Model D with "stress brace"

[Mary53]

Hi Friends,
I am still shopping for a used rower. I'm emailing someone selling a "like new" model D. His machine is one that Concept 2 issued the brace for because of a stress weakness. I've never seen one of these, don't know what it looks like, don't know if this machine should be avoided, etc. I don't like the "idea" of buying a machine that had a manufacturing flaw and had to be repaired or reinforced and has something "stuck" on it, but again, haven't seen it.
I'd appreciate any input or suggestions from anyone familiar with this "fix" and how it affects the machine, how it looks, how it may devalue the rower, etc.
Thanks!
Mary

[Snail Space]

If the "fix" was applied before any problem developed I'm sure that there is nothng to worry about, as the ergo is likely to be stronger than the non-faulty machines. You would need to be sure that there were no metal fatigue cracks present before the fix was applied. Even then I think that the "fix" makes the C2 useable again, but a hefty discount might be warranted.

Info about the metal fatigue problem

[ckaiserca]

Hi Friends,
I am still shopping for a used rower. I'm emailing someone selling a "like new" model D. His machine is one that Concept 2 issued the brace for because of a stress weakness. I've never seen one of these, don't know what it looks like, don't know if this machine should be avoided, etc. I don't like the "idea" of buying a machine that had a manufacturing flaw and had to be repaired or reinforced and has something "stuck" on it, but again, haven't seen it.
I'd appreciate any input or suggestions from anyone familiar with this "fix" and how it affects the machine, how it looks, how it may devalue the rower, etc.
Thanks!
Mary

Here are some links to photos of my erg that show the kit installed and where to look for fractures if they are present:

Reinforcing Kit Installed

Inside connection point were fractures would be seen if present

I bought my erg new from Concept 2 in June of 2007, and have put 3,300,000 meters plus on it with no sign of a problem. When I started rowing I was over 270 pounds. I'm down much lower now, so I am putting less and less stress on the erg day by day in terms of weight, but more and more in terms of meters and speed. . .

[Nosmo]

I would not be concerned.
If there are stress fractures, then that is a good argument for reducing the price, but the chances of any problems are almost zero.

[Mary53]

Thanks everyone -- these responses have been very helpful and informative.

The one being offered with the brace installed, with shipping, was $835, the seller's best price. Box and shipping were $135. At that price, obviously I'd add in the $55 extra and go for a new D without the brace.

Anyway, I'll keep looking, meanwhile, thanks to all.

Mary

[badocter]

At that price, obviously I'd add in the $55 extra and go for a new D without the brace.

The D and E being manufactured summer 2007 already had the reinforcing kit installed before they shipped. C2 appears to have introduced a redesign that doesn't need it after that per the post by c2jonw farther down the thread.

[Mary53]

Am I understanding from your post [badoctor] that the stress brace is simply standard addition to the manufacturing now? I had assumed that the weakness itself would have been corrected so that the kit was no longer necessary. My impression, or assumption, was that the weakness was a design, or manufacturing, flaw, and that the kit was no longer necessary?
A point of curiosity now to me!
Congratulations, by the way, on your fitness achievements, weight management, and great rowing times. 50K -- I can't imagine my hindquarters after 50K...

[badocter]

When I got my model E in July, the brace was already installed, but c2 appears to have introduced a redesign that doesn't need it per the post by c2jonw farther down the thread.

Thanks much for the kind words. I can't tell you how much my rear hurt after that 54k row - was in a mad dash with two other blokes to see who would get to a million first. Finished it only to find one of the others posted a time a half hour before mine... In all fairness I had to get up several times to stretch the legs out on that session.

[Mary53]

Hi Bad,

Some weeks ago I rowed 17K, without getting up at all, and when I finished I had two totally raw, silver-dollar-sized sores, one on each side of my bum. That day I determined to begin exploring different fabrics for interfacing skin with erg seat. I'm just now starting to do long distances again, with 10K Thursday going fine, if not slow. Part of that is too much ice cream though.
This morning I posted my "Phunny Fitness Story" in the weight-loss section if you want to read about my hilarious beginnings and 75 pound weight loss (and 8 pound re-find ... again).
My husband told me today, "Just go ahead and order that new D... you've spent $200 worth of time researching etc..." Well not quite but he does have a point. I think I'm on the verge of taking the plunge...

Thanks for your posts! Great!

[badocter]

For me the C2 deluxe seat pad and gripmasters are a must:
http://www.concept2shop.co.uk/product/seat_pad_deluxe
http://www.concept2shop.co.uk/product/hand_pads

And you are of course going to join a team and post scores on the CTC challenges http://www.c2ctc.com

[c2jonw]

We have redesigned the frame of the Model D and E so the reinforcing plates are not necessary. For a period of time after April 16, 2007 machines were shipping with reinforcing plates installed. During the early summer of 2007 the redesigned frame was brought into production and for a time both versions were shipping out. Complete changeover to the redesigned frame happened by late summer 2007 and to date has proven to be a succesful revision. C2JonW