My Model D is developing a creaking sound on the recovery

[frankencrank]

where should I look to find this thing? Doesn't creak when I am investigating.

[Ombrax]

If you can, I'd get a helper to listen up close as you row, and assuming that it isn't from the flywheel, start near the frame-lock. If nothing there, I'd check the main structural fasteners and see if one of those has lost torque.

Good luck - tracking down this sort of thing can be frustrating; not as hard as finding a new noise on a bicycle, but still a challenge.

[Ombrax]

Clarification: Apparently later Model D's and all Model E's don't call the "thing that connects the two halves together" the frame-lock (looks like it's a term reserved for that part on the C's and early D's) but that's the general area I was thinking of when I used the term above.

[frankencrank]

Clarification: Apparently later Model D's and all Model E's don't call the "thing that connects the two halves together" the frame-lock (looks like it's a term reserved for that part on the C's and early D's) but that's the general area I was thinking of when I used the term above.

What else could it be? And, hopefully, this will be simpler than a bicycle.

[StevenWayne]

I own a model D 2005 and it started creaking a bit, also on the recovery. I spritzed a tiny bit of WD-40 at the "frame lock", which is where the two halves of the machine join together, as a test. That was where my noise was coming from. I figured I'd do more to assess it if it ever came back, but at 6 months post "spritz", the creak has not returned.

[Bob Evans]

Some months back, I was having some distracting new noises coming from my Mod D. Snugging up all the fasteners on the two foot stretchers solved the problem.

In fact, snugging up all of the fasteners on the erg from time to time probably isn't the worse idea.

[Jarryd]

You haven't given much information to work with but I had a creaking noise on my model D that I diagnosed as coming from the footboards. I had the stretchers set too low and I was pushing off from the middle of the stretched (not the solid bit intended for pushing off of). Moving up a couple of holes solved the problem.

[LennyT]

Similar creaking - most irritating, especially since it sounded like it was originating from different locations on my erg’s sled and seat.
Replaced the connector blocks, plastic dial-lock, and metal/sleeved pins - still no change

Eventual fix was immediate, inexpensive, and permanent. Simply placed a strip of electrical tape across the length of each concave groove (that the pins lock into) found on the top and bottom metal blocks.

[GreenStratMan]

Similar creaking - most irritating, especially since it sounded like it was originating from different locations on my erg’s sled and seat.
Replaced the connector blocks, plastic dial-lock, and metal/sleeved pins - still no change

Eventual fix was immediate, inexpensive, and permanent. Simply placed a strip of electrical tape across the length of each concave groove (that the pins lock into) found on the top and bottom metal blocks.

How do you know it’s permanent? ;-D Are you Nostradamus?

I’ll give that a go. My creaking came back.

[LennyT]

How do you know it’s permanent? ;-D Are you Nostradamus?
I’ll give that a go. My creaking came back.

Rowed the 200K Christmas challenge with zero creaks (outside of my aging joints)
Unless I remove the tape, it’ll continue to be “permanent”
Sincerely,
Nostradamus or Rasputin, a troll’s pick

[GreenStratMan]

How do you know it’s permanent? ;-D Are you Nostradamus?
I’ll give that a go. My creaking came back.

Rowed the 200K Christmas challenge with zero creaks (outside of my aging joints)
Unless I remove the tape, it’ll continue to be “permanent”
Sincerely,
Nostradamus or Rasputin, a troll’s pick

I’ve just done 7 x 500m having put frog tape on the curved bearing surfaces as I don’t have electrical tape. I don’t think it’s made from real frogs! Silent machine. Apart from the flywheel screaming for mercy ;-D yeah right!

I’d had an insight a while a ago about the tape but just dismissed it. You should always follow intuition. I spent 20 minutes yesterday spinning the sleeves on the bolts on which the back end bearing surfaces rest. I did that so the splits weren’t aligned with the bearing surfaces. Didn’t work, I even smeared the sleeves with grease. But, alas, the tape has been a winner so far.

Cheers

[Tsnor]

How do you know it’s permanent? ;-D Are you Nostradamus?
I’ll give that a go. My creaking came back.

Rowed the 200K Christmas challenge with zero creaks (outside of my aging joints)
Unless I remove the tape, it’ll continue to be “permanent”
Sincerely,
Nostradamus or Rasputin, a troll’s pick

I’ve just done 7 x 500m having put frog tape on the curved bearing surfaces as I don’t have electrical tape. I don’t think it’s made from real frogs! Silent machine. Apart from the flywheel screaming for mercy ;-D yeah right!

I’d had an insight a while a ago about the tape but just dismissed it. You should always follow intuition. I spent 20 minutes yesterday spinning the sleeves on the bolts on which the back end bearing surfaces rest. I did that so the splits weren’t aligned with the bearing surfaces. Didn’t work, I even smeared the sleeves with grease. But, alas, the tape has been a winner so far.

Cheers

Frog tape (the kind painters use?) is not what I'd use if you plan to keep it in place for a few years. It'll dry up, get brittle and leave junk. Cheap electrical tape and duct tape do the same thing. Google "Scotch Vinyl Electrical Tape Super 33+". The Super 33+ or Super 88 stuff cost a buck or two more than cheap electrical tape and will give you decades.

[GreenStratMan]

Rowed the 200K Christmas challenge with zero creaks (outside of my aging joints)
Unless I remove the tape, it’ll continue to be “permanent”
Sincerely,
Nostradamus or Rasputin, a troll’s pick

I’ve just done 7 x 500m having put frog tape on the curved bearing surfaces as I don’t have electrical tape. I don’t think it’s made from real frogs! Silent machine. Apart from the flywheel screaming for mercy ;-D yeah right!

I’d had an insight a while a ago about the tape but just dismissed it. You should always follow intuition. I spent 20 minutes yesterday spinning the sleeves on the bolts on which the back end bearing surfaces rest. I did that so the splits weren’t aligned with the bearing surfaces. Didn’t work, I even smeared the sleeves with grease. But, alas, the tape has been a winner so far.

Cheers

Frog tape (the kind painters use?) is not what I'd use if you plan to keep it in place for a few years. It'll dry up, get brittle and leave junk. Cheap electrical tape and duct tape do the same thing. Google "Scotch Vinyl Electrical Tape Super 33+". The Super 33+ or Super 88 stuff cost a buck or two more than cheap electrical tape and will give you decades.

Yeah, I just wanted to see if it worked. I’ll get some electrical stuff. Thanks