How to Fix the Incline Motor of a Treadmill

Treadmills are a great way to stay in shape or train for races no matter the weather outside your door. When treadmills stop working it can sideline your training or weight loss plans. Some treadmill technicians will tell you to replace the incline motor when it stops working and while this will ensure your treadmill works reliably, consider fixing the motor yourself. Trying to fix the motor on your own may save you the cost of a new motor and give you more time before replacing the motor.

Things You'll Need

• Wire Cutters
• Screwdriver
• Volt Meter
• Lubricant or All-Purpose Grease
• Allen Wrench
• Compressed Air

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Instructions

• 1

  Find the incline motor. It is likely positioned near the front of the running deck, but consult your owner's manual to find the exact placement. Disconnect the black and white wires leads on the motor from the terminal posts. You can locate the posts by following each of the wires to the push-type connector and disconnecting the connector from the posts.

• 2

  Test the output of your incline motor. Set the voltage meter on its lowest resistance and put the red tip into the end of the white wire connector. Insert the black tip into the connector on the end of the black wire. Watch the indicator and select the next level of resistance.

• 3

  Continue increasing the resistance until you see a reading on the voltage indicator. If you do not get a reading, it is time to replace the motor entirely. If you do get a reading, the problem can lie in the incline assembly. Use an Allen wrench or other wrench to remove the bolts on the incline motor mount, then remove the motor.

• 4

  Remove the front of the running deck frame and look for any resistance from the incline function. Lubricate the hinge points for the incline assembly and check for resistance again. The resistance may come from lifting and lowering the running belt frame. If the voltage test is positive and the incline works without resistance, reinstall the motor. Connect the black and white wire leads to their posts and reassemble the machine.

• 5

  Test the incline motor by removing the screws and small bolts that hold the motor to the housing. Loosen these bolts and remove the motor from the housing. Inspect the gear on the end of the motor shaft. If it is damaged, the motor should be replaced.

• 6

  Use compressed air to clean the inside of the housing. Rotate the threaded spindle on opposite ends of the housing to make sure they can turn freely. If they do not turn, lubricate them until they turn without resistance. If this works, you can reattach the motor to the housing and reinstall the motor to the treadmill.