Model D track noise

[joemce]

I received a new Model D rower on Tuesday. I cleaned the track before using it the first day and the rail had already started collecting large black flecks within 10 minutes. I have cleaned it multiple times per day and it continues to get worse. There are now about 25,000 meters on the machine and the rollers are covered in flecks and black streaks. I am taking apart the seat so I can get to the rollers to clean them thoroughly, not something I want to do every few days.

I see by the company website troubleshooting section that these flecks are considered normal. Is it normal to have to clean these hard flecks off daily? A simple wipe won't do it. It ends up making the seat the loudest part of the machine.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Citroen]

It's normal. The C2 model D sucks the soul from your body and deposits it on the rail. That's the black stuff you're seeing. A cloth moistened with Windex is the best way to keep the rail clean.

The loudest part of the machine is the soothing roar of the fan in the fan cage.

[Carl Watts]

The rail needs cleaning before just about every row if you want it to run smooth and noise free.

Just use an old dish cloth (thats not falling to bits) put a bit of water on it and clean the slide. I also put it over the end of my finger and with the hand on the edge of the seat, touch the roller and run backwards and forwards. There is no need to ever remove the seat.

The slide has dust settle on it in no time flat. Fortunately I now have a dedicated Erg room that I can vac and close the door but I used to have it in the bedroom for a couple of years so it's constant work to keep it clean.

There is an Erg cover available and this would no doubt help in keeping dust off the slide and also the chain which is even harder to clean properly and does require removeal from the Erg. Leave the handle against the cage and not the holder. This not only helps the bunge cord it exposes less of the chain to dust collection.

[joemce]

Thanks Carl and Citroen,

Just to be sure we are on the same page, I was hoping to attach some pictures, but no luck. These flakes on the rollers were not coming off even with a mild ScotchBrite pad, but I could do it with the seat out of the way. I was wiping the rollers each ride but it kept building up faster than I was cleaning.

The fan is the quietest part of this roller. Normally the chain is the loudest thing. The seat is quieter than the fan when it is smooth, but is by far the loudest when these fat black dots are imbedded in the rollers. Feels like I'm bouncing over gravel. I scrubbed it all clean now; I'll see how it does this time. The cleaning operation doesn't seem to be aerobically effective, so I hope to spend most of my time rowing.

[bepah]

Joe, We clean the rails after every row, just to keep the buildup from occrring. IT takes less than a minute. IF you are going more than 2 days as they build, they will harden and become more difficult to remove,......it is easy to clean them up as you recover from you rowing session.

Good luck in your training.