Concept2 Forum

Anyone else have problems with the seat wheels getting black gunk buildup on the wheels? I use a dry rag to wipe down the rail before and after each workout, and I use the rag to clean the rollers, too. It drives me nuts to hear the stuff clicking away halfway through a workout!

Thanks.

FAQ - http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=12333


Use windex to clean the rail.

I clean the rail after every use! No big deal....

bepah wrote:I clean the rail after every use! No big deal....

I was doing that with a dry cloth - I'll give the Windex a try. Thanks guys!

Little John wrote:I was doing that with a dry cloth - I'll give the Windex a try. Thanks guys!

I use a "Wet One" on selected parts of my erg, including the rail, after each work-out. (Very refreshing on me too!)

This becomes a "princess and the pea" thing - the slightest little piece of grit is immediately noticed and MUST be removed. I clean my rail and seat wheels after every row, and sometimes before. I clean my slide tracks pretty often too. Gets pretty obsessive but it's gotta be smoooooth.

Cyclist2 wrote:This becomes a "princess and the pea" thing - the slightest little piece of grit is immediately noticed and MUST be removed. I clean my rail and seat wheels after every row, and sometimes before. I clean my slide tracks pretty often too. Gets pretty obsessive but it's gotta be smoooooth.

So true, a loose hair on the monorail can feel like a cable. I use Windex and a paper towel to clean off the monorail before each workout, removing both the grime from the last workout and eerything that's accumulated on it since then, including the dust and other schmutz that just floats around the room. Twice a week, I use the circular brush attachment from my Miele vaccuum to thoroughly clean off the C2 slide rails, which makes for noticably smoother action.

On a decent month, I put about 200k on my rower and I only clean it, right or wrong..., every few months.

My process is a little similar to what has already been said, but I have my own twist.

Supplies include:

• Bon Ami All Surface Cleaner (a cleaner from the past) which has a higher detergent/cleaner ratio. I never tried Windex so it may work just as well.
• Blue Shop towels. (much tougher than the while)
• Chain Oil.
• Shop vac

My process is:

• Using the Bon Ami, clean the rails of all grit and grime. I spray directly on the rails and allow the Bon Ami to soak a bit before wiping off. If necessary, I repeat until the rails are clean.
• Next I do the wheels, which I think is what makes my cleanings last longer.
o Soak a shop rag with the Bon Ami and then drag it on the wheels, leading or trailing edge is fine, while moving the seat back and forth. Just make sure to have a good grip on the towel so it does not get pulled into the wheel and jam between either the top of the wheel and seat or between the wheel and rail. Once one wheel runs clean, I do the other wheel.
• Re-clean the rails; sometimes grit and grime come off the wheels while cleaning so another cleaning is/may-be in order.
• Soak another shop rag with Bon Ami and wrap it around the chain while either:
o Asking someone to pull on the chain while I hold the towel around the chain to clean it.
 -or-
o If I cannot enlist the services of someone, i.e. my SO, I wear an old glove on one hand to pull the chain all the way out (wrapping my hand around the chain to pull, then wrap and pull, until the chain comes out completely) and using my other hand to wrap the towel around the chain to clean it.
• Once the chain no longer gives up any grit and grim, I put a few drops of the chain oil on the chain, row some, put another couple of drops (really…, drops.) on the chain and row some more. After doing this about four or five times, I wrap a clean show towel around the chain and pull/row to remove the excess oil; which will also spread the oil over the entire chain.
• I then put a drop or two of chain oil on the set wheel axles.
• Now I check the drag factor. If it’s more than about 10% over what Concept2 says it could/should be, I clean the flywheel.
o Remove the flywheel cover (four screws)
o Use the shop-vac to remove any dust build up. If the dust is caked on (environment dependant), I use another Bon Ami soaked shop towel or two to clean the blades/impellers.
o Reinstall the flywheel cover.
• Once all the above is compete. A quick wipe down of all other surfaces and the rower looks, and performs, almost like new.

Of course, you mileage may vary, but this has served me well for a few years.



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Cyclist2 wrote:This becomes a "princess and the pea" thing - the slightest little piece of grit is immediately noticed and MUST be removed. I clean my rail and seat wheels after every row, and sometimes before. I clean my slide tracks pretty often too. Gets pretty obsessive but it's gotta be smoooooth.

So true - When I pick something up mid-row, I fantasize about it getting smushed flat.

So my new cleaning technique after a row: spray the rail with Windex (NAPA glass cleaner, actually), and roll the seat across the wet rail. Let it all sit for a couple minutes, then using a rag, I mop it all up, and push the rag against the rollers while pushing the seat back and forth. Makes for a dirty rag, but a nice smooth ride!