New seat rollers but the seat still squeaks

[Citroen]

We've got an old model C in the gym which has just had a brand new set of seat rollers (grey not white) fitted to the seat. All four rollers got replaced. Yet when it's rowed there's an intermittent squeak (bit like a sparrow tweeting) that's coming from the seat on the drive phase of the stroke.

I'm assuming it's because the roller is losing contact with the aluminium plate on the top of the rail and slightly skidding rather than rolling.

Do we ignore it and it will go away when the roller beds in?
Do we replace the top of the rail?
Do we replace the rollers with a new different set?

Any advice.

[c2jonw]

Is it happening when the roller changes direction? This comes up every now and then- something to do with the plastic roller to stainless track interface. It may go away with time, but one thing that has worked for some people is to buff the stainless track with the chain oil that we provide. Put a little of the oil on a soft cloth and work it into the stainless surface. C2JonW

[Citroen]

Is it happening when the roller changes direction?

It's difficult to isolate any sound when you're rowing on a static ergo in a noisy gym. But it appeared to only happen coming to the end of the drive, so it may have been when the seat was reversing direction. The seat felt smooth enough to me for the 7.3K I rowed today.

I'll get the gym maintenance man to buff a bit of oil into the top of the rail.

[johnlvs2run]

I'd put enough mineral oil on the railing that it also coats the rollers.
A few drops on each side is usually enough, once they've been coated the first time.

Also make sure the seat is in the last set of holes. The seat being too tight can cause it to squeak.

[Greypuller]

Also clean and lube under the rail on both sides.....just below the top (like the top half of an "I-Beam")

[Citroen]

Thanks for all the advice.

The rail is clean, but it's got massive tram-lines on it (the rower is a Jurassic period model C with the first generation framelock). So we're going to buff in some silicone lube (don't have the C2 mineral oil and we're avoiding 3-in-1 as it smells horrible and isn't good for use indoors in a hot gym).

The noise doesn't affect everyone so it's probably where the new rollers (which felt as smooth as silk for the 7K I rowed) are losing contact with the very well worn rail. We'll see if anyone of the gym monkeys moan during the week. I'll have a row on it sometime in the near future and see how it goes.

[johnlvs2run]

I just used pure mineral oil from a grocery for the railing.

[Cyclist2]

I just replaced the rollers on my model C. When I got the machine it had less than 1 million meters, but had been sitting uncovered in a neighbor's barn for a few years. The little rowing he did really chewed up the rollers and scored the rail. I got some car rubbing compound and just really buffed the rail hard in the lengthwise direction (not across, and only manually, no power tools!) Now it's like new again. A little elbow grease worked great on my rail!

[johnlvs2run]

I just replaced the rollers on my model C. When I got the machine it had less than 1 million meters, but had been sitting uncovered in a neighbor's barn for a few years. The little rowing he did really chewed up the rollers and scored the rail. I got some car rubbing compound and just really buffed the rail hard in the lengthwise direction (not across, and only manually, no power tools!) Now it's like new again. A little elbow grease worked great on my rail!

Great idea. I hope you got a good deal on the rowing machine.

[Cyclist2]

$200. Most of those 900K meters where actually put on by me and my daughter when we borrowed the machine for the Holiday Challenge one year. I knew they weren't using it, so made an offer. The rollers and rail were the only really damaged parts. The return mechanism, wheel, etc. - being enclosed - were pristine. Another $200 for a PM3, new handle and rollers and I have essentially a new machine.

Mineral oil sounds counterintuitive to me. Doesn't it pick up dust and grit? Seems you'd want those parts as dry and clean as possible.

[johnlvs2run]

I would get one for $200.

A couple of drops of mineral helped to neutralize any dust or grit, then I'd wipe it off, usually every few days.