How to Lubricate a Horizon Treadmill Belt

Just like a car or any other part of machinery with moving parts, treadmills require maintenance. Lubricating the belt is one of the easiest things to do. Yet year after year, treadmill owners find themselves in a pickle for lack of care. The good news is Horizon treadmills make things easy in this regard. Some models, such as the Horizon 7.8AT have electronic displays which tell users when maintenance is required. As a rule, you’ll need to lubricate the belt every three months, 150 miles, or after 40 hours of use, whichever comes first.

Lubrication helps prevent wear and tear on the deck, belt, and motor. Horizon, which is owned by Johnson Fitness, happens to retail its own brand of treadmill lubricant, but you can always buy 100% silicone online as that’s the preferred type of lubricant for these machines. Be sure to never use WD-40 or any petroleum-based substances on the deck or belt as they’ll eat away at the material. Read below to see how easy it is to work with a NordicTrack.

Step by Step: How to Lubricate a Horizon Treadmill Belt

1. Gather the tools: Make sure you have on-hand the treadmill lubricant, applicator, and the Horizon-supplied T-wrench to loosen the belt if needed.
2. Unplug the unit: As a matter of precaution, always unplug the treadmill from the power source before working on the belt. This prevents the machine from accidentally coming on and either injuring you or damaging the machine.
3. Loosen the belt: A properly tightened belt should allow for a gentle three-inch lift from the deck with the fingers. If the belt is too snug for you to slide the lubricant applicator underneath, take the T-wrench to the rear of the machine and loosen the roller bolts about 10 to 15 turns counter-clockwise. Remember, Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty.
4. Apply the lubricant: Lift the belt up to expose the bare deck. Squirt the silicone across the running deck in a zig-zag pattern, up and down. Avoid getting the silicone atop the belt. Depending on the size of the deck, you might need to do this on both the right and left sides.
5. Tighten the belt: Let the belt come back down atop the deck and return to the rear of the machine to re-tighten the belt using the T-wrench cranking clockwise. Check to make sure you can gently lift about three inches of the belt off the deck when done.
6. Plug in the machine: Turn the power back on and allow the treadmill to run at three miles per hour for three minutes without stepping on it. After that time is up, go ahead and get atop the treadmill and walk at a comfortable speed for another three minutes. This will help evenly spread the lubricant.
7. Reset the machine: If you have a Horizon unit which displays the “Lubrication” command when it’s time for maintenance, you’ll need to reset this now. Do this by pressing the “Speed Up” and “Stop” button simultaneously for five to seven seconds.
8. Check alignment: Make sure the belt is running smoothly down the center, and you’re all done.

Some treadmills, such as the Horizon 7.8 AT, display a notice when lubrication is required. To reset this after lubrication, hold down the “Speed Up” and “Stop” buttons simultaneously for five to seven seconds.

Maintenance Matters

Having to replace a treadmill belt can be a hassle. The goods news is, it’s easy to do. If you happen to have a Horizon treadmill, the manufacturer offers a number of great resources for maintenance, from diagrams and videos, all free online. Horizon also offers its own brand of lubricant and other assorted materials. If you happen to run out though, don’t fret. Treadmill lubricants are easy to find so long as you use silicone. The big value to buying the company’s brand is they tend to come in easy-to-use containers with applicators, already sized for use. With proper care and maintenance, a Horizon treadmill should last well over 10 years. Lubricating the belt is just to easy a step to ignore when you figure the amount of money you have invested.

Manufacturers such as Horizon will often provide their own line of lubricant.