Concept 2 D Chain Rust

[mucyx2007]

hello,

I have searched in the forum but was not able to get a clear answer about how to remove rust from the chain,
I know I can only oil it using 20w or 3-in-1, so I grabbed some 20w mineral oil from the auto shop, but what would be the appropriate product to remove the rust first?
WD-40 is a no-no as far as I can tell

much appreciated!

[Tsnor]

Surprised you have a model D rusty chain, thought they were all the nickel plated ones that didn't rust. The model C chains rust.

How bad is the rust? Chains on ergs do break. That said, all of my club's model C chains have surface rust. We just oil them and ignore the rust.

A new nickel plated chain is $30 shipped from concept2. It's a little fiddly to install, see some YouTube videos. https://shop.concept2.com/parts/84-nick ... ctors.html

If you want to get the rust off yourself and reuse the old chain then look into credible articles on getting rust off bicycle chains, then do the same thing. But a new chain will last your lifetime and one snapped chain can ruin your whole day.

[Carl Watts]

Model D chains were all over the place depending on the manufacturer, not all were nickel plated.

Personally I would toss the rusty one in the bin and buy a new nickel plated one. If it was really rusty its never been looked after anyway.

Get new one, it will last a lifetime if you keep oil on it.

Clean and lube the chain rollers and clean the sprocket and check it for wear.

[Ombrax]

I wouldn't bother removing the rust. If you're really concerned about it, replace it. If you aren't that concerned about it, and it appears to otherwise be in good shape (e.g. does it have any stiff links?) I'd lube it well and forget about the issue.

[Gonzack]

Do you have a picture, rust is all over the chain or just near to the handle?

[Rowan McSheen]

Chains on ergs do break.

Say what? Does this actually happen? I dread to think of the consequences if a user is rowing hard at the time.

[Tsnor]

Chains on ergs do break.

Say what? Does this actually happen? I dread to think of the consequences if a user is rowing hard at the time.

Oh yeah it does. We just replaced the chain on one of the high schools' model C's that snapped under load. The failure is a foot from the handle where sweat falls. Not the first broken chain.

Preventable? YES. Oil the chain.

[Carl Watts]

Yep replaced one the other day that broke clean off, still got the old one in the bin if you want a picture of it.

Probably not due to rust, more due to incorrect handling and twisting. If the swivel stops working or that gold colored bushing breaks and is never replaced combined with no lubrication changes the direction of the forces on the chain and it doesn't like it.

They shear through the middle of the two vertical joiners.

I would not bother trying to fix an old one, just bin it. Simply not worth your time especially at the price of a whole new one in the USA.

Same source of user, kids are using it at college level.

[RayOfSunshine]

I've had 2 ergs and C2 replaced both chains after they broke right near the handle. They asked for pics of the chain and serial number (to see if it's still under warranty). I ordered another chain because one is locked (rusted) up near the handle again. I sweat way more than most and, obviously, don't do a good enough job wiping the chain down.

[Carl Watts]

I sweat way more than most and, obviously, don't do a good enough job wiping the chain down.

Get a massive industrial floor fan and mount it in the front pointing at you, I should have got one 10 years ago, its a game changer, totally cuts down the level of sweat to something near normal. I used to have sweat pooling in the seat and running like a river down the slide, that's all gone. Cannot be good for your body either operating in that zone.

[RayOfSunshine]

I sweat way more than most and, obviously, don't do a good enough job wiping the chain down.

Get a massive industrial floor fan and mount it in the front pointing at you, I should have got one 10 years ago, its a game changer, totally cuts down the level of sweat to something near normal. I used to have sweat pooling in the seat and running like a river down the slide, that's all gone. Cannot be good for your body either operating in that zone.

Thanks. I think I'll do that. 2 years ago I started wearing wicking headbands to keep the sweat out of my eyes.

[Rowan McSheen]

I've had 2 ergs and C2 replaced both chains after they broke right near the handle.

What happens to the user when this occurs, especially if they're rowing at pace? It sounds positively dangerous. That said, I've been erging for near on 20 years and have never heard of it happening so it's clearly not a thing (and I have faith in C2's quality control). So I'm surely worrying unnecessarily. But still, I'm curious.

[JaapvanE]

What happens to the user when this occurs, especially if they're rowing at pace? It sounds positively dangerous. That said, I've been erging for near on 20 years and have never heard of it happening so it's clearly not a thing (and I have faith in C2's quality control). So I'm surely worrying unnecessarily. But still, I'm curious.

It nearly happened to me with a NordicTrack, which uses a band. When looking for it, you find quite some experience reports as it happens more often to these machines as they combine a seat-belt fabric belt with a much heavier flywheel and much more drag, in an abrasion-rich construction. People who are strapped in typically are OK, sometimes with sore muscles due to the sudden loss of resistance. Strapless rowers are a bit less lucky. For most, the belt typically snaps at the start of the legdrive so most people still lean forward (since then, I consider 11 O clock is a safety thing on an erg) and you instincively don't push through as all resistance is instantly gone. So you ended up at the end of the rail, confused but safe. Some less fortunate rowers ended up at their back, mostly no serious injuries as instinctively they reduce speed, but they typically land on the lower back, which is painful.

Please note, people lose all faith in the machine when this happens. For me, the near miss (I saw a half-torn band during my first drive of a session) was one of the main reasons to abandon the machine. You can't really push when you lack trust in the machine providing resistance.

[Mike Caviston]

What happens to the user when this occurs, especially if they're rowing at pace? It sounds positively dangerous.

I've had the chain break on three different occasions, as I described on this thread about rowing strapless:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=205292&p=551053#p551053

[Carl Watts]

I would say that a chain break from a rower that's been used correctly is not the most common form of problem.

The one way clutch bearing is more likely to fail and also if the chain has not been replaced properly because the two small metal plates that hold it to the carrier inside the rower have been incorrectly fitted.

If someone does this part wrong like use one plate instead of both or put both the same orientation instead of opposite the chain can come off if it sees enough slack. Only when the two plates are fitted correctly does it make it impossible for the chain to fall off.