Help- Noisey Model D

[adkmurray]

Hello All,
We have a Model D that is almost 5 years old and developing a ticking noise on the drive, (only when pulling). I called C2 and spoke to a technician I assumed. He said it could be a pulley or the sprocket and let it go till it got worse. Well, after thinking about it I don't think I want to let it go since possibly it would cause further damage. Possibly to the chain etc.. I removed the plate from underneath and tried to listen as my wife pulled the cord. It was very difficult to pinpoint where the ticking was from. I think the noise runs through the chain and makes it difficult to localize. I could see no obvious problems with the pully. So we went back and forth trying to see if either of us could localize where the noise was coming from. Neither of us could be sure. Now, you'd think at least 50 machines from around the world would be developing a ticking noise this week and the the analysis would be quite common. We'd appreciate any info from anyone that has had the same symptom and what the cause was. I'm guessing the sprocket but at this point not sure.
Many thanks,
Jim

[johnlvs2run]

Could it be the seat? How many times does it click?

[Carl Watts]

Could just as easily be a bearing noise. After 5 years the sprocket should still be fine. The chain itself is the cause of quite alot of noise so make sure it has been lubricated with the supplied oil from C2. I personally don't rate the bearings used in the C2 rowers vey highly and will switch to some better quality Japanese bearings in the future.Is the ticking random or at a regular interval ? Make sure the seat rollers and the slide is clean. Use a damp dish cloth and you will find all the "black stuff" comes off on it. The smallest lump of buildup on the rollers can cause a click and as I have no cover for the rower you would be surprised how often you need to clean it to keep it running really smooth and noise free. The noise will be most likley more of a nusience rather than a major pending failure of something. The model D should be a nice quite, smooth rower if maintained.

Hope this helps.

[adkmurray]

Thanks for the replies. Not the seat and we clean the rail and seat wheels every time we use it. Just recently even cleaned the dust out of the inside (took the mesh off). Never had a noise from anywheres up till now. Ticking is a regular even rhythm, annoying. Also, we frequently oil the chain. It is definitely coming from either the sproket or a pully in the front frame. I guess I just assumed others may have experienced the same and the solution would probably be to replace the sproket or bearings (not sure what the arrangement is inside there). Just wanted to get an idea what the precentages would be as to what to replace first.
Jim

[Carl Watts]

Out of interest, did you remove the flywheel as well when you cleaned it out or just the side cover ?

[adkmurray]

No, just followed directions in manual. Loosened both sides, removed the mesh and vacuumed what I could.
jim

[adkmurray]

Was noisey prior to cleaning and after, no connection.
Thanks

[Atorrante]

Try to remove the cage assembly, and the flywheel. Once the cage is open, you have to remove only the nut of the axis and pull the flywheel. Then you can detail the inside of the cage and the flywheel and better look if there is something wrong inside. Good luck.