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Keep Your Treadmill Running With Proper Treadmill Maintenance
By Kevin Urban
Once you have added a treadmill to your home gym, it is important to keep the parts running smoothly through proper maintenance. Treadmill maintenance is the easy way to keep your machine trouble free for continued service. To prolong the life of treadmills and get optimum performance, you should familiarize yourself with the manufacturers instruction manual. The machines maker will outline an easy-to-follow schedule for maintaining their treadmills. Often you will also be able to order a cleaning kit and recommended replacement parts. A cleaning kit should be your first priority in extending your treadmills life and deterring any major mechanical problems.
Dust - the #1 Enemy of Treadmills
Dust particles and dirt are the main enemies of home treadmills. The equipment should always be placed in a relatively dust and moisture free area. Dust all parts of your treadmill regularly, especially in the part between the tread belt and decking. A clean and dry belt is important, and you should check the adjustments on the belt regularly as part of your maintenance. After your first initial uses of the machine, some tightening may be required to maintain proper tracking. Also, double-check the alignment of the treadmills belt. Under normal usage, belts should be replaced about every two years.
Replacing Parts
Treadmill replacement parts, like belts and rollers, are available direct from the manufacturer or at quality fitness resellers. When it is time to replace one, you can ensure that you buy the proper belt by looking for your specific make and model number. Alignment and tracking of the tread belt are easily accomplished, usually with the Allen wrench used to assemble treadmills. Belt adjustment screws are usually easily accessible, and the manual will guide you through proper tightness and adjustment of these parts.
Keeping the treadmill parts free of dirt and dust can also keep the motor and electronics running without added maintenance and replacement costs. Make sure the machine is placed on a level surface for operation. A special floor mat will help keep the machine stable and absorb some of the vibrations. If treadmills begin producing squeaks or knocking noises, stop using it immediately, unplug the motor, and refer to the maintenance manual. Often a simple adjustment will get your treadmill on track and you wont need to replace major parts.
About the Author:
Kevin Urban is the editor at TreadmillTalk.com, a treadmill reviews and ratings guide that helps buyers choose the best treadmill for their home gyms. Visit the site for tips on treadmill workouts, comparison charts and reviews on the most popular brands and models.
Copyright 2007 TreadmillTalk.com
Permission is granted to publish this article on your site providing all links are included and clickable.
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Its not just because treadmills are expensive that people are looking to buy some form of second hand, used or refurbished treadmill. It can also be because there is a huge range of treadmills on the market. With a huge range of features.
The aspiring treadmill user is often aware that it is better to start at the lower end of the treadmill market and spend some time getting the feel for exercising on a treadmill.
Although treadmills are some of the most popular items of fitness equipment in the US, they dont appeal to everyone. Some people can find that they use a treadmill for a while and decide that they prefer some other form of exercise. Sometimes it not another piece of indoor exercise equipment, its just that they prefer to exercise outdoors.
So many people will spend a more limited amount of money on a lower end machine and wait until they are happy to upgrade. Others will buy a refurbished treadmill at a much lower price and get a better machine than they would get buying new at the cheapest end of the market.
Not only that, once you have spent some time using a treadmill you will get some feel for the types of features you require in a treadmill. Theres no point in rushing out and buying the most expensive, top of the range model just to find that you dont use most of the features.
So it makes sense to spend less, get some basic treadmill experience in, and then upgrade to get the exact model you want with the features you need. So you may not need to buy new for your first treadmill anyway, as you may only have it for a year or two.
Thats where refurbished treadmills come in. There are risks in just going out to look for ordinary used treadmills. You dont know what you are getting. If the motor breaks down the day after you buy it then it may become an expensive treadmill.
A refurbished treadmill, although usually more expensive than a similar second hand model, is a safer bet, especially in the long term.
So, back to our question, what is a refurbished treadmill?
There is a whole range of cheaper treadmills. They can be called refurbished treadmills, factory refurbished treadmills, remanufactured treadmills or just used or second hand treadmills.
Lets dispose of the last two first. Used and second hand treadmills are generally just treadmills that someone has used and wants to sell. You buy them, you take all the risk. Unless you know exactly what to look for when buying a treadmill like this then stay clear. Cheap treadmills like this can certainly be, well, cheap. But risky.
And the others? Generally all the terms mean that the treadmills have been disassembled to some degree and rebuilt, usually with new parts to relace broken or worn out parts. The frame sand blasted, sometimes, and the treadmill resprayed, sometimes. However there can be some differences.
Remanufactured treadmills or refurbished treadmills means just that. Treadmills which have been remanufactured or refurbished as we have described above. It doesnt tell you WHO remanufactured or refurbished them. Was it the local bicycle mechanic who did it? Often you dont know.
And what is the difference between refurbished and remanufactured? Generally remanufactured will mean an older machine which needs parts replacing because it is getting more worn out. Refurbished usually means newer machines which may even be only a year or two old and which do not have enough wear to require serious rebuilding.
Better always to look for FACTORY refurbished or remanufactured treadmills. Machines which have gone back to the original factory and been refurbished by qualified technicians. Or else a business which makes a living from remanufacturing or refurbishing treadmills.
This process should involve taking the treadmill apart, examining all the parts and replacing all broken, worn out or old parts. Before it is reassembled it should be sand blasted and repainted. It should look like a new treadmill, or at least very close to it.
So, things to look for:
1. The age of the treadmill.
2. Who is refurbishing or remanufacturing it.
3. Most importantly, the warranty you get with it.
Why the warranty? Well if its a great refurbished treadmill then they ought to recognise this with a great warranty.
No warranty? Stay clear. 60 or 90 days? Better but not perfect.
The longer the warranty, the more confidence you have in the machine. So when you buy, make sure you check out the warranty.
I have just been looking on the net at some refurbished Precor treadmills at my favourite refurbished treadmills merchant. Certainly amongst the refurbished Precor treadmills there is a lower range to choose from than new, but youd expect that. But there are still plenty of choices. And expect a substantial saving off new price.
So if youre new to treadmills and looking for refurbished Precor treadmills, or any refurbished treadmills for that matter, then there are some good choices available at some substantial savings.
Refurbished treadmills, certainly something to think about for the new treadmill user.
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One of the most exciting aspects of fitness is recognising the improvements in your body as you move towards your ultimate goal, both in terms of how you look and the way you feel. There is very little as satisfying as finally beginning to reap the rewards of all your hard work, but unfortunately, sometimes the differences in our health and our physique are not as apparent as quickly as we would wish them to be. But thankfully the people at Smooth treadmills understand how important a sense of improvement is in helping to keep us motivated, and they have incorporated many great features in their treadmills that will allow us see the small differences each time we exercise.
There is ample scientific evidence that indicates performing the exact same routine each time we exercise can quickly bring us to a plateau, both in terms of our fitness level and in the speed of our weight loss. Besides this important fact, repeating the same routine can quickly become boring, and we are infinitely less likely to psyche ourselves up to perform a routine that no longer engages or excites us. Smooth treadmills take this into consideration, and offer a range of pre-programmed running sessions to help keep us both physically and mentally challenged. The Smooth 5.15 treadmill has 3 preset programs, for example, and six different user programs, which will help keep you on your toes.
Many users prefer to adapt their running schedule as they go along, and though most treadmills have electronic display units to help you customize your workout while running, any regular treadmill user will be able to tell you how difficult it can be to hit the right key when running at any kind of speed! To make performing these sorts of changes easier, the Smooth 5.15 treadmill comes with hand grip speed and incline controls no more floundering about while running, hoping that you dont hit the off switch by mistake! With hand held controls, you can challenge yourself to faster paced, more intense runs just as quickly as you decide to do so. And it is this sort of unpredictable, change-it-as-you-go-along routine that has been proven time and again to provide the most effective workout.
The Smooth 7.1 operates in an even more intuitive way this treadmill includes a wireless heart monitor that transmits your heart rate to the receiver in your treadmill, which then automatically adjusts the intensity of your workout until you heart reaches a zone that you have preset. Allowing the heart rate monitor to determine your level of exertion is one of the most effective ways to workout.
Challenge Yourself, With a Smooth Treadmill!
A tried and tested way of maintaining motivation is fostering a sense of challenge and competition in your workouts, whether this is with another exerciser or simply with your own last personal best. The Smooth 7.1 treadmill is equipped with features that encourage this sense of competition while treadmill exercising is not something you can typically share with another person, the Smooth 7.1 treadmill allows you to store up to nine different user profiles in its database, allowing several people to keep track of their exercise details at the same time. And if you prefer simply to track your own improvements, this Smooth treadmill provides you with the technology you need to do that too the Smooth 7.1 treadmill is one of the few treadmills available that allows you monitor your BMI, or body mass index. While weighing yourself can be a frustrating procedure when you are trying to lose weight through exercise you are building up more muscle when you exercise, and muscle weighs more than fat measuring your BMI will give you a real sense of how far you have come what better incentive to get back on and run some more!
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Your first priority in finding the best treadmill for you is making an evaluation of your own fitness needs and goals. While a particular treadmill that you evaluate might be well constructed with a great motor, it will be of little use to you if the running mat is too small to accommodate your stride. So examine any special needs you might have so that you approach your search for the best treadmills from an informed perspective here are some questions you might ask yourself before you begin:
What height am I? Do I have particularly long legs? While it might sound silly, this is an important question that will help you find the right treadmill. The running mat size of a treadmill can differ from one machine to another, and taller people usually have a longer stride, requiring more space upon which to run. Exercising will be no fun if you cant stretch your legs!
What is my weight? Many of us purchase a treadmill to help us lose some weight and shape up, but if you are particularly overweight, you will need to choose a treadmill that will be able to accommodate your weight while still providing a good workout. Most machines will specify their maximum capacity, so it will be easy to find a treadmill that is best recommended for heavier set people.
Do I want to walk or run? Treadmills are available with different motor strengths, and while a lower horsepower motor will probably be cheaper, you will need a motor of at least 2.0 HP to support regular running. A higher horsepower is also recommended if you will be using your treadmill often, as this will give it a longer life.
Will I want to get on and run, or will I need some extra features to spice up my workout? While some of the best-rated treadmills might be those that include a variety of hi-tech features, some of the treadmills best buys are the more basic ones. If you prefer to simply get on your treadmill and run without distraction for a half hour, then a more basic model might be best for you, but a treadmill with pre-programmed options and perhaps even interactive technology might be more appropriate for exercisers who like an external challenge.
Do I have a lot of space in my home? This is an important consideration when choosing a treadmill for your home. Some treadmills can take up quite a bit of space, and you might end up hating the thing if it dominates your home! If you are low on space, choose one of the many folding models available.
How much money do I want to spend on a treadmill? This is perhaps the most important question of all in helping you narrow down which are the best treadmills for you. Treadmills are available from a couple of hundred dollars right up to several thousand, so deciding your budget in advance can help you limit your search considerably. While it is often said that you get what you pay for, some of the best-recommended treadmills are those that are also great value, so dont assume that a smaller budget will restrict your options enormously. There are a multitude of great reviewing websites available that will offer up their best buys depending on your budget a quick online search will assure you that you can find a great treadmill no matter what you have to spend.
Once you have an idea of what you are looking for, you are ready to search the reviews for the best treadmill for you. Use the manufacturers own website to find details of the features of each treadmill, but be sure to explore reviews such as consumer reports and popular opinion polls to find out how unbiased sources rate that treadmill you have your eye on.
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Icon has over $1 billion of sales of fitness equipment worldwide so is a substantial manufacturer. It manufactures reasonable quality machines for the lower end of the market but doesnt compete with the much more expensive brands at the upper end.
Epic treadmills are sold by Costco, the discount gym equipment retailer (amongst others) so you should expect low prices.
The most well known of all the epic treadmills is the epic t60 treadmill. In fact this treadmill is really the only model amongst the epic treadmill range that is well recognised.
One of the reasons for this is that the epic t 60 treadmill is well rated by some of the nets treadmills rating sites as a good value buy. And the epic t 60 is therefore a good seller.
The treadmill doctor rated the epic t60 a best buy in the price range $500 to $1000, however noted some deficiencies in the treadmill none the less. In particular they noted problems with the keypad and the rollers, but youre not going to get the perfect treadmill for under $1000.
The epic t60 has a powerful motor. It has a good cushioned running platform and can accommodate runners up to 350 lbs. It has an impressive range of user features including iFit technology, an interactive feature that Icon put on their Proform treadmills as well.
With iFit your workout becomes more interesting. Hook up to the internet and track your fitness and progress. iFit will devise a personal workout program for you, so that each time you set foot on your treadmill, you will have a new goal to reach, and a personal best to beat. Competing with yourself is a great way to increase the challenge.
iFit technology also allows you listen to music as you workout, and
provides inspirational images that can be the backdrop to your run.
And the epic t60 allows you to fold it away after you have done your workout. This is a worthwhile feature as treadmills are very large pieces of equipment and take up a lot of space.
The epic t60 treadmill boasts a worthwhile warranty on the motor, but not necessarily on the rest of the treadmill. A 12 year warranty on the motor is good, but 90 days for the rest isnt so good.
Epic treadmills arent known for long warranties.
But are epic treadmills the best value? There is no point in buying an epic treadmill merely for a great price if it isnt the best value.
And good value isnt just a case of a good price. Customer service and warranty come into it too. And on those the epic treadmills tend to fall down a little.
So if you are looking for an epic treadmill, or even an epic t 60, theres something to think about. Dont dismiss them out of hand, however, they are good treadmills for the price, just not as well supported as they could be. And if you can buy an extended warranty with the treadmill at a reasonable price then this would be worthwhile.
Where do you buy them? Well they are available at Costco, but the range is very limited. And at the time of writing the epic t60 treadmill is not listed for sale at Costco. Thats something else to think about. If you really want one then try and find out why they dont seem to offer them at the moment. This may of course change though.
So, epic treadmills, good value or not? It depends, but dont buy one without a little more investigation.
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