Category : Treadmill repair and service
Contents of this article
- Running belt adjustment
- Running belt and duck lubrication
- Calibration (factory mode)
- Speed sensor adjustment
SOLE F63
Belt and Bed
The treadmill uses a very high-efficient low-friction bed.
Performance is maximized when the bed is kept as clean as possible. Use a soft,
damp cloth, or paper towel, wipe the edge of the belt and the area between the
belt edge and the frame. Also reach as far as practical directly under the belt
edge. This should be done once a month to extend belt and bed life. A mild soap
and water solution along with a nylon scrub brush will clean the top of the
textured belt. Allow to dry before using.
Belt Dust
Belt Dust
This occurs during normal break-in or until the belt
stabilizes. Sometimes the black dust from the belt will appear on the floor
behind the treadmill, this is normal.
General Cleaning
General Cleaning
Dirt, dust, and pet hair can block air inlets and
accumulate on the running belt. Please vacuum underneath your treadmill on a
monthly basis to prevent excess build-up of dirt that can get sucked up and get
into the inner workings under the motor cover. Once a year, you should remove
the black motor hood and vacuum out dirt that may accumulate. UNPLUG POWER CORD
BEFORE THIS TASK.
BELT ADJUSTMENTS:
Treadmill belt Tension Adjustment
BELT ADJUSTMENTS:
Treadmill belt Tension Adjustment
Belt tension is not critical for most
users. It is very important though for joggers and runners in order to provide
a smooth, steady running surface. Adjustment must be made from the rear roller
with the 6 mm Allen wrench provided in the parts package. The adjustment bolts
are located at the end of the step rails as shown in the diagram below.
Note: Adjustment is through small hole in end
cap.
Tighten the rear roller only enough to
prevent slippage at the front roller. Turn the tread-belt tension adjusting
bolts 1/4 turn each and inspect for proper tension by walking on the belt and
making sure it is not slipping or hesitating with each step. When an adjustment
is made to the belt tension, you must be sure to turn the bolts on both sides evenly
or the belt could start tracking to one side instead of running in the middle
of the deck.
DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN
DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN
Over tightening will cause belt damage and
premature bearing failure. If you tighten the belt a lot and it still slips,
the problem could actually be the drive belt - located under the motor cover -
that connects the motor to the front roller. If that belt is loose it feels
similar to the walking belt being loose. Tightening the motor belt should be
done by a trained service person.
TREADMILL BELT TRACKING ADJUSTMENT:
The treadmill is designed so that the tread-belt remains
reasonably centered while in use. It is normal for some belts to drift near one
side while in use, depending on a user’s gait and if they favor one leg. But if
during use the belt continues to move toward one side, adjustments are
necessary.
TO SET TREADMILL BELT TRACKING
A 6 mm Allen wrench is provided for this adjustment. Make
tracking adjustments on the left side bolt. Set belt speed at 3 mph. Be aware
that a small adjustment can make a dramatic difference which may not be
apparent right away. If the belt is too close to the left side, then
turn the bolt only a 1/4 turn to the right (clockwise) and wait a few minutes
for the belt to adjust itself. Continue to make 1/4 turns until the belt
stabilizes in the center of the running deck. If the belt is too close to
the right side, turn the bolt counter-clockwise. The belt may require
periodic tracking adjustment depending on use and walking/running
characteristics. Some users may affect tracking differently. Expect to make
adjustments as required to center the tread-belt. Adjustments will become less
of a maintenance concern as the belt is used. Proper belt tracking is an owner
responsibility common with all treadmills.
Belt/deck lubrication procedure
Do not lubricate with other than SOLE approved lubricant. Your
treadmill comes with one tube of lubricant and extra tubes can be ordered
directly from SOLE. There are commercially available lube kits, but the only
one currently approved by SOLE is Lube-N-Walk. These kits come with an
application wand that makes applying the lubrication easier. The proper kit
should be silicon based, NOT paraffin wax. You can also purchase SOLE lubricant
from sole website under the products tab. Keeping the deck lubricated at the
recommended intervals ensures the longest life possible for your treadmill. If
the lubricant dries out, the friction between the belt and deck rises and
places undue stress on the drive motor, drive belt and electronic motor control
board, which could result in catastrophic failure of these expensive
components. Failure to lubricate the deck at regular intervals may void the
warranty. The belt & deck come pre-lubricated and subsequent lubrication
should be performed every 180 hours of use. The console has a built in
lubrication reminder indicator that lights every 180 hours of use. To lubricate
the deck with the tube of lubricant supplied it will be necessary to loosen the
walking belt. Using the 6 mm Allen wrench supplied, loosen the two rear roller
adjustment bolts -- located in the rear end caps – enough to get your hand
under the belt (5 –10 turns). Make sure to loosen both bolts the same amount of
turns and also remember how many turns, because when finished you will need to
tighten the bolts back to the point they were before. Once the belt is loose,
wipe the deck with a clean lint free cloth to remove any dirt. Apply the whole
tube of lubricant onto the deck surface about 18 inches from the motor cover.
Squeeze out the contents of the tube across the deck (parallel to the motor
cover) in about a one-foot line, like toothpaste on a toothbrush. The one-foot
line should be in the middle of the deck at approximately equal distance from
both side edges of the belt. You want the lubricant to be applied about the
spot that your feet would hit the belt as you are walking. This should be about
18 inches from the motor cover, but you may want to walk on the treadmill
before loosening the belt to note where your feet land on the belt. If you
mostly use the treadmill for running, the spot where your feet land may be
different from walking. Once the lubricant is applied, tighten the rear roller
bolts the same amount of turns as when you loosened them. Run the treadmill at
about 3 mph without walking on it for about a minute or two to make sure the
belt stays in the middle of the deck. If the belt tracks to one side then
follow the belt tracking instructions to remedy. Now the deck is lubricated and
you should walk, not run, on the treadmill immediately for at least 5 minutes
to ensure the lubricant is evenly distributed. If you purchase a silicone based
Lube-N-Walk
kit, follow the instructions that come with it to apply the lubrication.
Service Checklist
- Diagnosis
Display does not light
1) Tether cord not in position.
2) Circuit breaker on front grill tripped. Push circuit breaker in until it locks.
3) Plug is disconnected. Make sure plug is firmly pushed into
AC household wall outlet.
4) Household circuit breaker may be tripped.
2) Circuit breaker on front grill tripped. Push circuit breaker in until it locks.
3) Plug is disconnected. Make sure plug is firmly pushed into
AC household wall outlet.
4) Household circuit breaker may be tripped.
Tread-belt does not stay
centered Treadmill belt hesitates when walked/run on
The user may be walking while favoring or
putting more weight on either the left or right foot. If this walking pattern
is natural, track the belt slightly off-center to the side opposite from the
belt movement. See General Maintenance section on Tread-belt Tension. Adjust as
necessary.
Motor is not responsive after pressing
start
1) If the belt moves, but stops after a
short time and the display shows “LS”, run calibration.
2) If you press start and the belt never moves, then the display shows LS
2) If you press start and the belt never moves, then the display shows LS
Treadmill will only achieve
approximately 7 mph but shows higher speed on display
This indicates motor should be receiving
power to operate. Low AC voltage to treadmill. Do not use an extension cord. If
an extension cord is required it should be as short as possible and heavy duty 16
gauge minimum. Low household voltage. A minimum of 110 volt AC current is
required.
Procedures to perform in case LS
(Low speed) error occurs
Calibration procedure
1) Remove the safety key
2) Press and hold down the Start and Fast (speed up) buttons and replace the safety key. Continue to hold the Start and Fast key until the window displays “Factory settings”, then press the enter key.
3) You will now be able to set the display to show Metric or English settings (Miles vs. Kilometers). To do this, press the up or down key to show which you want, then press enter.
4) Make sure the wheel size diameter is 2.30 then press enter
5) Adjust the minimum speed (if needed) to 0.5 and then press enter
6) Adjust the maximum speed (if needed) to 12.0 and then press enter
7) Adjust the maximum elevation (if needed) to 15 and then press enter
8) Grade return – On (This allows the incline to return to zero when stop is pressed. For sale in Europe, EU standards require this to be off)
9) Press start to begin calibration. The process is automatic; the speed will start up without warning, so do not stand on the belt.
Adjusting the speed sensor
If the calibration does not pass you may need to check the speed sensor alignment.
1) Remove the motor cover hood by loosening the 4 screws that hold it in place (you do not need to remove them completely).
2) The speed sensor is located on the left side of the frame, right next to the front roller pulley (the pulley will have a belt around it that also goes to the motor). The speed sensor is small and black with a wire connected to it.
3) Make sure the sensor is as close as possible to the pulley without touching it. You will see a magnet on the face of the pulley; make sure the sensor is aligned with the magnet. There is a screw that holds the sensor in place that needs to be loosened to adjust the sensor. Re-tighten the screw when finished.
Calibration procedure
1) Remove the safety key
2) Press and hold down the Start and Fast (speed up) buttons and replace the safety key. Continue to hold the Start and Fast key until the window displays “Factory settings”, then press the enter key.
3) You will now be able to set the display to show Metric or English settings (Miles vs. Kilometers). To do this, press the up or down key to show which you want, then press enter.
4) Make sure the wheel size diameter is 2.30 then press enter
5) Adjust the minimum speed (if needed) to 0.5 and then press enter
6) Adjust the maximum speed (if needed) to 12.0 and then press enter
7) Adjust the maximum elevation (if needed) to 15 and then press enter
8) Grade return – On (This allows the incline to return to zero when stop is pressed. For sale in Europe, EU standards require this to be off)
9) Press start to begin calibration. The process is automatic; the speed will start up without warning, so do not stand on the belt.
Adjusting the speed sensor
If the calibration does not pass you may need to check the speed sensor alignment.
1) Remove the motor cover hood by loosening the 4 screws that hold it in place (you do not need to remove them completely).
2) The speed sensor is located on the left side of the frame, right next to the front roller pulley (the pulley will have a belt around it that also goes to the motor). The speed sensor is small and black with a wire connected to it.
3) Make sure the sensor is as close as possible to the pulley without touching it. You will see a magnet on the face of the pulley; make sure the sensor is aligned with the magnet. There is a screw that holds the sensor in place that needs to be loosened to adjust the sensor. Re-tighten the screw when finished.
