Shock cord issues (wearing out after 7 weeks)

[Carl Watts]

The cord is not easy to replace unless you try the following.

The easiest way to replace it uses a long piece of rope of a smaller diameter than the shock cord and you use a needle and strong thread to join the rope to the cord so when you pull the cord out the rope takes its place. Leave an inch or two of thread only between the two.

You then join the new cord to the rope and draw it back in. Make sure you put the carrier back in the middle of the new cord before drawing it back in.

It takes me 15 minutes to do one. The first one you do may take longer, the more you do the faster you get. I did 5 in a row at a gym the first one probably took me 25 minutes.

If the rope comes off the pulley it turns into a pain in the ass due to the tight clearances within the frame. keep some tension on both so it tracks back in the right path.

The shock cord is not like rope, it simply doesn't want to go round and conform to the pully unless its under tension. Just pulling the old one out and trying to get a new one in is a nightmare. A few extra minutes of a needle and thread is well worth it. Test the join before pulling the rope in and out of the frame, if it comes undone your screwed.

[dstober]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate the help.

It's a bit frustrating having to replace this thing so early into it's life cycle. Seems odd to me....

I also plan on taking lots of pics before I dismantle the whole thing to ensure I have some sort of guidance to review in addition to the C2 instructions (and Youtube) when I start putting it back.

[Marco]

Had the same issue, twice now.
This is a pic from the replacement cord after around 30km.
https://imgur.com/fw5mGPj

So, I bought my rower January this year, after around 30km I noticed some rubber strings coming out beneath the rower, removing the cover revealed a totally ripped cord. Yes, a white shock cord.
I contacted the German/EU c2 support, included pictures and serialnr. and after about a week a new (white) cord arrived.
Installation was somewhat easy using this guide
https://www.concept2.com/files/pdf/us/i ... cement.pdf
But, after another 30km the new cord began to dissolve too.

I contacted c2 support again and am now waiting for the next cord...

[Boris1956]

Hi Marco, this is the same type of wear I had on my ergo with the shock cord and my son had with his. It certainly seems to be an issue with the white shock cord, a faulty batch perhaps?

[Marco]

Hi Boris

c2 somewhat confirmed the issue with the white cords, I was sent a green one for replacement.
Both compared I would say that the green cord feels a bit harder and a more "rigid", we'll see how it fares long term.
Have to say that the c2 support is really good, they responded fast and delivered a new cord in just 5 days.

[mict450]

Can't beat C2 for after sale support.

[Boris1956]

Thanks, that confirms what I thought. I have a replacement green cord so I will get my youngest son to fit it as a Christmas present!

c2 somewhat confirmed the issue with the white cords, I was sent a green one for replacement.
Both compared I would say that the green cord feels a bit harder and a more "rigid", we'll see how it fares long term.
Have to say that the c2 support is really good, they responded fast and delivered a new cord in just 5 days.

[Carl Watts]

Looks like the WHITE cords are faulty.

The original cords back in 2000 were BLACK, cords since have been BLUE and GREEN and I have had no issues with any of these in the past.

In fact rather than throw the old cord out I put hooks on the ends and made custom length elastic bungee straps as the cord elastic is still 10 times better than cheap straps.

If you put the handle back to the cage rather than the holder you should get 10 to 12 years out of it with a chain that is well maintained.

The cord tension has significantly decreased after 10 years (about half) but with good technique it still doesn't show up as a problem.

[nick rockliff]

Looks like the WHITE cords are faulty.

The original cords back in 2000 were BLACK, cords since have been BLUE and GREEN and I have had no issues with any of these in the past.

In fact rather than throw the old cord out I put hooks on the ends and made custom length elastic bungee straps as the cord elastic is still 10 times better than cheap straps.

If you put the handle back to the cage rather than the holder you should get 10 to 12 years out of it with a chain that is well maintained.

The cord tension has significantly decreased after 10 years (about half) but with good technique it still doesn't show up as a problem.

My D is 16 years old, done 10s of million metres and has original chain and bungees. Keep plenty of oil on the chain and like Carl says, park the handle back to the cage not the holder.

[Dino]

Looks like the WHITE cords are faulty.

The original cords back in 2000 were BLACK, cords since have been BLUE and GREEN and I have had no issues with any of these in the past.

In fact rather than throw the old cord out I put hooks on the ends and made custom length elastic bungee straps as the cord elastic is still 10 times better than cheap straps.

If you put the handle back to the cage rather than the holder you should get 10 to 12 years out of it with a chain that is well maintained.

The cord tension has significantly decreased after 10 years (about half) but with good technique it still doesn't show up as a problem.

My D is 16 years old, done 10s of million metres and has original chain and bungees. Keep plenty of oil on the chain and like Carl says, park the handle back to the cage not the holder.

Interestingly that's not what C2 say on their website:
"Some boathouses and fitness clubs instruct users to avoid using the handle hook for storage. The handle hook can be used for extended storage; it won’t damage the shock cord."
The boat club gym I go to on occasion don't use the handle hook, but that's because the rowers are all stored vertically on their nose to save space and they don't want the handles popping out of the hook whilst being stood upright or being wheeled into the open space.

[Carl Watts]

Pure logic, the cage position has the cord less stretched than in the holder position (were its easier to pickup at the start of the row). The difference is not huge and the rubber will deteriorate with age anyway even if its stored in a plastic bag and not even on the rower. Heat and humidity etc all have an effect on the life not just the mileage.

I suggest anyone about to replace it should stand the rower on its nose, remove the plastic under cover and put their finger on the central carrier that connect the rubber to the chain and pull on it. Replace that 10 year old cord and try that again, the tension will have doubled, it is significant.

Old cords are a problem in Gyms where really fast ratings & poor technique and a bad chain combine to not retract the chain fast enough into the rower.

[GreenStratMan]

So are the new ergs now being shipped with the green cords?