Quiet kit for a Model C

[MarkEg]

How much use has the machine had, Luke? Have you owned it since new?

No I bought it second hand but it only had 100k on it since it was new in 2010

I'd be surprised if any parts need replaced on that basis. It might be worth turning it over and having a look at the sprocket.Maybe grease it

[aussieluke]

How much use has the machine had, Luke? Have you owned it since new?

No I bought it second hand but it only had 100k on it since it was new in 2010

I'd be surprised if any parts need replaced on that basis. It might be worth turning it over and having a look at the sprocket.Maybe grease it

Are you supposed to grease the sprocket? I have removed the flywheel and greased the bearing which helped a little but not a lot.

[aussieluke]

Delved into the innards of mine again tonight. Put a few drops of chain oil in the idler puller bearings, around the sprocket/axle and the pulley at the far end of the chain. Didn't seem to make much if any difference.

Noticed one of the bungees is in contact with the axle. There is a black band around the axle where it has rubbed against the bungee. Not sure if this is normal? Or if it would make any difference.

Something in there is making some noise but I can't figure out what it is. It's mostly on the chain returning. Almost like a chain rubbing on chain sound. Or where the chain goes over the pulley at the seat end.

[aussieluke]

Here's the axle with the black bank where the bungee rubs. Everything looks clean inside the machine. Maybe too oily? I've always applied a tiny bit of oil to the chain on an old sock - just enough to coat it but not be dripping. Looked fairly oily inside but don't see how that could add noise.

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[MarkEg]

Here's the axle with the black bank where the bungee rubs. Everything looks clean inside the machine. Maybe too oily? I've always applied a tiny bit of oil to the chain on an old sock - just enough to coat it but not be dripping. Looked fairly oily inside but don't see how that could add noise.

image.jpeg

Looks fine and oil is unlikely to add noise. I suspect the level of noise you are hearing is probably normal anyway. No chain-driven machine will ever be completely silent. I suppose the next and only step would be to get a new sprocket and chain and see if there's any difference. Depends whether you want to spend the cash ( or just put up with the slight noise!) I upgraded the drivetrain of my C because it was VERY noisy.

[aussieluke]

Here's the axle with the black bank where the bungee rubs. Everything looks clean inside the machine. Maybe too oily? I've always applied a tiny bit of oil to the chain on an old sock - just enough to coat it but not be dripping. Looked fairly oily inside but don't see how that could add noise.

image.jpeg

Looks fine and oil is unlikely to add noise. I suspect the level of noise you are hearing is probably normal anyway. No chain-driven machine will ever be completely silent. I suppose the next and only step would be to get a new sprocket and chain and see if there's any difference. Depends whether you want to spend the cash ( or just put up with the slight noise!) I upgraded the drivetrain of my C because it was VERY noisy.

Should there be a bungee rubbing on the axle though?

I'm confused about what is normal noise and what isn't - seems some say the only noise at all is from the fan.

In my case I think the chain noise is much more noticeable/annoying than the fan noise

[MarkEg]

Here's the axle with the black bank where the bungee rubs. Everything looks clean inside the machine. Maybe too oily? I've always applied a tiny bit of oil to the chain on an old sock - just enough to coat it but not be dripping. Looked fairly oily inside but don't see how that could add noise.

image.jpeg

Looks fine and oil is unlikely to add noise. I suspect the level of noise you are hearing is probably normal anyway. No chain-driven machine will ever be completely silent. I suppose the next and only step would be to get a new sprocket and chain and see if there's any difference. Depends whether you want to spend the cash ( or just put up with the slight noise!) I upgraded the drivetrain of my C because it was VERY noisy.

Should there be a bungee rubbing on the axle though?

I'm confused about what is normal noise and what isn't - seems some say the only noise at all is from the fan.

In my case I think the chain noise is much more noticeable/annoying than the fan noise

Not sure about bungee -- I'll have a look at mine and see if its anywhere near the axle. I have tried machines literally straight from the box-- none of them are silent.

[aussieluke]

Just did an actual workout since I liked a few bits last night. Think it did actually help after all. Maybe the oil took a little time to work itself around...

Still can hear some chain noise on the drive, but the recovery is now much quieter - just the fan - which is fairly loud as I have the damper low (df 115). Much improved though.

Also have positioned the erg differently across the room with a couple of temporary noise buffering devices (blankets and kids beanbags!)

Looking out for a cheap rug and planning to put a bookcase in that room too so that will diffuse some of the sound too hopefully.

[Euroman]

I bought my D new in December 2015 and there has always been some noise when the handle is slowly pulled out and on the slow return, not a metallic noise but almost like a gurgle. So, all this talk of noises made me investigate further. I found that it was the front lower chain idler roller, it was free to turn and moved side to side between the spacers ok, but when I put some oil in the bush, the noise stopped. Probably any vibration was being amplified by the hollow box chassis.

[aussieluke]

I bought my D new in December 2015 and there has always been some noise when the handle is slowly pulled out and on the slow return, not a metallic noise but almost like a gurgle. So, all this talk of noises made me investigate further. I found that it was the front lower chain idler roller, it was free to turn and moved side to side between the spacers ok, but when I put some oil in the bush, the noise stopped. Probably any vibration was being amplified by the hollow box chassis.

Yeah I was thinking the same about the hollow frame. I bet something in there to dampen the resonance would help but could obviously get in the way too. Maybe some spray on sound deadening coating as used in cars. Lot of trouble though.

[MarkEg]

I bought my D new in December 2015 and there has always been some noise when the handle is slowly pulled out and on the slow return, not a metallic noise but almost like a gurgle. So, all this talk of noises made me investigate further. I found that it was the front lower chain idler roller, it was free to turn and moved side to side between the spacers ok, but when I put some oil in the bush, the noise stopped. Probably any vibration was being amplified by the hollow box chassis.

Yeah I was thinking the same about the hollow frame. I bet something in there to dampen the resonance would help but could obviously get in the way too. Maybe some spray on sound deadening coating as used in cars. Lot of trouble though.

...and probably more trouble than its worth!

[vepjan]

I installed the quiet kit myself. It does make the machine a good bit more quiet, but I think I would
have preferred not to touch it. After installed the chain feels a bit slack and on recovery there
are some minor vibrations/clicking (more a feel than a sound). The latter may be due to lack
of grease on the bearings. If someone else has same/other ideas on how to fix this I would be most
interested.

I totally have reversed my opinion on the quiet kit now. I greased the
flywheel bearing up which removed the sound I was mentioning. Also, a new bungee chord
solved the problem with the slack chain. The quiet kit has really helped and I now would recommend
it!

[MarkEg]

I installed the quiet kit myself. It does make the machine a good bit more quiet, but I think I would
have preferred not to touch it. After installed the chain feels a bit slack and on recovery there
are some minor vibrations/clicking (more a feel than a sound). The latter may be due to lack
of grease on the bearings. If someone else has same/other ideas on how to fix this I would be most
interested.

I totally have reversed my opinion on the quiet kit now. I greased the
flywheel bearing up which removed the sound I was mentioning. Also, a new bungee chord
solved the problem with the slack chain. The quiet kit has really helped and I now would recommend
it!

Agreed -- vast improvement at not much cost.