Stripped foot plate screws

Maintenance, accessories, operation. Anything to do with making your erg work.
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Cyclingman1
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Location: Gainesville, Ga

Stripped foot plate screws

Post by Cyclingman1 » January 17th, 2025, 12:49 pm

I go to a gym where more than one foot plate screw is stripped [screw cannot be tightened] causing the foot plate to pull away when reversing up the slide. The maintenance people there are incapable of fixing the problem. What is the solution? I suppose the entire foot plate assembly could be replaced. I think repair of C2s is problematic in gyms across the US. I wold like to tell them what to do. Any suggestions?
JimG, Gainesville, Ga, 78, 76", 205lb. PBs:
66-69: .5,1,2,5,6,10K: 1:30.8 3:14.1 6:40.7 17:34.0 21:18.1 36:21.7 30;60;HM: 8337 16237 1:20:25
70-78: .5,1,2,5,6,10K: 1:32.7 3:19.5 6:58.1 17:55.3 21:32.6 36:41.9 30;60;HM: 8214 15353 1:23:02.5

MPx
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Re: Stripped foot plate screws

Post by MPx » January 17th, 2025, 7:17 pm

Not absolutely sure which screw you're describing Jim. Two things I've come across.

I broke one of the bolts on my right hand footrest while doing a sprint. Required a new "hanger" (Ref 1101) and 2x replacement bolts (Ref 1243).

When looking for the parts I needed, I came across this "kit" which may help with the sort of issue you describe.https://shop-uk.concept2.com/rowergs/44 ... t-kit.html

(Both of these for a Model D)
Mike - 67 HWT 183

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Ombrax
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Re: Stripped foot plate screws

Post by Ombrax » January 17th, 2025, 10:05 pm

Cyclingman1 wrote:
January 17th, 2025, 12:49 pm
Any suggestions?
If if were just me I would simply row strapless.

If it has to be repaired, do you have access to both sides? Are both surfaces parallel to each other?
If so, you could drill the hole all the way through and replace the blind fastener with a through bolt and nut.

Tsnor
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Re: Stripped foot plate screws

Post by Tsnor » January 17th, 2025, 11:10 pm

Ombrax wrote:
January 17th, 2025, 10:05 pm
Cyclingman1 wrote:
January 17th, 2025, 12:49 pm
Any suggestions?
If if were just me I would simply row strapless.
STRAPLESS !!! nice

Since it's a gym your approach is limited.

If a big gym chain they have a service contract. WRITE UP the problem on paper (problem, not the solution) and give it to the desk. Ask about it each time you leave the gym after seeing it's not fixed. Eventually the gym will get the maintenance team (who prob stripped the screws in the first place) to fix it or to swap these ergs with others they have in storage.

If it's a single gym owned by someone then talk to them. Point to the schematic, show the owner that the parts are easy to get and the parts cost is tiny. That should do it. But if you like to fix this stuff then offer to fix it if they buy the parts.

(From the schematic it looks like the stripped holes would be in the "Belly Left/right Foot Stretcher", and there there are 6 and 7 screw versions. At a guess replacing the complete Belly is a better fix then trying to fix the threads in the holes. But someone who has actually done this will know better. model D --> https://cms.concept2.com/sites/default/ ... cParts.pdf

Cyclingman1
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Re: Stripped foot plate screws

Post by Cyclingman1 » January 20th, 2025, 6:33 pm

I didn't realize there would be confusion about which screws were being referred to. It's the six screws next to the slidable part of the foot rest. I have no idea how things went wrong. Maybe someone yanked up hard enough on the toe straps to literally pull the screws out. I can't actually do much, especially drilling through and putting in a bolt and nut. The gym does no maintenance to speak off. I change batteries, clean fan assembly, oil chain, and clean the seat rollers and rail every time I row. I will be amazed if they can or will fix this situation.
JimG, Gainesville, Ga, 78, 76", 205lb. PBs:
66-69: .5,1,2,5,6,10K: 1:30.8 3:14.1 6:40.7 17:34.0 21:18.1 36:21.7 30;60;HM: 8337 16237 1:20:25
70-78: .5,1,2,5,6,10K: 1:32.7 3:19.5 6:58.1 17:55.3 21:32.6 36:41.9 30;60;HM: 8214 15353 1:23:02.5

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Ombrax
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Re: Stripped foot plate screws

Post by Ombrax » January 20th, 2025, 7:29 pm

Cyclingman1 wrote:
January 20th, 2025, 6:33 pm
Maybe someone yanked up hard enough on the toe straps to literally pull the screws out.
I'm 99.99% sure that's what happened - due to some gorilla who didn't know what he was doing. The ironic part is that for many ergers the first thing we do when we sit down on a gym erg is to undo the foot strap. I can't even remember the last time I used them - it's been at least 10 years since I strapped myself in.

If you don't already have one at home, I'd make then a low-ball offer on that erg. Unless you have really bad technique, as long as you aren't rowing super-hard the straps aren't even necessary. If you find that you need them for low or moderate stroke rate pieces that's a problem with you, not the erg.

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