Do you like using a treadmill for your daily workout? Are you aware that your treadmill motors can wear out along with time? Then, if that time comes, how should you choose the best treadmill motors for the change? In this article, you will find a shortlist of the best treadmill motors to choose from, things to consider before buying, and how to tell if your treadmill motors are bad.
How to Tell if a Treadmill Motor is Bad?
The best treadmill motors will perform well according to their HP capability while avoiding overheating, squeaking noise, slowing the walking belt down, etc. You should check on your treadmill’s performance over time by doing calibration on the treadmill.
Treadmill Motor Horsepower
A treadmill motor can be measured in a horsepower unit. There are three rating systems for the treadmill motor based on its performance capability, which are:
- Peak Duty – This is the highest energy limitation point that your treadmill motor can reach.
- Treadmill Duty – This shows the energy limitation between peak and continuous duty.
- Continuous Duty – This is the optimal energy point where you should be to prevent overheating on your treadmill.
Other than the rating system, the treadmill motor’s horsepower is also a determinant factor to the way you should use your treadmill.
- For a 2.0 HP motor, you can use the treadmill for walking.
- For a 2.5 HP motor, you can use the treadmill for jogging.
- For a 3.0 HP motor, you can use the treadmill for running.
Tips on Choosing The Best Treadmill Motors
Before getting on the list and decide which one you should buy, here are some tips on how to choose the best treadmill motors for your treadmill:
- Horsepower Capability – Depends on your workout purpose (walking, jogging, or running), you need to choose the right Horsepower capability for your treadmill. The more HP the motor has, the more expensive it is.
- Your Treadmill Model – While many treadmill manufacturers are out there, not every motor has suitable compatibility for your treadmill model. You should check the compatibility list for each motor before buying.
- Manufacturer Warranty – It is equally important to check on the warranty validation for your treadmill motors if a product defect happens.
- Installation Difficulty – With detailed installation instructions, you can change your treadmill motors with ease. But, if you are unsure about it, it is always okay to look for a technician to do it for you.
- Pricing – Treadmill motors price range between $200 – $500 (or even more) depending on their performance and HP. Treadmill motor is a “the higher the price is the better the quality” kind of product.
The five things above are the most important things to consider before deciding which treadmill motors you should buy. Therefore, the following three motors featured on the list are chosen based on these five criteria.
Top 3 Best Treadmill Motors
1. Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. DC Drive Motor
The first product on the list is Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. DC Drive Motor. This motor is compatible with NordicTrack and Proform treadmills. It is capable of 3.6 HP for both Treadmill Duty and Continuous Duty, which is perfect for walking, jogging, and running.
Model and Specification:
- Item model number: 116ZY3-1
- Product compatibility: NordicTrack & Proform.
- Product dimensions: 20 x 12 x 12 inches
- Item weight: 25 pounds
Pros:
- The product includes a precise guide for installation.
- High Horsepower capability.
- Less noise made.
Cons:
- It has limited compatibility for specific treadmill models.
- Some people may find the product quite pricey.
Customer Reviews: Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. DC Drive Motor is rated 5 out of 5 stars with compliments for its easy installation and product quality. But, keep in mind that the ratings are based on minimal reviews currently.
2. Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. Drive Motor
The next one on the list is Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. Drive Motor. This motor is compatible with a wide range of treadmill models, such as NordicTrack, Proform, etc. The product is capable of 2.8 HP Treadmill Duty and 2.6 Continuous Duty, which is suitable for walking and jogging.
Model and Specification:
- Item model number: C3364B4035M
- Product compatibility: Gold’s Gym, HealthRider, NordicTrack, and Proform.
- Product dimensions: 25 x 12 x 12 inches
Pros:
- Easy installation.
- Perfect fit for a wide variety of treadmill models.
- It is thermally protected.
- Less noise made.
Cons:
- Horsepower is not enough for running.
- You need to do a thorough check on the product’s compatibility list before buying.
Customer Reviews: Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. Drive Motor is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars with compliments for its excellent compatibility and easy installation process.
3. Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. 2.80 HP DC Drive Motor
The last product on the list is Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. 2.80 HP DC Drive Motor. This motor is compatible with many treadmill products, such as FreeMotion, HealthRider, NordicTrack, etc. It is also capable of 2.8 HP for both Treadmill Duty and Continuous Duty, which is suitable for walking and jogging.
Model and Specification:
- Item model number: 286075
- Product compatibility: Epic, FreeMotion, Gold’s Gym, HealthRider, NordicTrack, Proform, Schwinn, and Weslo.
- Product dimensions: 18 x 12 x 12 inches
Pros:
- Broad compatibility with popular models.
- Easy installation.
- Less noise made.
Cons:
- The product may not suit long-term usage.
- The product’s warranty is not appropriately handled.
Customer Reviews: Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. 2.80 HP DC Drive Motor is rated 5 out of 5 stars with compliments for its broad compatibility and capability of producing less noise. But, keep in mind that the ratings are based on minimal reviews currently.
Our Editor’s Selected Best Treadmill Motors
As for the final pick, we pick Icon Health & Fitness, Inc. Drive Motor as our best treadmill motors.
The reasons are:
- Compatible with several popular treadmill models.
- Easy installation.
- It’s a Direct Current (DC) product, so it produces less noise.
- It is equipped with internal thermal protection.
- Reasonable pricing with excellent product quality.
