This is the heart of any treadmill. Most treadmills, except manual treadmills have an electric motor that operates the belt. On a good quality treadmill these electric motors can last for many, many years even with extensive use. The reason for this durability is usually due to the manufacturer choosing a good quality motor, but also because they have opted for a motor that has enough power. One of the reasons that cheaper treadmills need their motors replaced more often is because of low quality, underpowered motors.

For a high quality motor you will want to look for at least 1.5hp and one that runs at under 5000rpm. A motor with these qualities should last you for quite a long time. Spend as much as you can afford on a new treadmill motor and you won't be sorry. One of the things to check out when looking for a motor is the voltage of the motor. If the motor claims to be over 100 volts, make sure that this is actually the case as most treadmill motors won't run at over 100 volts. They may claim for instance to be over 2hp and 180 volts, but if they only ran at 100 volts, which is their capacity, they would only have about half of the horsepower that is claimed. This is one way that treadmill motor information can be misleading.

If you aren't sure what size of motor you should be purchasing, consult your owners manual for specifications. You can also visit a repair facility for treadmills and ask questions. Once you know what type and size of motor you need, then you can shop online for a good deal on the exact motor that you require.