My gym's Model E is missing the handle/chain brass swivel bushing

[Ombrax]

I just realized that the handle on the erg I use at my work's gym is missing the round brass swivel bushing, so the handle's U-thingy is slowly chewing through the round chain end-fitting (you can see a new one in the image below). It has not yet reached the rear back plate, but it may eventually if this isn't addressed.

It would be easy enough for me to order the missing part from C2 ($1) and install it myself, but I'm a teeny bit leery of doing that because as I mentioned above, there's already been some damage done to the fitting. However, I think that putting a new brass bushing on there is safer than not doing so. I might even take the one from my Model C and donate it to the gym to get the part on there ASAP.

My quick inspection of the steel fitting is that unlike the brass bushing, it can't be removed and replaced without either breaking or replacing the chain, neither of which I'm inclined to do.

1) Does anyone know if the steel fitting can also be replaced as easily as the brass bushing? (The bushing has a slot, which allows it to slide over the chain.)

2) Would you just get a new brass bushing and install it, ignoring the damage to the fitting?

(I hesitate to mention this to the gym managers, because I'm afraid that if I do they'll take the erg out of service even though this may not be fatal flaw. On the other hand, a failure there would be no fun.)

Any other thoughts on the matter?

[Carl Watts]

Get a new one with a slot and slip it over the chain.

Use a fine file first and take off all the burrs from the stainless steel it slips over.

The U bolt on the handle should be inspected because unless its smooth it will just chew up the new bushing.

I gave up on the factory part years ago and made my own bushing out of proper bearing material, it lasts a lifetime. Got a bit sick of them going "Ping" and falling in half in the middle of rows.

[Ombrax]

Well, this is disappointing - the bushing is $1, but shipping is $10.

At that price my enthusiasm to help is now significantly diminished, on the other hand, if this continues the joint will surely fail...

[Carl Watts]

Well, this is disappointing - the bushing is $1, but shipping is $10.

At that price my enthusiasm to help is now significantly diminished, on the other hand, if this continues the joint will surely fail...

I have seen the hole turn into a slot and the U bolt tries to come out of the end if the swivel is not replaced. Stainless steel on stainless steel is a very poor bearing surface, just about the worst you can get it binds.

[Ombrax]

I have seen the hole turn into a slot

That's already started to happen. It definitely needs to be fixed, the only question is who pays for it.

If the bushing on my Model C is in good shape and easily removed (I assume it is, but I'd never noticed if it has a slot or not) I'll probably bring it in to work and donate it to the gym. We'll see if they're willing to reimburse me - probably not.

[nick rockliff]

I have seen the hole turn into a slot

That's already started to happen. It definitely needs to be fixed, the only question is who pays for it.

If the bushing on my Model C is in good shape and easily removed (I assume it is, but I'd never noticed if it has a slot or not) I'll probably bring it in to work and donate it to the gym. We'll see if they're willing to reimburse me - probably not.

Mine snapped when I lived in China back in 2010, just replaced it with new chain this year. I could never see what it did.

[JaapvanE]

Mine snapped when I lived in China back in 2010, just replaced it with new chain this year. I could never see what it did.

It is a trick they learned from the aerospace industry: you take a soft ring that will snap away if the wear is too big. This reduces a subjective assesment of the wear of the steel handle-chain connector to a simple objective "is the copper brushing gone?".

I would escalate it as a reliability issue as the stainless U ring is now eating into the chain connector. It will probably last a long time before anything bad happens, but it reduces the expected lifetime of the chain. See also the note at the bottom of https://www.concept2.com/service/indoor ... aintenance, under IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:

Use of this machine with a worn or weakened part, such as the chain, sprockets, swivel connector or shock cord, may result in injury to the user. When in doubt about the condition of any part, Concept2 strongly advises that you replace the part immediately.

[nick rockliff]

Mine snapped when I lived in China back in 2010, just replaced it with new chain this year. I could never see what it did.

It is a trick they learned from the aerospace industry: you take a soft ring that will snap away if the wear is too big. This reduces a subjective assesment of the wear of the steel handle-chain connector to a simple objective "is the copper brushing gone?".

I would escalate it as a reliability issue as the stainless U ring is now eating into the chain connector. It will probably last a long time before anything bad happens, but it reduces the expected lifetime of the chain. See also the note at the bottom of https://www.concept2.com/service/indoor ... aintenance, under IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:

Use of this machine with a worn or weakened part, such as the chain, sprockets, swivel connector or shock cord, may result in injury to the user. When in doubt about the condition of any part, Concept2 strongly advises that you replace the part immediately.

Mine went 12 years and loads of metres without the bush. I would think there are many machines out there without it too.

[Tsnor]

just tell the gym.

They will have a contract for maint of the machines if they are a chain. They may even be leasing the machines and the lease holder will just swap in a different machine.

If they are a small shop tell them the chain and bushing can be replaced for $30 and an hour of their time w/ parts from C2 and video on youtube. They will do the maint. The labor is the big cost (unless they do it themselves), the difference between a $1 bushing and $30 chain is negligible. If the hole on the chain is not round then get rid of the chain.

[Carl Watts]

Rowers at gyms are generally in poor shape. Most need the chain replaced anyway so just replace the complete chain.

[Ombrax]

As always, the usual first-class C2 Customer Service comes through - they're going to send me a replacement bushing (with the slot) for no cost.

I checked my Model C bushing, and as I suspected, it doesn't have a slot, so I'd have to remove my chain if I wanted to donate my bushing to the gym, which is a bit too much IMO.

As long as the steel fitting is safe and unlikely to fail under load, I don't think it's worth changing out the entire chain. I'm guessing that it won't be too long until they replace the entire rower with a new one. (hopefully they stick with C2) To give you an idea of the rower's age, it's a Model E, but has a PM-4 monitor. A quick web search tells me that the PM-5 came out in 2014.

[JaapvanE]

To give you an idea of the rower's age, it's a Model E, but has a PM-4 monitor. A quick web search tells me that the PM-5 came out in 2014.

My gym has two Model D's, with a PM3, Firmware of around 2003?

Machines both have no drag (still haven't decided if that is a bad thing), and a noisy chain. Still they survive, and no refurbishment or upgrade in sight. These machines are considered "no maintenance" by most gyms...

[Ombrax]

Update:

Today, with the help of a buddy at work (who owns a Model E) we took the handle apart, inserted the brass bushing, and put it all back together. (Let's hope this bushing doesn't disappear like the last one.) It so happens that my buddy is a Strength engineer, and he agreed with my assessment that even though the swivel is damaged (the hole for the handle U-bolt is now an elongated slot) unless it has fatigue properties that are truly horrible compared to say, the chain links, there should be enough material in there to allow the swivel to survive at least as long as the chain (assuming the bushing is in place and remains there).

Thanks to Carl who warned me about the burrs on the swivel. I brought a few files along, which we did have to use, otherwise we would not have been able to slide the new bushing down the barrel of the steel swivel.

[Joebasscat]

Interesting, mine came apart this morning. 10.7M meters on the machine. I started hearing a click at the start of my drive. Almost like you were tapping your HR monitor at the end of the drive. When I finished today I was thinking it might be coming from the handle, after considering all kinds of other weird stuff. Bushing fell apart in my hands. Ordered 3 just to have some extra. If I have to pay $10 shipping, might as well at $1 apiece.

[Ombrax]

Bushing fell apart in my hands.

I've been wondering why it was missing from the erg at my gym, and I'm thinking that that's probably what happened. But obviously no one bothered to report it, so everyone (including me, for quite a while) has just been using it without the bushing for a long, long time. (Which you can do safely for quite a while, if it takes time for you to get the replacement.)

I suppose one down side of C2 rowers' reliability in the the gym is that the folks to manage the equipment there assume that they're essentially zero maintenance, so no one tracks the parts that do need to eventually be replaced. Someone's been oiling the chain on the one I use, because it's gotten really bad only a few times over the last few years. I keep a can of 3-in-1 oil at work just for that.