Maintenance, servicing and spare parts
Check the service route before buying, then keep the records needed to maintain the exact model.
Maintenance follows the manufacturer’s instructions for the model and revision. Before buying, find the manual, identify the ordinary wear parts and ask who can supply and fit them in Australia. A durable frame is only one part of keeping a machine usable.
RowErg combines an air flywheel, sliding seat and PM5 workout monitor. This standard-leg model separates into two sections without tools, keeping storage manageable once the rowing area is clear.
Photo: © Concept2, Inc.Find the manual while you can still choose another machine
Look for assembly instructions, maintenance intervals, a parts diagram and the local support contact. A readable parts diagram is particularly useful when several visually similar versions exist. Save a copy with the invoice and a photograph of the model label.
Concept2 Australia, for example, publishes model-specific manuals and schematics for its rowers. That makes it possible to describe a component by a part number. Other brands may use a service agent rather than a public parts shop; ask what the owner is expected to do.
Sources: Concept2 Australia — manuals, schematics and repair instructions
Ask about the part that is likely to stop the session
A repair can involve an inexpensive wear component or a model-specific assembly. Ask about the exact model’s cables, pulleys, adjustment locks, upholstery, belts, bearings, consoles and control boards as relevant. The availability of a replacement pad says little about the availability of an electronic board.
Request the process, not an unsupported promise that “parts are available.” Who identifies the part? Is it stocked locally or ordered in? Who fits it at your postcode? Can the equipment remain assembled while the fault is assessed?
| Equipment | Support question worth asking |
|---|---|
| Adjustable dumbbell | Can a damaged handle, tray or selector be replaced separately? |
| Cable or Smith machine | Are cables, guide components and the relevant revision’s fittings identifiable? |
| Bench or rack | Can adjustment hardware and original safety components still be ordered? |
| Powered cardio | Who diagnoses a motor, console or control-board problem locally? |
| Reformer | What are the inspection and replacement instructions for springs, ropes and wheels? |
Sources: Concept2 Australia — manuals, schematics and repair instructions · ACCC — warranties and consumer guarantees
Use the schedule for that mechanism
Do not transfer a treadmill lubrication routine to another belt system, or an indoor rowing chain schedule to a cable or water rower. The maker specifies the products, intervals and procedure. The RowErg instructions, for example, separate ordinary rail cleaning from chain lubrication and periodic wear checks.
Keep a short log of the work actually done and any change you notice. New play in an adjustment, a damaged cable or a repeated electrical fault deserves attention rather than a cosmetic clean. Stop using the affected equipment when its safe operation is uncertain.
Sources: Concept2 — RowErg maintenance
Know what you can service yourself
Some manuals describe simple owner tasks; other work belongs with an authorised service technician or appropriately qualified trade. Ask before disassembling a faulty area, especially when it carries load or involves mains electricity. Use the specified parts and procedure.
A maintenance log can make a service conversation easier, but a written warranty’s conditions do not replace the separate consumer guarantees that may apply. Describe the actual fault and maintenance history to the seller rather than assuming a warranty expiry ends every option.
Sources: ACCC — warranties and consumer guarantees · Energy Safe Victoria — electrical appliance safety
Plan for age, revisions and resale
A long-lived product family may still change its fittings, electronics or accessories. Record the serial number and purchase date when asking about compatibility. For connected equipment, include the app, account region and supported functions in your questions; the physical machine and its software can have different support arrangements.
Keep replaced-part invoices and service reports with the manual. Those records help the next technician and let a future buyer see what has been repaired. When a seller cannot identify the model or its parts, factor that uncertainty into the purchase rather than treating all visible wear as repairable.
Sources: Concept2 Australia — manuals, schematics and repair instructions
Models mentioned in this article
Concept2 RowErg with PM5 — standard legs
Buy it for a rowing routine you intend to repeat. PM5 recording and free ErgData logging cover the training record without a subscription screen.
Specifications & buying optionsSources & further reading
Checked 17 Oct 2026. The links below identify the sources used for this article.