How to replace foot strap

[OhBeWan]

I have the schematic. I took off the 6 screws on the Cover Foot Stretcher and removed the Compression Member. I cannot get the end of the new strap through the opening in the underneath of the Belly Foot Stretcher. I can see it but I can’t force the end to come through the opening on the top. I suspect that I must remove the Belly Foot Stretcher by removing the bolts on the 2 Reinforcing Brackets. Once removed I imagine I can force it through. Is this correct?

This is on a 5 to 10 year old Model D.

I searched the maintenance/support website, this forum and the internet for a solution, without success.

Thank you.

[Carl Watts]

Not sure why you are having trouble.

There are TWO different lengths of straps available so as long as you have the right ones. The later model D uses the longer ones found here.

https://shop.concept2.com/parts/93-footstrap.html

There is an exploded diagram on the link. Try removing the screws in the top of the foot plates and in necessary separate the row into the two halves.

You will have to get to the screw that goes through the hole in the strap before you can pull it out.

Never replaced a strap personally, I "double tuck" the strap ends and leave the "slip on" rowing shoes on the rower. The straps still look like new.

[Ombrax]

What foot straps?

(sorry, couldn't resist)

[OhBeWan]

So you remove six screws and take off the cover. Lets say the right foot. Then you remove the old strap. Feed the new strap through a hole on the right side and under this "box". On the left side of this box you must feed the strap and through a gap that will feed the strap to the front. This channel has a narrow opening at the front (again, you are feeding it from the back). The opening is too small to allow the strap to come forward.

If I remove the entire lower box, I could possibly get to the box.

Or I could try the old - tie a string to the end and pull it through.

If you have no idea what it looks like and you have never done this, of course, you will have no idea what I am talking about.

[OhBeWan]

Carl, the length of the strap is not the issue. I just can't get it through the hole. And the schematic does not help.

[Ombrax]

Carl, the length of the strap is not the issue. I just can't get it through the hole. And the schematic does not help.

Is the issue getting it through the "channel/area" that's visible on the left side of the assembly on images A, B, and C at the link below?

https://www.concept2.com/files/pdf/us/i ... nstrux.pdf

[OhBeWan]

Yes. You see how the new strap comes from behind and exits through a hole on the front. The end of the strap has a melted end (so it won't fray). That melted end is bigger than the exit hole. My guess is that if I remove the entire assembly, I can reach it from the back. What do you think?

[Ombrax]

How about if you cut off the "fat melted part" and either use a little bit of superglue to carefully put a teeny bit on the end to keep the strands together, or with less heat, re-melt the end but before it cools and hardens use something to press the melted portion flat?

You can almost certainly shorten the straps a little bit and not have any issues due to length.

[Carl Watts]

Just split the rower and unscrew the top plates and remove the complete boxes on either side.

[OhBeWan]

I think "split the rower" means to disassemble as need be. I was hoping that I didn't have to take those boxes off, but I don't see any other way to get to the back. It only appears to be two bolts on each box, but you never know.

I was doing this for a friend and thought the process would be easy.

[OhBeWan]

Edit to my prior post. I get what "split the rower" is. Split between front and back. Sorry, it must have been late and .....

[OhBeWan]

Did not need to split the rower. Did need to remove the Belly Foot Stretcher, by removing two 7/16" bolts. Thanks Ombrax for the pdf that says 7/16". Thanks, Carl for the guidance.

[swalter]

I had this issue and after reading these suggestions I thought I’d add my solution — which avoids removing the foot cups…

I wrapped the new strap cleanly and tightly in an index card, long-ways, with a “tab” of the card extending beyond the end of the foot strap. I was able to slide the tab through easily, and then pulled hard on the tab to get the rest of the strap and card through.

It was a tight fit with the index card, but once the card came all the way through with part of the strap, the rest was easy. I imagine with a sheet of standard paper it would all be easier, and might be feasible just to push the strap through once the paper is through. I just happened to have a card handy and thought I would try that before cutting down a sheet of paper.