A
problem with the treadmill, which seems to be due to the motor but
turns out to be caused by the belt
Below
is a summary of a long email exchange with a customer who had
problems that ultimately turned out to be caused by the belt. After
testing and changing a lot of components, the customer finally
decided to follow the advice ...
J.G.
Customer “I have a problem with my TC
470 Domyos treadmill. It happens that after a few minutes of using it
at a speed of about 4 km / h the treadmill stops despite the display
working. If I come off the belt it starts to turn and if I go back it
stops. Until a few days ago it did it once and then worked, but
tonight it continues to block. I took off the engine compartment
cover and noticed that when it stops is not the belt sliding or
anything else but the engine stops. I thought it might be a problem
with brushes and then I unplugged the engine from the treadmill but
did not open it to avoid further damage. I wanted to know what you
could advise me and, if you think it might be the engine, what to do.
The engine type is ICON 2.8hp 130VDC / 2089 watts.”
We
wrote to the customer: “First, do not
use the treadmill in these conditions because of the risk of further
damage. The problem depends on the engine, which has probably
developed some internal electrical dispersion, this makes it possible
to activate the board protection. In turn, damage to the motor can be
endemic or depends on the treadmill used or poorly maintained. Could
you send me a photo of the engine?”
Customer
J.G. “Thanks for the prompt reply,
definitely before using it I will have to fix the problem. Anyway I
tried to lubricate the belt, but nothing. However, the motor is
identical to that of the 2.8 hp 130 vdc Icon that you sell used at 90
euros and you have the photo on your site, or alternatively the new
one is compatible with 130 euros. Anyway tonight I'll take a picture
and I'll send it to you”.
[We
tried to convince the customer to replace the belt, but after some
email exchange the customer decided to buy a used engine and not the
belt]
[10
days later ...]
J.G
customer: “Hi Luca, unfortunately
even with the motor you gave me today, the problem remained, even if
it took a minute before it stopped, your motor stops after 15
seconds. With the tester I could not measure the absorption because
in my opinion it is only for AC. Anyway the engine for the two times
I tried was cool. Now tell me what you can do.”
Our
answer: “Do you confirm that it stops
after the same time even if there is no one on the treadmill?”
Customer
J.G. “Unloaded does not stop but this
was also true for the original engine, it's clear I did not go for so
much time”
Our
reply: “we can send you to test the
old engine to see if it can still be used, while for the rest, if the
problem emerges always when treadmill is loaded, you need to replace
the belt”
Customer J.G.
“Why do you say that I probably have to replace the belt? Maybe
because it makes too much friction on the board? But it looks new!!!
So your suggestion is, I test my motor, I send you back and pay the
difference of the new belt, right?
Our
answer: “I confirm the offer is that.
To control the belt’s quality and friction, you should check how
many A absorbs the engine when you are on the treadmill. However,
since the components involved are only board, motor, belt, and deck,
the probability of the belt is very high, especially if the belt is
older than 3 years because it loses its properties.”
[...
the client then decides to send his card and his engine for testing]
J.G
customer: “Hi Luca, this weekend I
did not have to do anything with the treadmill. Anyway I decided to
disassemble engine and board and let you have them for testing.”
[after
10 more days we get the results of the lab]
We
wrote the customer: “Hi John, I have
good news from the lab, which tells me that "new engine, older
one and board, all three work fine"
[after
a few days the old engine, board and belt are delivered to the
customer]
Customer
J.G. “Works!!!!! My treadmill started
working again, thank you for your help.”
[original
text edited and shortened to make it clearer to the reader]