Model E - corrosion

[Esp1Holm]

My model E bought in late October 2012 already shows signs of corrosion on the leg stand, in the intersection where the rear legs fit into the horizontal stand. Also the perforated stainless band around the fan shows sign of surface corrosion. Shouldn't be like that after only 6 months, even though located outdoor, however in a dry spot. I know I sweat a lot when I workout, but still...
My problem is I bought it in South Africa where I got it shipped from Johannesburg and picked it up on the boarder to Mozambique before driving off to Maputo. So thinking of any claim/return is too much of a job. It is rather a matter of preventing further extension of the corrosion. I could spray regularly with CRC-56 or WD40, or add some other stuff, or paint/varnish, - but how to for best result?
Recommendations?

[JRBJR]

That's your problem, keeping the Model E outdoors. You might think it's stored in a dry area, but over time humidity will take its toll. Years ago, I checked out a "mint condition" Model C for sale by a lady in SF who lived a few blocks from the beach who'd kept it on her apartment deck for several years It was a complete wreck, with corrosion throughout the metal components and a badly rusted chain.

If you must put it outside when you use it, try to store it in a dry enclosed place at all other times.

[Esp1Holm]

Got no other place to neither store nor use.... but its under roof and with a C2 cover. I know the air here is humid, but still the surface of the rower should be good enough to sustain it, is my opinion. Why not make the frames in aluminium?

[Carl Watts]

Sounds like its picking something up in the air and not just moisture. That fan housing band is made of stainless steel so if its showing signs of "Rust" then you have a problem thats not seen elsewhere.

The Model C had a black painted steel cover and it rusted over here due to the constant high humidity but there are no problems with my Model D whatsoever.

Also I just checked my Model D and a large amount of it is made of aluminium. I have not checked what the model E is made of, perhaps it has more steel in the construction ?

Are you sure its not just air polution or dust being driven through the fan housing and being trapped on a damp surface ?

[Esp1Holm]

Nice row this morning anyway, Carl. I had a little start delay as the PM seemed to be asleep and I had to wake it up by the menu button!

Yes, I'm sure its corrosion. See attached photos.
About the perforated band I'm not worried. Probably hard to see on the photo (dark spotted areas)but it should be possible to wash off since its stainless.
However for the foot it can develop and become serious unless treated correctly. I'll for sure add some anti-corrosion paint.

[jamesg]

Salt goes through carbon steel like a knife through butter, which is why NaCl is not allowed on European roads. Stainless steel type 304 will also be corroded (by organic and reducing acids too), but type 316 should stand up to salt, lemon juice, sweat and the like. In hot coastal areas like Singapore and Hong Kong, railings, garage and shop doors and similar are stainless steel.

Salt is hygroscopic, so even if the air is relatively dry, the salt brings the water with it. Near the sea, the ideal erg is made of wood (or plastic), floats and will probably look like a kayak.

[Carl Watts]

Nice row, shame you shot off before we could chat.

In RowPro you can click an option in the user settings to change the lower half of the display of the PM3 which I find useful.

Yes that looks like rust on the frame alright. Are you near the sea by any chance ? perhaps you need to put some fresh water on the infected areas then rust kill it and put some primer on.

If you continue to have that sort of damage after such a short time, its going to be in a real mess in 5 years time.

Sweat can be pretty nasty as well. You could hose down parts of the frame now and again, but pouring water on the fan housing is not an option.

Hope to see you Online again soon.

[Esp1Holm]

Carl, sorry about leaving the chat. I interpreted your "cheers" as "thanks", and thought you had to leave, so I left as well. My mother tounge is not English, so have me excused;-)! On the other hand, I actually have a 'physical' problem chatting after rowing, because after hard workouts I'm so sweat and it's pouring liquid everywhere and the laptop gets soaked and the mousepad stops working .

Yes, its definitively corrosion. And as you said, I'll have to get some rust killer and repaint in order to prevent it from developing into a disaster during the next 4-5 years. I'll be getting some guiding from C2.
I live in Mozambique for some years as my wife is a councellor at the Norwegian Embassy. The climate is humid, yes. We're located 60 meters above and 200 meters from the sea, with a wonderful view. I actually overlook the Indian Ocean as I'm on my rower! As we live in a flat, the rower is located on the terrace, which is the only option, unfortunately. But it is under roof and I do use a cover, and I try to keep it dry. But the air humidity is present. I purchased the rower as a substitute for x-country ski exercising, which is a bit odd over here . Bad road conditions, dangerous traffic and early darkness makes it difficult to practice roller skiiing!

About the RowPro: I'm trying it out. Had a lot of trouble with instability with the Control Center/Oarbit part of it (could not sign up) so I turned it in, but when I figured out the possibility to sign up online on the DigitalRowing live feed page, I downloaded a trial version again, and it functions for me rowing online using the Session Setup/Online. I'll check out other display options.

See you online another day.

[Esp1Holm]

Salt goes through carbon steel like a knife through butter, which is why NaCl is not allowed on European roads. Stainless steel type 304 will also be corroded (by organic and reducing acids too), but type 316 should stand up to salt, lemon juice, sweat and the like. In hot coastal areas like Singapore and Hong Kong, railings, garage and shop doors and similar are stainless steel.

Salt is hygroscopic, so even if the air is relatively dry, the salt brings the water with it. Near the sea, the ideal erg is made of wood (or plastic), floats and will probably look like a kayak.

Hi!
Unfortunately not correct that NaCl is not allowed on European roads. In Norway we use a damn lot of exactly that, killing our cars! And they also do in our neighbouring countries. Further south I don't know...
Yes, 316 has the sufficient corrosion resistance as long as temperature is below 60°C. 304 is not regarded as sufficient in highly corrosive conditions (humid, salt, CO2,SO2 present), though for normal service regarded acceptable.
Sometimes using stainless steel is more cost efficient than using coated carbon steel. I wonder if not this could be an option for the C2 legs, which are carbon steel. However, the stainless is softer and probably it would require a slightly heavier construction. But on the other hand the surface coating would be unnecessary and all in all probably not add cost to the final price.

[Carl Watts]

It's the salt in the sea air thats doing the damage.

Over here we now have to use stainless steel brackets etc on the decks we build if we live within 1Km of the coastline.

Salt water is a killer.

[Ergmeister]

...Also the perforated stainless band around the fan shows sign of surface corrosion...Recommendations?

The perforated outlet "cage band" is not made of stainless; it's carbon steel with a coating. It will show corrosion if outdoors or indoors but in a high humidity environment. We fight this with our boathouse ergs constantly because our boathouse is on a salt water body (Narragansett Bay). Also, it only takes one brief shower mist to start the process and it is further catalyzed by the salt air.

Where as you live in a region adjacent to an ocean, there is humidity and overnight that moist air will condense on metal surfaces and over time will form corrosion.

Based on the fact that you use and store it outside, and the photos show the oxidation is migrating OVER the paint, the only way that can happen is with puddles of moisture getting at the unpainted surfaces and then its carried over the painted surface.

With all respect, they are called indoor rowers for this reason.

If you purchase and use a C2 cover, or fashion one yourself, that will help to keep the night dew off the rower and will slow down this process but it will not stop it entirely.

[Carl Watts]

I don't think the fan cage is steel, I put a magnet on it and its non magnetic. Looks more like 304 stainless to me.

Perhaps Concept 2 can confirm the material.

[Ergmeister]

I don't think the fan cage is steel, I put a magnet on it and its non magnetic. Looks more like 304 stainless to me.

Perhaps Concept 2 can confirm the material.

Carl's right; I stand corrected. Josh @ C2 just told me it's stainless but he had no idea which alloy of stainless it is. We see these oxidize and discolor (splotches identical to Esp1Holm's photos) in our Boathouse which is on a salt water body.

[joe80]

Towards the end of April, Paul Victory posted some photos of model E cracks and corrosion on the facebook Rowers site. It affected the rear legs and was very noticeable when rowing; he examined the problem before there was a complete failure.

Hope this link works:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

Paul is currently having some difficulty removing the screws on the damaged legs prior to replacing them.

Regards,

Joe

[Esp1Holm]

Unfortunately that link did not work... There are several Concept2 Facebook sites - which of them are you referring to?