Star Trac: StairMill – How to check Battery Drain and Adjust Chain Tension

Having a problem with you Star Trac StairMill battery draining and the unit not powering up? It’s possible that you have too much tension in the chain system.

Below is a summary of the video above, "Star Trac: E-SM - Battery Drain and Chain Tension" by Star Trac.

• Perform weight test. This will allow you to verify if there is too much tension.
• Check chain tension. There should be a 25mm-32mm gap between the Idler Pulley and the chain.
  • If the gap is less then 1 inch you will need to Adjust the Idler Pulley Gap.
  • Loosen both right and left side pillow blocks.
  • Make an adjustment on the set screws using an Allen key. The brackets on the right and left side should be the same. Tight pillow blocks back.
• Measure chain sag.
  • Place a straight edge across the top and bottom bearing.
  • Measuring the amount of sag from the bottom of the straight edge to the top of the chain there should be ¾”(19mm).
• Adjusting the Chain Tension for the Correct Amount of Sag.
  • Loosen pillow blocks on both the right and left side of the bottom pulleys.
  • Back out set screws. (Equal amount on both sides).
  •  Before checking sag tighten pillow blocks on both sides.
  •  Should have a ¾”(19mm) gap on both right and left sides.
• Perform weight test again. Double check the sag measurements and make corrections if the steps still do not move.
• Test the StairMill before putting the shrouds back on the machine.

For Star Trac Replacement Parts click here.