Drag Factor On A New Model D

[CafeRacer808]

A new Model D got delivered yesterday and after assembling, I tested the drag factor.

Concept2's website states that a new Model D should have a drag factor of 90-100 when set at damper setting 1. Mine came it at 70 when set to 1, which seems really low. Should I be worried about this?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Citroen]

What do you get on damper 10?

Have a look at the product ID page. Is the PM5 configured for a model D/E (not a model B/C)?

[Ombrax]

What is it at the higher damper settings?

I'd say that as long as you can get the DF you need, then it really doesn't matter what's going on at Setting #1.

(I have no clue what the statistical distribution is for new machines at various damper positions.)

Edit: It looks like Citroen and I posted the same question at the same time...

[CafeRacer808]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

At damper 10, I get a drag factor of 185.

I checked out the Product ID and the PM5 is set for Model D/E.

[Anth_F]

Mines only about 80 DF on a damper setting of 1. But it's 214 DF on a damper setting of 10.

185 on 10 seems low for a brand new machine

Should at least be seeing 200 DF.

*EDIT* just checked, i get 85 DF on a damper setting of 1.

[Citroen]

Have you missed some packaging? Is there anything blocking airflow though the vents of the cage?

[CafeRacer808]

Have you missed some packaging? Is there anything blocking airflow though the vents of the cage?

All the packaging is gone and there's nothing blocking the airflow.

I never plan on going higher than ~120, so I guess the fact that it only hits 185 on damper 10 is fine? The numbers I'm getting seem way out of spec though...

[Anth_F]

If it were me i'd be getting in contact with customer services ASAP. They are a lot of money brand new, why settle for something thats not 100% straight out the box.

[CafeRacer808]

If it were me i'd be getting in contact with customer services ASAP. They are a lot of money brand new, why settle for something thats not 100% straight out the box.

Yeah, I hear ya. I just sent an email to Customer Service. Will update this thread when I hear back. Thanks

[jackarabit]

Absolutely +2. Concept 2 is a great company with great products and great customer support. Giving them a bye on quality control is not in anyone's interest.

[aussieluke]

Do you have it positioned right up against a wall?

[Anth_F]

If it were me i'd be getting in contact with customer services ASAP. They are a lot of money brand new, why settle for something thats not 100% straight out the box.

Yeah, I hear ya. I just sent an email to Customer Service. Will update this thread when I hear back. Thanks

I just checked mine on a damper setting of 10, and it's producing a drag factor of 218. And thats a 2+ year old machine (immaculately clean in condition) So yours should be around that, or even slightly better, as it won't even have any meters rowed on it yet.

[c2jonw]

caferacer808- What elevation and temperature are you at? For a given damper setting, drag factor will vary with atmospheric pressure, elevation and air temperature, as well as the other factors already mentioned. We check each machine at room temperature and 600' above sea level. A machine residing in a warm room in Denver will have a significantly lower drag factor range than the same machine at sea level and 45 degreesF. As long as you can achieve the DF number you want it really doesn't matter where the damper is set. C2JonW

[Citroen]

The OP's GeoIP location puts him in Southern California about ~30m (~100ft) above mean sea level.

[Anth_F]

It clearly states "A brand new indoor rower will have a drag factor of about 90–100 at a damper setting of 1 and about 210–220 at a damper setting of 10"

So surely every brand new machine should be showing at least a drag factor of over 200, regardless of all this other stuff mentioned that can cause it to be lower.