Build up of black stuff on rollers

[Xtr3me]

Hi,

Every time I row, I get a build up of black stuff on the rollers. I have to wipe the rollers after every time I row otherwise I can feel the stuff bouncing around when the rollers go up and down the monorail. I use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth and the monorail is sparkling clean, yet the build up still happens and I'm not quite sure where it is coming from.

Anyone else have this issue and have any ideas on what I can do to make this better?



Thanks,
Ash

[Citroen]

It's your life essence, it's your inner body and soul. The C2 ergo extracts it from you (sometimes with great pain for a 2K) and deposits it on the rail. There's nothing you can do, that's the reason you're using the ergo.

Your life essence is non-toxic, losing a small quantity on the ergo will make you live longer. It can be safely cleaned off with a spray of Windex (or Cillit Bang or Tesco Glass and Window spray in the UK) and a gentle rub with a paper towel once every few months.

You can't avoid it getting there except by re-assigning your ergo as a clothes horse but you won't get fit and you won't live longer.

[Dangerscouse]

It's your life essence, it's your inner body and soul. The C2 ergo extracts it from you (sometimes with great pain for a 2K) and deposits it on the rail. There's nothing you can do, that's the reason you're using the ergo.

Your life essence is non-toxic, losing a small quantity on the ergo will make you live longer. It can be safely cleaned off with a spray of Windex (or Cillit Bang or Tesco Glass and Window spray in the UK) and a gentle rub with a paper towel once every few months.

You can't avoid it getting there except by re-assigning your ergo as a clothes horse but you won't get fit and you won't live longer.

Hahaha

I'm surprised that it's causing you to bounce around. That doesn't sound quite right.

[mict450]

Dougie's being facetious. Black stuff is normal. Just clean after every use. Where's it come from? I have no idea. Sorta like dew in the morning, I suppose.

[Citroen]

I'm surprised that it's causing you to bounce around. That doesn't sound quite right.

You should try a machine in a gym. The smallest piece of muck or life essence has a massive effect of setting you off balance and bugging you every time the rollers go over it. The machines in my gym end up cleaner after I'm done rowing every time because I start out with a cleaning session as part of my warm-up.

It's dust, it's oil, it's sweat, it's small flakes of plastic off the rollers. There's a hundred and one posts on here about the problem.

[Cyclist2]

Dougie's being facetious. Black stuff is normal. Just clean after every use. Where's it come from? I have no idea. Sorta like dew in the morning, I suppose.

Right.

After my row, but before I get off the machine, I dampen my towel from my water bottle, wrap the wet spot around my finger and wedge my finger between the roller and rail while I move the seat back and forth a few times over the length of my stroke where the black stuff collects. I do that for all four contact points, then repeat the process with a dry spot on the towel. Every row. Cleans both the rail and rollers. No Windex needed.

[Dangerscouse]

I'm surprised that it's causing you to bounce around. That doesn't sound quite right.

You should try a machine in a gym. The smallest piece of muck or life essence has a massive effect of setting you off balance and bugging you every time the rollers go over it. The machines in my gym end up cleaner after I'm done rowing every time because I start out with a cleaning session as part of my warm-up.

It's dust, it's oil, it's sweat, it's small flakes of plastic off the rollers. There's a hundred and one posts on here about the problem.

I must have been very lucky as I've used gym rowers for years before I got my own two years ago, and i never noticed that it was bumpy. Admittedly that might be because I've just forgotten how bad they are, and I was grateful to have a gym manageress from 2014 who actually looked after every piece of gym equipment.

[mict450]

No Windex needed.

That's good to know. Running low on windex....I'll fill up the spritz bottle with H2O & save some dineros. Lessee.....all that savings should be enuff after 19 years to pay for the EndureRow seat.....Yeah!! I love it when a plan comes together!

[xam217]

No Windex needed.

That's good to know. Running low on windex....I'll fill up the spritz bottle with H2O & save some dineros. Lessee.....all that savings should be enuff after 19 years to pay for the EndureRow seat.....Yeah!! I love it when a plan comes together!

Are those seats really worth it? My butt has definitely made some sacrifices since I started rowing.

[Xtr3me]

Hah, thanks guys. I enjoyed the replies to this thread.

"Bouncing around" is probably an exaggeration, but as Citreon says, you can feel it every time the rollers go over it, and it becomes rather frustrating on longer rows.

I'll be sure to just clean up each time. I don't remember having this problem when using the machine in my old gym, but maybe it had so much gunk on it that it was just no longer bumpy and a complete layer! I never knew to check!

Now I have my own personal rower at home (pandemic purchase as I am becoming really unfit working from home for 9 months), I feel a lot more responsible for it and want it to be perfect!

Ash

[neil262]

I have a home rower, and its in a clean spare room, but I have to clean the roller and the monorail after every use, because of the mysterious black stuff!

[Dino]

I am in the same camp as cyclist2... just a small microfibre towel and some water from my water bottle after each row. Wipe the rail and whilst sitting on the seat slide backwards rub the front rollers, then slide forward again rubbing the back rollers.

Interesting to see the roller design has changed though in the picture. There is a much more pronounced shoulder now and narrower contact points on what I assume is a newer model Concept2?

Mine looks like the one on the Concept2 Shop web site:



Now I know why my times are so slow... it must the extra friction from the seat rollers

[Xtr3me]

Mine was manufacturered in February 2020, in case that's of use.

[Nomath]

It's dust, it's oil, it's sweat, it's small flakes of plastic off the rollers. ....

I think you missed the key ingredient. The rail surface is stainless steel. Stainless steel is an iron alloy containing some 10% of chromium and nickel. The oxides of these dope elements protect the steel against corrosion. However, when the surface is wetted by drops of sweat (containing salt and lactic acid) and rubbed continuously, the oxide layer is scratched and removed. The black stuff consists of very fine metal oxide particles.

[mict450]

Are those seats really worth it? My butt has definitely made some sacrifices since I started rowing.

That's a good question. Do a search.....opinions are mixed here. Some really like them. Others couldn't stand them. Thirty day money back guarantee, so all you've lost is shipping costs.

I'm not at the point yet of willingly shelling out $113. Tried all the no cost alternatives, but all no bueno! Now will commence on the cheap & work my way up the price hierarchy.