Concept2 Forum

I have a Model C which I have gradually upgraded with PM5 , new handle etc and wondered if the so called quiet kit available from C2 is (a) worth upgrading to and (b) easy to install. I'm reasonably technically proficient. Anybody done the same upgrade and, if so, thoughts ? Many thanks.

I installed the quiet kit myself. It does make the machine a good bit more quiet, but I think I would
have preferred not to touch it. After installed the chain feels a bit slack and on recovery there
are some minor vibrations/clicking (more a feel than a sound). The latter may be due to lack
of grease on the bearings. If someone else has same/other ideas on how to fix this I would be most
interested.

vepjan wrote:I installed the quiet kit myself. It does make the machine a good bit more quiet, but I think I would
have preferred not to touch it. After installed the chain feels a bit slack and on recovery there
are some minor vibrations/clicking (more a feel than a sound). The latter may be due to lack
of grease on the bearings. If someone else has same/other ideas on how to fix this I would be most
interested.

Thanks -- was it a relatively easy task?

I would say it was medium. It is probably the most involved operation you can
do to a Concept 2, as you have to touch all moving parts except for the seat.
That said, it is certainly doable, also for a non-mechanic like me. The instructions
that come with the quiet kit do not describe the process, but rather the two
different operations you have to do. If found there were some steps missing from
the guide. I took it apart two days ago to grease it all up, and second time was much easier.
I hope this helps.

vepjan wrote:I would say it was medium. It is probably the most involved operation you can
do to a Concept 2, as you have to touch all moving parts except for the seat.
That said, it is certainly doable, also for a non-mechanic like me. The instructions
that come with the quiet kit do not describe the process, but rather the two
different operations you have to do. If found there were some steps missing from
the guide. I took it apart two days ago to grease it all up, and second time was much easier.
I hope this helps.

Yes it does, thank you. I have noticed that there are some helpful 'how-to' videos online-- presumably because other people have found the standard instructions to be unclear/incomplete too. One of them proposes putting the new chain on alongside the old one so as to get the routing right, and only once that's done should the old chain be pulled out. Seems sensible to me. So between those videos and the standard instructions, I'm sure I'll get there. Thanks!

MarkEg wrote:

vepjan wrote:I would say it was medium. It is probably the most involved operation you can
do to a Concept 2, as you have to touch all moving parts except for the seat.
That said, it is certainly doable, also for a non-mechanic like me. The instructions
that come with the quiet kit do not describe the process, but rather the two
different operations you have to do. If found there were some steps missing from
the guide. I took it apart two days ago to grease it all up, and second time was much easier.
I hope this helps.

Yes it does, thank you. I have noticed that there are some helpful 'how-to' videos online-- presumably because other people have found the standard instructions to be unclear/incomplete too. One of them proposes putting the new chain on alongside the old one so as to get the routing right, and only once that's done should the old chain be pulled out. Seems sensible to me. So between those videos and the standard instructions, I'm sure I'll get there. Thanks!

All done and quite simple. I changed the idler pulleys when I was in there. The front, static pulley bolt was a little difficult to remove -- that was the only part that slowed me down. On balance, the kit is a must as far as I am concerned. My C is basically a D now, as all the main running parts have been replaced. It's significantly quieter and much smoother.

As yours is now effectively a brand new machine, does it still make some noise from the chain/sprocket as well as the fan noise? Or is it ONLY the fan whooshing you can hear?

Can never figure out if my D is meant to make the sounds it does or not. Noticed there is a 'quiet' sprocket as a replacement part but not sure if it is a direct replacement or an upgrade. Looks identical to the one in the quiet kit for the C.

The only way to compare would be to find a brand new machine somewhere to test but I don't know if that's possible without buying one.

aussieluke wrote:As yours is now effectively a brand new machine, does it still make some noise from the chain/sprocket as well as the fan noise? Or is it ONLY the fan whooshing you can hear?

Can never figure out if my D is meant to make the sounds it does or not. Noticed there is a 'quiet' sprocket as a replacement part but not sure if it is a direct replacement or an upgrade. Looks identical to the one in the quiet kit for the C.

The only way to compare would be to find a brand new machine somewhere to test but I don't know if that's possible without buying one.

Almost no noise from the chain and sprocket now. The 'quiet' sprocket I got (sold as 'quiet kit') is essentially what is standard on the Model D. The difference between it and the standard Model C sprocket is that there are two rubber sections either side of the teeth of the sprocket designed to limit metal to metal contact. These were standard on Model D's I think, but I guess that there's a possibility that that rubber deteriorates and then you get noise. How much noise are you getting?

As a side note I have tested a brand new Model D and my machine now isn't a lot different to that.

vepjan wrote:I installed the quiet kit myself. It does make the machine a good bit more quiet, but I think I would
have preferred not to touch it. After installed the chain feels a bit slack and on recovery there
are some minor vibrations/clicking (more a feel than a sound). The latter may be due to lack
of grease on the bearings. If someone else has same/other ideas on how to fix this I would be most
interested.

I'm assuming you did the idler pulleys/ axle as well as the sprocket and chain? I greased all the new parts to the point where there really isn't anything in there that can make noise or vibrate/ click. I did get a click or two from the chain terminus under the seat, where it connects in that traveling idler pulley but it just needed the bolt tightened.

One thing I did notice here was that when either removing the old chain off the sprocket or attaching the new chain, there is very little room through which to feed the chain. There's a plastic piece down there where, if you're not careful, the chain can get stuck.

aussieluke wrote:The only way to compare would be to find a brand new machine somewhere to test but I don't know if that's possible without buying one.

Don't know where you are Luke but there is racing September 10 in Sydney and I am pretty sure there will be some new machines there (and you can have a race day bonus as well)

I'm assuming you did the idler pulleys/ axle as well as the sprocket and chain? I greased all the new parts to the point where there really isn't anything in there that can make noise or vibrate/ click. I did get a click or two from the chain terminus under the seat, where it connects in that traveling idler pulley but it just needed the bolt tightened.

One thing I did notice here was that when either removing the old chain off the sprocket or attaching the new chain, there is very little room through which to feed the chain. There's a plastic piece down there where, if you're not careful, the chain can get stuck.

I think I know what the problem is: the flywheel bearing. I have greased it up, but
it probably need some time to get it to gel with the new axle from the quiet kit.
I guess it is like changing the cog on a bicycle without changing the chain.
The rower was sold to me from a local college rowing club, so it is probably very worn.

vepjan wrote:

I'm assuming you did the idler pulleys/ axle as well as the sprocket and chain? I greased all the new parts to the point where there really isn't anything in there that can make noise or vibrate/ click. I did get a click or two from the chain terminus under the seat, where it connects in that traveling idler pulley but it just needed the bolt tightened.

One thing I did notice here was that when either removing the old chain off the sprocket or attaching the new chain, there is very little room through which to feed the chain. There's a plastic piece down there where, if you're not careful, the chain can get stuck.

I think I know what the problem is: the flywheel bearing. I have greased it up, but
it probably need some time to get it to gel with the new axle from the quiet kit.
I guess it is like changing the cog on a bicycle without changing the chain.
The rower was sold to me from a local college rowing club, so it is probably very worn.

Bearing might need replaced if the machine is that worn?

MarkEg wrote:

aussieluke wrote:As yours is now effectively a brand new machine, does it still make some noise from the chain/sprocket as well as the fan noise? Or is it ONLY the fan whooshing you can hear?

Can never figure out if my D is meant to make the sounds it does or not. Noticed there is a 'quiet' sprocket as a replacement part but not sure if it is a direct replacement or an upgrade. Looks identical to the one in the quiet kit for the C.

The only way to compare would be to find a brand new machine somewhere to test but I don't know if that's possible without buying one.

Almost no noise from the chain and sprocket now. The 'quiet' sprocket I got (sold as 'quiet kit') is essentially what is standard on the Model D. The difference between it and the standard Model C sprocket is that there are two rubber sections either side of the teeth of the sprocket designed to limit metal to metal contact. These were standard on Model D's I think, but I guess that there's a possibility that that rubber deteriorates and then you get noise. How much noise are you getting?

As a side note I have tested a brand new Model D and my machine now isn't a lot different to that.

I just had a quick play with it tonight and I'd say the noise is similar and about the same level as a very loud zipper - like quickly unzipping a sleeping bag. Most of the noise is on the return of the chain.

aussieluke wrote:

MarkEg wrote:

aussieluke wrote:As yours is now effectively a brand new machine, does it still make some noise from the chain/sprocket as well as the fan noise? Or is it ONLY the fan whooshing you can hear?

Can never figure out if my D is meant to make the sounds it does or not. Noticed there is a 'quiet' sprocket as a replacement part but not sure if it is a direct replacement or an upgrade. Looks identical to the one in the quiet kit for the C.

The only way to compare would be to find a brand new machine somewhere to test but I don't know if that's possible without buying one.

Almost no noise from the chain and sprocket now. The 'quiet' sprocket I got (sold as 'quiet kit') is essentially what is standard on the Model D. The difference between it and the standard Model C sprocket is that there are two rubber sections either side of the teeth of the sprocket designed to limit metal to metal contact. These were standard on Model D's I think, but I guess that there's a possibility that that rubber deteriorates and then you get noise. How much noise are you getting?

As a side note I have tested a brand new Model D and my machine now isn't a lot different to that.

I just had a quick play with it tonight and I'd say the noise is similar and about the same level as a very loud zipper - like quickly unzipping a sleeping bag. Most of the noise is on the return of the chain.

How much use has the machine had, Luke? Have you owned it since new?

MarkEg wrote:
How much use has the machine had, Luke? Have you owned it since new?

No I bought it second hand but it only had 100k on it since it was new in 2010