Troubleshooting ProForm Treadmill Problems | TreadmillReviewGuru.com

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iFIT, which is the parent company of NordicTrack and ProForm, has been manufacturing fitness equipment for decades. iFIT is the largest treadmill manufacturer and ProForm is one of the most popular brands. When it comes to ProForm’s lineup, we’ve been testing all of their treadmills for years. If you’re looking for a functional, well-priced, compact, folding treadmill with nice tech features then ProForm is our top recommendation. The premium ProForm Pro 9000 is on our best treadmills list, too.

In our experience, ProForm treadmills perform well and last for years. Just like any motorized machine though, occasionally ProForm treadmills need repairing. Whether it is an issue that could be fixed with maintenance or you need to troubleshoot your ProForm treadmill, we have some tips to help.

ProForm Treadmill Maintenance

Regular maintenance is important for any treadmill, whether it is from ProForm or another brand. The following is what we recommend doing regularly with your ProForm treadmill.

Read The Manual

When you first get your model, we recommend reading the manual that comes with it. Along with assembly instructions, you’ll find maintenance tips in the manual. You can also find information on how to use specific features that are unique to your treadmill.

Check For Loose Screws

This one might seem obvious, but we even forget to do this from time to time. A loose screw or component might result in rattling somewhere in the deck or console. Sometimes a loose screw can cause specific areas of the treadmill to wear more easily, too. Either way, it is important to regularly inspect all of the nuts, bolts, and screws on your ProForm treadmill. I would do this every other week, or weekly if you put a lot of miles on your machine.

Lubricate The Belt

Treadmill belts need to be lubricated regularly. Different brands have different recommendations. It’s important to check your treadmill’s manual to see what they recommend. Generally, after 40 hours of use or 3 months, whichever comes first, is a good rule of thumb.

Find our guide to lubricating a treadmill belt, here.

Align The Belt

Along with lubrication, the belt might need tightening or aligning periodically. Belts can become loose after use or pull to one side. If the belt is pulling to one side, this can cause the ends to fray. A belt that needs to be realigned could start slipping, too.

Your treadmill’s manual should state how to align the belt. This usually involves using an Allen wrench. At the rear of your ProForm treadmill, with the deck unfolded, take the Allen wrench and put it in the hole just behind the side rail on the side that the belt is pulling over to. Turn the wrench in the direction that you want the belt to move over to.

Once adjusted, you’ll turn the treadmill belt on and let it run for a few minutes while the belt repositions. If it is still pulling to one side, you might need to stop the belt and make a few more adjustments. The fewer you turn the wrench, the less the treadmill belt will adjust.

Clean Your Treadmill

Wiping your treadmill down, especially if you dripped a lot of water and/or sweat on it, and keeping the belt and deck free from dirt and debris is important. Not only can water and sweat lead to corrosion, but dirt and debris can damage the motor.

Dirt from your shoes can get on the belt and underneath it, plus, dirt under the treadmill can get sucked up into the motor, too. Dust can also create problems so be sure to keep the area where you use your ProForm treadmill clean.

Check For Loose Wires

Because most ProForm treadmills have touch screens or Bluetooth-enabled LCD displays, this means they have wires, in addition to the standard cable cord that plugs the treadmill into the wall. When assembling the treadmill, it is important to make sure no wires are twisted or pinched. If you have a problem getting your treadmill to turn on, or if the screen glitches or doesn’t turn on, a wire or cable might be loose.

Troubleshooting Your ProForm Treadmill

If you have a specific problem that requires ProForm treadmill repair, then you can try troubleshooting the following areas.

Belt Issues

If your treadmill’s belt has been cleaned, lubricated, tightened and/or aligned, and it still isn’t working, you might need to troubleshoot it.

ProForm suggests unplugging your treadmill and plugging it back in. Once plugged in, check the safety key to make sure it is properly attached to the console.

If the belt still isn’t moving, you’ll need to take off the treadmill’s motor hood at the top of the deck. Under the hood, you’ll want to check for any worn components or disconnected wires. Referring to the manual can help show the parts under the motor hood in order for you to determine if anything is broken, not connected, or worn out.

Incline Problems

If your ProForm treadmill’s incline feature isn’t working or isn’t adjusting to its full range, it might need to be recalibrated. Recalibrating will adjust the deck to the full incline, which is 12% on most ProForm treadmills. The recalibration information should be in the manual and in the treadmill settings on the screen.

Console Not Working

Sometimes adjustment buttons on the console can get sticky. You might need to press the sticky button and massage it under your finger to try to get it to unstick.

If the touchscreen displays a white screen that doesn’t load after a few minutes, you might need to do a pinhole reset. This involves taking a paper clip and putting the end of it into the tiny hole near the treadmill’s screen. Once pushed in, have someone turn the ProForm treadmill on. Once it is turned on, you’ll remove the paper clip.

Factory resetting the console is another option if the console isn’t working properly. This option can be found in the treadmill’s settings on the screen.

Noise

Treadmills in general make noise. The motor makes a humming noise that gets louder as the speed increases. Once you incline the deck, additional noise is heard, too. This is all without even you walking and running on the deck. Along with drive motor and incline motor noise, foot noise can vary from treadmill to treadmill.

Sometimes your treadmill can make additional noise that isn’t normal. If you hear rattling, thumping, or grinding noises, you can try the following.

Rattling could be loose hardware. This is why consistently checking for loose screws or bolts is important. Something could be loose under the motor hood, or in the deck, causing the rattle sound.

Thumping or a louder banging noise could mean your treadmill deck isn’t level. If when you walk or run on the deck, your foot noise sounds louder than usual, check to make sure all of the feet are on the floor.

If the motor is making a low thumping noise when you’re not on the treadmill, it could mean the motor needs a moment to warm up. If you haven’t used your treadmill in a while, try allowing the motor to run at different speeds for a few minutes. The thumping noise should dissipate after some use.

A grinding or crackling noise could mean that dirt or debris is caught in the motor. To avoid this it is a good idea to place a treadmill mat underneath the deck, you should do this in addition to keeping the belt clean. You can check our top recommendations for treadmill mats, here.

When To Consult An Expert

If you’ve read the manual, performed regular maintenance, used your treadmill properly, and tried troubleshooting your ProForm treadmill, and it still isn’t working properly, or maybe even at all, it is time to call an expert. ProForm includes a 10-year frame, 1-2-year parts, and a 1-year labor warranty with their treadmills. It’s important to check the warranty and contact ProForm, or your treadmill’s manufacturer if it’s from another brand, if you have a problem that needs fixing.