Concept2 Forum

Hey guys hoping I could get some advice.

I seem to have an issue with the rower where sometime it goes without any issues and then suddenly it feels like the chain doesn't engage and I get 0 resistance which violently sends me flying backwards as I push off. It's very unpredictable and feels dangerous not to know when it's going to fail on me.

Anyone knows what's causing this?

From what I gathered so far it could be a clutch issue? I'm new to this and not familiar with the parts so wouldn't even know what to look for if I was to open the rower to have a look.

Hoping to get some advice on how to fix this issue

Certainly the clutch, but there are two possibilities: faulty bearing, or too cold causing the grease to stiffen. Mine works OK down to +12C.

Definitely the clutch. James has it right. Here is C2 website for the symptom: https://www.concept2.com/service/indoor ... resistance.

However, you don't need, necessarily, to buy a new flywheel. Sometimes a little light oil lubricant will do the trick. Remove the flywheel and you'll see the clutch bearing with the plastic "fins". Apply a few drops of 3-in-1 oil.

If it's too cold where you have your machine, move it to a warmer place to see if that helps.

Good luck!

Krivo wrote: ↑

June 5th, 2021, 5:31 pm

From what I gathered so far it could be a clutch issue? I'm new to this and not familiar with the parts so wouldn't even know what to look for if I was to open the rower to have a look...

If you are interested how the parts look like, see viewtopic.php?t=158385
However, the person who started that topic is a well-versed but slightly nonconformist engineer (possibly the reason why the topic was locked?). I wouldn't recommend Do-It-Yourself.

I recommend contacting the Concept2 helpdesk. Maybe your rower is still under warranty, or C2 is forthcoming in providing service. It should not happen under normal circumstances and it could be dangerous.

I have experienced a suddon clutch (i.e. freewheel) failure on a bicycle wheel and if it happens haphazardly, you never feel safe and relaxed for a long time afterwards.

Yeah the non conformist Engineer here.

Try a few drops of light oil on it to try and free it up but generally speaking by the time they start to slip they are stuffed.

Will not go into detail, its already in the locked thread if you have some mechanical aptitude or you only other alternative is to buy a whole new flywheel.

I would inspect the surface of the shaft the bearing locks onto, it needs to be rust free and perfectly shinny and smooth so it can be polished with some 1200 grit emery sandpaper while someone pulls the handle. Make sure you clean the shaft after using the paper to remove any traces of abrasive material.

I notice there are people selling the center core replacement with a new one way bearing but I really, really really did not want to undo the three screws holding it in to avoid any possibility the flywheel would no longer be balanced. I know it can be done, there is a service guy in NZ that just carries the center of the flywheel in his van and swaps it over in the field then rebuilds the stuffed one in the workshop ready for the next job.

Did someone say dangerous ? Just wait until I tell you how to rebuild the brake calipers on your car, that went down like a lead balloon on a separate automotive forum.

Thanks guys, I've tried looking it like suggested but it kept behaving the same way.
Ended up taking it up to concept 2 office and they determined the clutch bearing was damaged (as you all suggested) so I ended up getting a new flywheel me and it's going great again.


Cheers.