Dirt on rollers

[Ombrax]

In my experience things aren't quite as bad as you guys have described above.

I wipe down the rail before every session, the rollers too, if something's on there causing "bumps," then row. I use glass cleaner and paper towels at home and wet-wipes at the gym. Very rarely do I have to interrupt a row because of crud either on the rollers or the rail. In fact, almost never. And I'm a single guy and will freely admit that house is filthy. The gym, where I use a Model E three times a week, isn't the cleanest place, but I don't have any issues there either.

[warnie]

Vacuum the room for starters.

Also note that even bits of what you are wearing can drop onto the rail in the form of fibres.

Worst "Speed Bump" I ever hit was when a bit of skin from a callus on my hand fell off and landed on the rail !!!!!!

Literally had to stop rowing and sort that out.

Did the hand survive?!!

[speedmaster]

Hi guys,
I have a problem with sticky dirt gathering on rollers since I bought Concept2 D-model (about a month). I row on attic and there's no one else than me, no pets, no dust.
I always clean rail and rollers before rowing and I still have it dirty after 15-20 minutes. I also feel bouncing on that dirt.
Am I the only one? Do you have an idea what is going on?

So glad I'm not the only one this bothers. I'm constantly cleaning mine. And 10 minutes into every ride I need to stop and clean it again.

[DBad]

I have to say that this is the biggest drawback with the model d or perhaps any concept 2 rower. When I first received the rower I enjoyed two sessions of rowing, Inefficiently but still rowing. Toward the end of the second session my seat began to get bumpy and soon a ratcheting noise started. I stopped and looked at the rollers. They had what looked like black flakes on them. At first I thought the paint near the rollers had flaked off, not expecting such a quick buildup on a machine with less than one hour on it.

I wiped off the rollers and monorail with windex as recommended. Problem solved albeit briefly. More cleaning. Then I thought about some silicone grease - not spray- that plumbers use. I used this on my elliptical trainer slides and it worked well. After cleaning the rail and rollers I squeezed about an inch on each side of the rail where the rollers make contact and rolled the seat over it a few times.

This keeps things clean for days. I’ll probably try just the wipe down for comparison. I still would like to know if the big first time buildup is just the manufacturing residue that needs to come off initially or what.

[Carl Watts]

No the buildup is a continuous ongoing problem.

Its fine wear from the stainless steal capping strip and dust.Its the same as when you polish any metal like aluminium, brass or whatever the result is black on your cloth.

Just a damp cloth is the best, no chemicals required. Wipe it down before or after every row and its not a problem. Takes probably 30 seconds to do so I wouldn't call it a major pain.

Keep it clean and the rollers get really smooth and the rail wear is minimal and it kind of polishes up rather than getting lines on it.

If you keep it clean the rollers and capping strip will last for 20 years.

[Ergmeister]

Like any machine, Concept2 rowers require user maintenance. The more you maintain it the better the machine will perform and the seat rollers are a good example. I advocate cleaning the rail top and rollers every time you use the rower. An easy way to do this is using any normal surface cleaner (Windex, Simple Green, etc) and spray the rail liberally with the fluid, then with your hand, roll the seat back and forth over the fluid it will quickly turn dark with the debris coming off the rollers and stuck to the stainless cap. Then, using a clean towel, press your index finger against each side of the roller (they only make contact on the sides) and move the seat forward back. Do this to both front and back rollers on the seat and then turn you attention to the rail itself and wipe it all down. It may take a few applications to get some heavier stuff off, but it will ALL come off and the rail and rollers will look like new.

One thing to note is that C2 changed the seat roller design a year or two ago and they cut the section of the roller that is rolling on the rail by nearly by 50%. These new rollers are a lot more efficient, smooth, and obviously collect half the debris of use.

If you never clean the windshield of your car, it's going to get pretty dirty and the same for your rower. Clean it and it will work for decades. I had a bunch of Model C rowers come into the shop for rebuilding and resuscitation last week and they all have the grey seat rollers which get really gummed up. I was able to completely clean them and all were working like new when done but it took me a while.

If you are replacing seat rollers, the new ones are dreamy compared to all previous models.
Here's a video I posted a few years ago on the Erg FB page if you're still not sure on this
https://www.facebook.com/24929949848876 ... 309305062/

[DBad]

All good advice. Much appreciated. It’s just the one guy who experiences the need to clean during a workout that’s concerning.
I’ve read here that this is a continuous issue. What kicked this all off for me was seeing a lumpy build up on a new machine after less than 60 minutes of use. This would imply some period where things need to wear in or a period when a higher rate of residue gets built up. Like one comment read, the track gets polished or conditioned over time.
So far the silicone grease is preventing a build up.
Has this idea never been floated before?
My notes indicate that since cleaning the track and rollers with window cleaner and applying the grease on the 8th I’ve been clean through this morning the 22nd.

[rowbike]

All good advice. Much appreciated. It’s just the one guy who experiences the need to clean during a workout that’s concerning.
I’ve read here that this is a continuous issue. What kicked this all off for me was seeing a lumpy build up on a new machine after less than 60 minutes of use. This would imply some period where things need to wear in or a period when a higher rate of residue gets built up. Like one comment read, the track gets polished or conditioned over time.
So far the silicone grease is preventing a build up.
Has this idea never been floated before?
My notes indicate that since cleaning the track and rollers with window cleaner and applying the grease on the 8th I’ve been clean through this morning the 22nd.

I have been using baby oil to clean the rail and rollers for about 5 years. Like you, it works well to prevent the buildup and bumps you get when using things like Windex.

[DBad]

Thanks. Good alternative. I’m still a fan of the overall design, stability and being able to replace everything at a reasonable cost on a Model D rower.

[Ripples]

I have been using baby oil to clean the rail and rollers for about 5 years. Like you, it works well to prevent the buildup and bumps you get when using things like Windex.

Best advice ever. Tried it and rail and rollers stay slick and clean. Thanks.

[Allan Olesen]

I have been using baby oil

There must be other, more ethically acceptable, sources of oil.

[Ombrax]

There must be other, more ethically acceptable, sources of oil.

OK, ok, whale oil, if you must. Plus it matches with the nautical theme of the rowing machine.

(But baby oil is best.)

[rowbike]

I have been using baby oil to clean the rail and rollers for about 5 years. Like you, it works well to prevent the buildup and bumps you get when using things like Windex.

Best advice ever. Tried it and rail and rollers stay slick and clean. Thanks.

Glad it helped.

[sekitori]

Even though the seat slides back and forth smoothly and I clean the rail with Windex after every workout, I still notice some very small black specks on the rollers. I assume that's a natural occurrence coming from their contact with the rail. To get rid of them, I spray Windex on the end of a Q-Tip, keep in in contact with the top of the roller moving it only laterally, and slide the seat back and forth until the entire area of the roller has been covered. If necessary, I repeat this process again using another Q-Tip. I do with this with both sides of the front and rear rollers.

When I do feel bumpiness under the rollers during a workout I stop, spray Windex on both sides of the rail, slide the seat back and forth a couple of times and wipe off the Windex. This takes no longer than a few seconds and it almost always works. On the very rare occasion that it doesn't, I was told by a tech at C2 that it's okay to put a single drop of mineral oil or 3-In-One oil on each side of the rail, slide the seat forward and back a few times, and then wipe the residue off. Over the years, I only have had to do that a very few times and when I did, it solved the problem.

[Ombrax]

So if the baby / mineral / 3-in-1 oil does not need to be applied that frequency should I go ahead and put some on the Model E I use at the gym?

I usually use it 3-4 times a week, and would guess that other than me, the erg is probably used on average 1-2 hours / day by other folks. (less on the weekend, because the gym I use is at my place of work)

Every time I use it I wipe the rail down with the wet-wipes provided by the gym to clean the equipment, followed by some paper towels to dry things off. If adding a teeny bit oil will reduce the notorious "black spots" for everyone else and reduce how often I need to use the wet wipes, everyone might benefit.