient of friction, µ, is a measure of the amount of friction existing between two surfaces. A low value of coefficient of friction indicates that the force required for sliding to occur is less than the force required when the coefficient of friction is high. 

The point µ as defined above increases with use over time on a treadmill in the belt and deck system, Lets assume that you weigh 200 pounds and that stays constant, well, with an increase of µ the work your machine increases, thus increasing the overall electrical load of your treadmill, and that load is distributed throughout vital components like treadmill motor controllers and motors.  More Electrical load, equals more heat. Heat kills treadmill components.

We can go down a rabbit hole here on the math behind this, suffice it to say, you should consider this message as this...  if the same problem persists, you should replace your belt and deck, not your motor.

Related Topics: Maintenance Tips to Save Your Treadmill From the Fitness Graveyard,  Power Issues