Treadmill Knocking Noise When Walking

Knocking noise on your treadmill can be a real problem. It’s not only annoying for the person who is using it, but it can also be a distraction to your surroundings.

If you find that your treadmill makes a knocking noise, there are a few things you can check before contacting customer support. 

Let’s look at the causes of treadmill Knocking noise when walking. And the practical solutions to fix the problem. 

Without further ado, let’s get right into it!

Why Is My Treadmill Making Knocking Noise?

male athlete in black tank top using a treadmill

There are many reasons why to cause treadmill knocking noise. The most common one is usually caused by a poorly lubricated belt. 

However, it may also be caused by belt misalignment, a collection of dust, or loose contact in the pivot points.

Misaligned Walking Belt 

Misalignment on the walking belt is another common cause of treadmill knocking sound. This issue usually occurs when the belt is not properly centered. 

When your belt is putting too much friction on either of the rollers because it isn’t aligned properly, the knocking sound can often be heard.

This in turn can cause the running belt to slip to the sides and scrape the edges, which can produce loud knocking or scraping noises. 

Unlevel Surface 

The floor level is one of the main causes of those annoying sounds. This is because the treadmill elements will be subjected to undue stress if the surface is uneven, which could result in a knocking sound.

Therefore, it is important you check the machine is situated on an even floor.

Lack of Lubrication

a Proform treadmill picture from the corner a room

When a treadmill belt is not properly lubricated, it will create a knocking noise because of the produced friction. This can lead the drive motor to burnout because of the excessive effort to rotate the belt.

A treadmill which lacks lubrication can also harm the belt and lead to premature degradation. 

The proper lubrication allows the running belt to glide smoothly along without producing such annoying sound. 

Loose Parts

The pivot points in the treadmill machine are made of metal. Over time, they can create a loud knocking sound when they make contact.

If this is the problem, It is recommended to tighten them regularly and apply some lubricant to the pivot points to fix this.

A knocking noise can also indicate that the nuts and bolts that hold the treadmill together may have loosened very slightly. 

Therefore, you should check if there are any loose parts on your machine and carefully tighten them. 

How To Stop Treadmill Knocking Noise When Running?

There are numerous things you can try to get rid of the knocking noises produced by your exercise equipment.

But before making any alterations, make sure your treadmill is sitting on a flat, level surface.

Adjust the running belt

picture of a female person using a treadmill

A knocking sound is usually a sign that the walking belt needs adjustment. 

Adjusting the running belt is easy and the only tool needed is the Allen Wrench or Hex Key that came with the machine.

Below are instructions on how to adjust the treadmill belt and stop the unpleasant sound.

  1. Power down and unplug the Tread. Use the 6mm Allen key from the toolkit that came with your Tread to tighten the Idler Roller Screws.
  2. When tightening the belt, turn both the left and right idler bolts the same distance and direction.
  3. Turn on the Tread and briefly walk and run on the machine to make sure the belt isn’t slipping. 

Prevent over-tightening, which could cause other unwanted issues. You know you have reached the proper tension when the belt lifts about 3 to 4 inches off the walking platform.

Lubricate the machine

Black woman standing on treadmill during cardio workout

Without proper lubrication, your treadmill’s belt and deck could rub and create too much friction.

On your treadmill, there are various metal on metal pivots points. Over time, they’ll start making a loud knocking sound when they make contact. What you need to do is to lubricate them.

First, lift up the deck to get the treadmill into a folded position, then apply a grease lubricant to all the pivots points down there.

The next thing to do is remove the motor cover. Loosen those Philips screws and then pull the cover off.

After you have access to the incline motor, apply some lubricant grease to the incline pivots.

Next, using the T-wrench or Allen wrench, loosen the rear roller tension bolts 10-15 counter-clockwise turns. This should give the belt enough slack for you to lift it.

Reach under the treadmill belt and use a piece of cloth to wipe it down to ensure it is clean prior to applying any lubricant.

Lift the belt as far as you can, then squirt the silicone oil in a zigzag pattern on one side of the running deck surface. 

Do the same on the other side, using about ½ bottle of silicone lubricant on each Side.

Make sure to not apply the silicone oil on top of the running belt. 

Once you are finished, lay the running belt down and then retighten both rear roller adjustment bolts clockwise the same number of turns loosened.

While staying off of the machine, plug it on and allow it to run at about 3 mph for about 5 minutes, so the lubricant can be evenly distributed.

Once the belt is fully lubricated, make sure it is properly centered and tensioned, then wipe any excess oil from the sides with a damp cloth.

Final Thoughts 

There are many reasons that cause a treadmill to start knocking or other unpleasant noises. The most common one is usually caused by a poorly lubricated belt. 

Knocking sounds may also be caused by belt misalignment, a collection of dust, or loose contact in the pivot points.

After today’s article, you will be willing to prevent the loud disturbing noises produced by your treadmill machine.

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