How to Loosen and Tighten the Rower’s Bolts

Loosening and re-tightening the bolts on your rower is a key part of regular maintenance as the wood will naturally shift over time. If your rower has started to make noises that it has not in the past, this process will often solve the issue. In addition to the written instructions below, you can reference the following video for additional guidance:

The bolts on your rower can be loosened in any order, however for best results it is recommended that you re-tighten the bolts in the following order. Note: The bolts do not need to be fully removed, only loosened approximately 2-3 rotations. All nuts and bolts pictured use the 5mm Allen keys provided with your rower.

Important: The bolts connecting the mounting arm to your rower do not need to be adjusted with regular maintenance. You should only adjust them when instructed to in a specific troubleshooting guide or by a member of the support team. These bolts are a different size, and attempting to loosen or tighten them may cause them to become stripped.

1. Begin with upper and lower tie rods. As they become loose you may hear a creaking sound due to the wood re-settling. This indicates the tie rods have been loosened enough.

2. Next, tighten the bolts on each side of the rower. Note: These bolts will require the use of both Allen Keys, one to hold the JCN steady, and the other to tighten the JCB.

3. Then, tighten the handle rest bolts, followed by the top deck JCBs.

4. Lastly, tighten the footboard bracket and rear spacer. Note: The footboard bracket will require the use of both 5mm Allen Keys.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at support@ergatta.com with your rower’s serial number.