Just assembled my new C2 - is this a defect / damage ?

[domino66]

I just assembled my new C2 (the box it came in was kind of ripped too.) It looks like the mesh has been forcibly bent, as though it was kicked in hard or dropped from a height.

Is this normal? Or is the mesh damaged?

The rower also SOUNDS much louder than the ones I've used at my gym...not sure whether it's related to the bent mesh or what, but could it be?

[Citroen]

If you loosen the five screws (don't remove them) you can then twist the mesh round until the connector shows.
Instructions here: http://www.concept2.com/files/pdf/us/in ... eaning.pdf

Take it out, examine it on your workbench then refit and you should be good to go (or good to call C2 for support).

[domino66]

If you loosen the five screws (don't remove them) you can then twist the mesh round until the connector shows.
Instructions here: http://www.concept2.com/files/pdf/us/in ... eaning.pdf

Take it out, examine it on your workbench then refit and you should be good to go (or good to call C2 for support).

Hm...alright.

So am I correct that the metal mesh *is* supposed to overlap the plastic border all the way around the flywheel casing?

I was more than a little disappointed when this brand new $1,100 contraption arrived with the mesh so noticeably dented...but your tone suggests that you don't think this is all that big a deal. Is the mesh not something that would affect the machine's performance at all? Just made me wonder what *else* could be damaged (maybe something more serious than some bent metal.)

[Citroen]

The mesh is simply there to a) let the air out of the fan (impeller) housing and b) to keep fingers and other body parts out of the fan.
The only requirement is that you have good clean airflow through the mesh.

[rowbike]

My model D that I received in December had the exact same issue with the mesh at the bottom of the flywheel, though my box was in perfect condition. When I noticed this I checked the two model D's that I use at the gym and they had the same problem with the mesh. I simply made the adjustment of loosening the screw on the mesh and then with gentle sread the two plastic sides of the fan housing in that area enough to allow the mesh to pop out and over the ridges, then retightened the mesh screw. Nothing was bent as I had initially feared. I never bothered loosening the four screw for the fan housing. It doesn't seem necessary for this fix.

I am guessing the issue arises due to the mesh being tightened too much prior to shipping, and all that handling probably jars it enough to cause the issue.

Your picture looks just how mine did, and nothing in it looks like the mesh is bent. The mesh is actually flat if you remove it, not circular. If the mesh appears flat in that spot it's probably okay and not bent.

[Atorrante]

After reading this thread, I checked my new black model and yes, it has that assambling defect. I think C2 must address this issue.

[cas_sj]

Likewise I immediately noticed that my model D (grey version) delivered in January had the mesh off-track/out of place, but as others have stated, it was an simple fix - loosen the screws, position the mesh where it was obviously intended to be, and tighten the screws back up....

Not sure why they're coming from the factory like this, but no need to send anything back.

[Atorrante]

IHO the deffect is due to the fact that at the bottom of the palstic cage the span between the screws that hold its halves is greater, and i think that may be the metal rim is tighted without much attention to the aproximation of the halves in this area.

[Atorrante]

The mesh is simply there to a) let the air out of the fan (impeller) housing and b) to keep fingers and other body parts out of the fan.
The only requirement is that you have good clean airflow through the mesh.

But the assambling defect create a stress point there that could affect the rower in the long run. Every owner should be notified of this and be instructed to make the fix.

[C2Trevor]

We call it "dislodged perf". We've spent quite a bit of time analyzing this problem and are currently working on several solutions that we hope will eliminate this problem once and for all. We initially explored the possibility of the perf clamp screw being tightened down too far, but we ruled this out after examining assembly and inspection procedures.

It turns out that when the rower box is dropped in from a certain height in a very particular orientation, the box will crumple and the full force of the drop is transferred through one of the foam blocks and into the stainless steel band. The result is a dislodged perf band and a box that may have some slight creases but looks fine otherwise. It took us dozens and dozens of drops to finally recreate the problem. Since that discovery we have made several modifications to the packaging of the Indoor Rower that have resulted in a decrease of occurrences of this problem. Unfortunately, the problem has not gone away completely. We are continuing to test new packaging designs and concepts that we hope will eliminate this dislodged perf problem. We are also examining the design of the machine to ensure that there are no simple modifications that would make that area of the machine more robust and resistant to deformation.

While the problem is easily remedied by the customer and does not affect the performance of the machine, we do not feel any repeated defects such as this are acceptable and will continue to work to resolve the problem as quickly and effectively as possible.

Trevor

[jake]

For the price that everyone paid it shouldnt leave your warehouse until it resolved.

[Ergmeister]

For the price that everyone paid it shouldnt leave your warehouse until it resolved.

This is in-transit/shipping damage from a very specific type of drop impact and clearly it is very small in numbers relative to the thousands of Ergs that go out the door every year. I don't see this as a "stop the presses" level issue as it takes only a second to align it properly if it has been rough handled and subjected to this type of damage.

[jake]

For the price that everyone paid it shouldnt leave your warehouse until it resolved.

This is in-transit/shipping damage from a very specific type of drop impact and clearly it is very small in numbers relative to the thousands of Ergs that go out the door every year. I don't see this as a "stop the presses" level issue as it takes only a second to align it properly if it has been rough handled and subjected to this type of damage.

you need to learn how to read:

It turns out that when the rower box is dropped in from a certain height in a very particular orientation, the box will crumple and the full force of the drop is transferred through one of the foam blocks and into the stainless steel band. The result is a dislodged perf band and a box that may have some slight creases but looks fine otherwise. It took us dozens and dozens of drops to finally recreate the problem. Since that discovery we have made several modifications to the packaging of the Indoor Rower that have resulted in a decrease of occurrences of this problem. Unfortunately, the problem has not gone away completely.