First Degree Fitness Fluid FR S-350 User manual

S-250 FR S-350
Owners Manual

Training with the S-350
1. As with any piece of fitness equipment,
consult a physician before beginning your
S-350 exercise program.
2. Follow instructions provided in this manual
for correct foot
position and basic rowing techniques.
CAUTION
1. The S-350 can stand vertically for storage.
When doing so, please follow the instruc-
tions given on the assembly section of this
manual.
CAUTION
2. Keep hands away from moving parts, as
indicated by the warning sticker on the
mainframe of your machine and inside the
PVC rear cover.
Contents
1. Contents of S-350 Pack.
2. S-350 assembly instructions.
3. Tank filling and water treatment.
4. How to row.
5. Long term water treatment and basic operation.
6. Fine tuning the S-350.
7. Maintenance and Maintenance chart.
8. Computer.
9. Troubleshooting.
10. Changing the Rower belt.
11. Changing the bungee cord.
12. Parts list and Warranty.

S-350 Box Contents
Upper frame and tank
Lower mainframe
Footplate
Left seat rail
Right seat rail
Siphon Rower seat
Owners manual
S-bend bar
handle catch Rear seat rail
leg
2x AA batteries
Chlorine tablets x8
Nylock nut
Blue dye
Touch up paint 20W Chain oil Multi-tool
Hex keys
Footplate/
seat-rail bolt
Upper/
Lower
frame
bolts
S-bend
bolt Seat rail
front/rear
outer bolts
Inner front/
rear seat rail
bolts Standard washers Spring washers
Inner seat rail washers

Step 1. Remove contents from box, and
lay upper frame (tank assembly) on its
back.
Step 2. Attach lower frame to upper frame
with center bolt (M10X90mm bolt and spring
washer) but do not tighten.
Step 3. Install left and right side bolts
(M10X90mm bolt and spring washer).
Tighten all three.
S-350 Assembly Instructions
Step 4. Attach the footplate to the main
frame (M10X180mm bolt, M10 Nylock
nut and 2 washers). Caution: The foot-
plate is heavy, FDF recommends two
people for this portion of assembly.
Keep hands clear of pivoting parts
during assembly.
WARNING

WARNING
Step 5. Using the frame tensioning bolt,
attach the footplate assembly to the
lower frame. Caution: Use care when
threading frame tensioning bolt into
place.
Do not attempt to move the machine or continue
assembly without the frame tensioning bolt in
place.
Step 6. With the frame tensioning bolt in
place, attach the seat rails to the footplate
using M10X47.5 bolts, M6X20 bolts,
screws and 4x10mm/4x6mm washers.
Step 7. Install the rower seat with
seat indentation facing rearward.
(Caution: The S-350 rower seat is
heavy, use care when guiding down
the seat rails.)
Assembly Instructions

Step 11. Insert the front of the handle
catch bar (S-bend) into the foot plate.
Step 10. Bolt the rear to the upper
frame. (M10X80mmbolt, Nylock nut and 2
washers)
Note: When standing the S-350 for storage,
(shown left) first tilt the upper frame forward
slightly to release the s-bend bar catch and
then undo the frame tensioning bolt. This will
allow the seat rail to fold vertically as shown
left.
Keep fingers clear of pivoting
parts while moving the seat rail to
the vertical position.
WARNING
Note: A safety strap is located on the bot-
tom of the foot plate. Use this to secure the
seat rail in the upright position when storing
the S-350.
Step 8. Install the rear leg assembly to
the seat rails using M10X47.5 bolts,
M6X20 Allen key screws and
4x10mm/4x6mm washers.
Step 9. With the tensioning bolt, seat
and rear leg in place you may lower the
S-350 to its operating position and con-
tinue with the final steps of assembly.
Assembly Instructions
Vertical
Storage
Position.
Caution: Do not transport the S-350 in
the vertical storage position as shown
right.

Tank filling and Water Treatment
1. Filling requires a large bucket (not supplied) and the Fluid
Rower siphon (included). Filling will take approximately 7.6
liters of water.
2. Unscrew the right tank plug on the rear of the fluid tank and
insert the flexible tube into the rear of the tank while keeping
the rigid hose in the bucket. Note: The siphon tube may be
impeded by one of the impeller blades. Use the siphon only to
push the impeller down slightly.
Warning: Do not insert fingers into tank.
3. Move the adjuster handle to level 16, and begin filling. Note:
The siphon valve must be closed to allow siphoning action
to occur. Tip: Placing the bucket in an elevated position will
allow the siphon to continually pump water into the tank. Do
not fill past the calibration mark indicated on the tank!
Note: Opening the siphon valve will stop the pumping
action. Use this feature to avoid water spillage when
nearing filling completion.
4, Once filling is complete (to the proper calibration level as
indicated on the tank), follow water treatment schedule as
shown.
Caution: Use a drop cloth under the tank both when
filling the tank and adding blue dye to avoid
staining floor or carpet
Water Treatment Proce-
dures:
1. Add Chlorine tablet.
2. Wait a minimum of 72
hours. Then add very small
amount of blue dye and
check for desired color. Im-
portant! Do not add blue
dye for at least 72 hours
following Chlorine treat-
ment. The blue dye adds
visual appeal as well as cut-
ting down the amount of light
affecting the tank water, thus
extending the amount of time
between water treatments.
Blue dye
Fill tank as shown
left. Use the right
plug only for filling.
Fill with adjuster
handle at level 16
only.
Once filling is com-
plete, use a coin or
large blade screw-
driver to tighten
tank plug into
place.
Siphon
valve

How to row.
1. Begin the stroke comfortably forward and push strongly back with your legs while keeping your arms and back straight.
2. Begin to pull your arms back as they pass over your knees and continue the stroke through to completion rocking slightly back over
your pelvis.
3. Return to the starting position and repeat.
How often?
Begin with 5 minute training sessions once a day and aim for around 2:30 to 2:45 for 500m time. Row at a pace that keeps the water
circulating continuously between strokes.
Progress a few minutes more each day until you are comfortable with 30-45 minutes training time 3 or 4 times a week.
This is sufficient to provide aerobic endurance benefits, muscle toning and sufficient calorie burning to form part of a weight loss pro-
gram.
CAUTION
Always consult a doctor before beginning an exercise program.
Stop immediately if you feel faint or dizzy.
Catch
Comfortably forward
with straight back and
arms.
Drive
Push with the legs while
arms remain straight.
Finish
Pull through with arms
and legs rocking slightly
back on your pelvis.
Recovery
Upper body tips forward
over your pelvis and
move forward.
Catch
Catch and begin again.

CAUTION
Caution: It is critical that a drop cloth be used under the
fluid tank whenever the tank plug is opened for
water treatment.
Heel support adjuster:
The S-350 has a unique and easy to use Heel Support Adjuster.
Simply slide the Adjuster up or down to the required position. This
should place the ball of your foot directly under the horizontal Foot
Straps. Secure Foot Straps. The Heel Support allows the user to
row without shoes if desired.
The level of resistance is determined by the level indicator located on the
front of the tank. Level one indicates lightest resistance, level sixteen repre-
sents heaviest resistance. Allow three to four strokes after adjusting resis-
tance handle for the correct resistance level to be achieved.
Long term water treatment:
Do not use any water treatment other than the tablets
supplied with this machine. For replacement tablets, contact your
local First Degree Fitness distributor.
Water treatment schedules for the S-350 will vary according to the fluid
tanks exposure to sunlight, but expect 8-12 months near a bright, sunlit win-
dow and 2 years or more for a darker location. At the point of finding the
water slightly cloudy, add a Chlorine tablet. Remember to wait 72 hours
following the chlorine tablet before adding the blue dye as the Chlorine tab-
let is extremely concentrated.
Important: Do not fill past the calibration mark as indicated on the
tank level sticker or water spillage may occur. See tank filling/water treat-
ment page for details.
Long term water treatment and basic operation
There are 3 frame levelers on the S-350. If rocking is present, then sim-
ply raise one of the front lower frame levelers until stability is achieved.
Note: The lower rear frame leveler is designed to sit slightly off the
ground. See following page and illustrations as discussed in the Fine
Tuning the S-350 section of this manual. This leveler height is preset
from the factory, and is adjusted using the frame tensioning bolt as de-
tailed on the following page.
Frame levelers:
Resistance:

The frame tensioning bolt must be adjusted properly for optimum performance. Symptoms of an improperly adjusted frame tensioning bolt will include front frame shak-
ing and the S-bend attachment point moving during rowing. If either of these symptoms appear, than take the following steps.
1. If the S-bend is moving in and out of the attachment point during hard rowing, the tensioning bolt may be over-tightened. Loosen slightly and check performance.
This will also weight the S-bend handle catch into the footplate attachment point and prevent it from moving.
2. If the frame tensioning bolt is threaded too loosely, the mainframe rear leveler will be resting on the floor. This will cause the rower to lift slightly on the front during
hard rowing and not be smooth. Tighten the frame tensioning bolt until you see the rear frame leveler rise slightly off the ground, but can just touch the floor during a
weighted rowing stroke.
3. Once the S-bend is tight and does not move during rowing, and the frame tensioning bolt is threaded to the correct depth, adjustment will be complete.
Note: The frame tensioning bolt may require slight adjustment for rowers of different weights. For example, a heavier user may require a slightly tighter adjustment on
the frame tensioning bolt.
Fine tuning the S-350
Tighten the frame tensioning bolt
until the rear frame leveler sits
slightly off the floor and just
touches during a weighted row-
ing stroke.
S-bend attachment
point.
Transporting the S-350 The S-350 can be transported with the frame tensioning bolt in place. Simply lift from the rear of the seat rail
until the transport wheels are engaged. The frame will sag slightly as the rower is being moved in this position and the S-bar may drop out of its attachment point.
This is normal. Warning! Do not attempt to transport in the vertical (folded) position. Only transport the S-350 in the normal operating position with the frame ten-
sioning bolt in place.
Lower rear
frame leveler
Use the frame
tensioning
bolt to adjust
leveler height
Caution: Use care when threading the frame tensioning bolt.

Step 3. Tighten tank tensioning bolt
counter-clockwise with 6mm Allen
key in small increments and check
for proper chain tension. 3mm-5mm
of play is optimum after tightening.
Once proper tension has been
achieved, re-tighten the 13mm nut.
Step 2. Loosen 13mm tank tensioning
nut clockwise.
Step 1. Remove the Perspex cover from Mainframe.
The chain will require periodic tightening and lubrication using the 20-weight oil supplied. This is a general time
frame for lubrication which will vary slightly depending on usage.
After first 50 hours of use:
1. Remove the Perspex cover.
2. Inspect chain for dryness and proper tension. Note: The chain should have approx
3-5mm of play after tightening with a smooth run on after every stroke.
3. Lubricate lightly with the supplied 20 weight oil. Warning! After lubrication, any excess
oil will be thrown onto the inside of the Perspex cover and possibly the floor below.
Use a drop cloth both during and after chain lubrication to prevent oil stains.
Repeat after every 100 operating hours to maintain optimum performance.
Chain tension and lubrication:
General Maintenance
Warning!
Keep fingers clear of all moving parts
while adjusting the chain!
Caution:
Always use a dropcloth under the
machine after lubricating the chain to
protect floors/carpet from excess oil
spatter.

Item Timeframe Instructions Notes
Chain and sprockets. First 50 hours and every hundred
hours thereafter. Follow instructions on previous page.
Seat and seat rails. Weekly. Wipe seat rails with lint free cloth.
Spray seat rails and seat wheels with
a light coat of silicone spray.
Frame. Weekly. Wipe down with lint free cloth.
Tank and water treatment. 12 months to 2 years. Follow instructions as specified in the
“Water Treatment” section of this man-
ual.
Bungee cord. Check every hundred hours for correct
tension and for signs of wear. The bungee cord will last for several years. If a bungee cord change is
required, please follow the instructions
provided in the “Changing the bungee
cord” section of this manual.
Rower belt. Check monthly for signs of fraying or
premature wear. The Rower belt should never require changing, but should the need arise,
please follow the instructions provided
in the “Changing the Rower belt”
section of this manual.
Maintenance chart.

Computer Instructions The S-350 Computer:
TIME: Auto start elapsed time.
500M TIME: Time to row 500 meters, updated at the completion of
each stroke.
PULSE: Requires optional receiver and chest strap.
SPM: Strokes per minute updated each stroke.
WATTS: Indication of watts at Tank level 16
CAL HOUR: Updated each stroke.
PROGRAMMING Computer will auto start.
Note: Computer will reset and begin to count up after 10 seconds of
inactivity
Options (Hold button down for one second first to reset computer)
1. Add 1000m distance each button push to accumulate required dis-
tance then begin rowing.
2. Interval training.
Row distance as above.
Stop rowing. Computer will wait 10 seconds then begin a count up to a
maximum of 6 minutes to allow you to time your rest interval.

Fault Probable Cause Solution
Water changes color or becomes cloudy. Rower is in direct sunlight or has not had
water treatment.
Change rower location to reduce direct expo-
sure to sunlight. Add water treatment and blue
dye or change tank water as directed in the
water treatment section of this manual.
Rower belt slipping off belt/ bungee pulley. Bungee not under enough tension.
Tighten bungee cord following the instructions
in the Replacing the bungee/shock cord section
of this manual.
Front of rower lifts slightly during vigorous
rowing. Lower rear frame leveler too high.
Refer to the Fine Tuning section of this manual
Excessive frame flex during hard rowing. Lower rear frame leveler too low. Refer to the Fine Tuning section of this manual.
Computer screen illuminates, but does not
register when rowing.
Loose or failed connection.
Check that the computer lead is connected
properly. If it is connected then contact your
local service center.
Excessive Chain noise. Loose or dry chain. Loosen tank bolts slightly and then use the
tank tensioning bolt to tighten chain. Lubricate
with supplied 20-weight oil. Use drop cloth un-
der frame. Refer to the Maintenance page,
chain tension and lubrication for details.
The S-350 computer does not illuminate after
battery installation. Batteries installed incorrectly or need re- placing. Reinstall batteries in correct position and try
again. If the LCD screen fails to illuminate, try
rotating the batteries slightly in the computer. If
this fails, contact your local service center.
Troubleshooting Guide

Step 1
Lower right pulley
Belt Removal
1. To remove the rower belt, simply continue past the normal rowing position rearward until
the belt detaches from the belt/bungee pulley.
Replacing the belt
2. First remove the rear PVC cover at the rear of the machine. Then remove metal inspection plate which is located on
the right side of the upper frame to access the belt/bungee pulley.
3. Detach the bungee cord at bottom left of frame.
3. Feed the belt through the top belt pulley with the velcro facing down .
Then feed the belt across the idle wheel as shown (upper left).
4. Feed the belt onto the belt/bungee pulley slowly clockwise until the rower handle is right to the computer mount. You
can check your progress by looking through the inspection plate to make sure the belt is wrapping smoothly as
shown left.
Note: The bungee cord will need to be rewrapped around the belt bungee pulley and bungee wheels correctly once
the rower belt is position.
Warning: Do not attempt to operate the machine until the bungee cord has been properly re-wrapped.
5. Unwrap the bungee cord from the belt bungee pulley until you see the placement hole in
the belt/bungee pulley. Then, make one clockwise wrap as shown (lower left) and feed the bungee onto
the bungee pulleys following the steps below:
Step 2
Lower left rear pulley Step 3
Upper rear pulley Step 4
Lower rear to up-
per rear pulley
Finish by tying off at the
bungee attachment point
at the bottom left of the
inner frame. Approx
5cm of bungee fed
through the attachment
point should provide the
proper tension.
Tip: Keeping the
bungee under tension
while wrapping will help
prevent the bungee from
slipping off the bungee
pulleys .
Proper belt feed through belt pulley
and around idle wheel
Beginning the belt wrap on the
belt bungee pulley
Proper bungee position prior to
reinstalling around the bungee
pulleys as shown right.
Changing the Rower belt

Changing the bungee cord
Step 1. Remove the Perspex cover. Step 2. Remove the side inspection plate. Step 3. Undo the bungee cord from
the attachment point.
Step 5. Remove all excess bungee cord
from the belt bungee pulley as shown
right. This will allow you to see clearly
where the bungee cord fits through the
belt/bungee pulley.
Step 4. Pull the rower handle approx half a
rowing stroke toward the rear of the ma-
chine, while at the same time watching for
the upper sprocket hole to appear as shown
above.
Step 6. Start to rewrap the belt toward the front of the machine by
winding the belt onto the belt/bungee pulley. The goal is to match the
bungee position on the belt bungee pulley and the hole at the top of
the sprocket. This will allow you to pull the bungee cord through the
sprocket hole as shown right without having to pull the machine apart.
Warning
Do not under any circumstances
place hands on or inside chain and
sprockets! Use the inspection plate
area to work only.
Step 4
Step 6
Remove the bungee cord.

Idle wheel Step 8. Once the bungee cord is fitted
properly and seated flush inside the
belt/bungee pulley, thread the rower belt
back on to the belt bungee pulley until
the rower handle is at its furthest point
forward. Then, remove the bungee
wraps from the belt/bungee pulley com-
pletely. At this point, make one clock-
wise wrap of the bungee cord on the
belt bungee pulley as shown right.
Then, follow the illustrations below to
wrap the bungee cords around the
bungee pulleys.
Changing the bungee cord
Step 7. Feed the replacement bungee through the
sprocket hole and belt bungee pulley as shown.
Holding the Idle wheel with one hand as pictured will
prevent the belt/bungee and sprocket holes from
moving out of alignment when threading the bungee
cord. If the two holes move out of alignment while
threading the bungee cord stop, remove the bungee
cord, realign the holes and try again.
Caution
Forcing the bungee cord with the belt/bungee pulley
and sprocket not aligned will result in damage to the
bungee cord!
Wrapping the bungee cord around the bungee pulleys.
Begin with the lower right
bungee pulley, taking care
to keep the bungee cord
behind the frame tensioning
bolt as pictured.
Next, thread the bungee
around the lower left rear
bungee pulley.
Then, thread the bungee
around the upper left rear
bungee pulley.
Next, thread the
bungee around the
lower left front bungee
pulley, and then up to
the upper left front
bungee pulley, finish-
ing at the tie off point
located at the left lower
section of the frame.
(See step 2)
Tip: Keeping the bungee cord under slight tension will help prevent the
cord from slipping off the bungee pulleys while wrapping.
Shown left: The
Rower belt is properly
rewound onto the
Belt/Bungee pulley.
Note also the correct
position for the
bungee cord prior to
rewinding the bungee
cord around the belt
pulleys as shown
below.
Rower
belt
Bungee cord

KEY NO. QTY. PART NO. Description KEY NO. QTY. PART NO.Description
1 1 70600
S-bend handle catch bar 28 1 60111
Belt Pulley
2 1 71015
S-bend handle catch bar male end 29 4 60112
Belt pulley bearing 6000ZZ
3 8 10082
Washer 30 1 60105 Computer bolt spacer
4 4 10041
M10 Nylock nut 31 1 81001 Main frame decal ( R )
5 1 10080
M6x20 bolt 32 1 81002 Main frame decal ( L )
6 1 80502
Bungee cord 33 1 71036 M8 nut (Note: For tank tensioning bolt)
7 1 60617
Bungee cord crimped end (included with Bungee cord) 34 1 71023 Heart rate wiring
8 1 71009
Inspection plate 35 6 10043
Washer 24x12x2
9 7 10070
M4x10 screw 36 6 10042 M12 Nylock nut
10 9 10170
M4 washer 37 2 10063 Tank assembly bolt M12X30mm
11 1 71019
PVC Cover 38 1 10190
Washer 26x8x2mm
12 2 10115
S-bend M10X80mm mounting bolt 39 1 71018 Bolt M8*110
13 1 71032
PVC Cover decal 40 1 71022
computer wiring
14 1 60508
Velcro strip for belt (Note: Combined with 80501 Rowing belt) 41 1 10040
M12x140mm Upper tank mounting bolt
15 1 80501
Rowing belt 42 2 71008
C clip STW-20
16 1 60505
Inner rowing handle foam 43 1 71010
Chain 25H-1R
17 2 60144
Inner rowing handle plastic end cap 44 1 71030
Belt/Bungee pulley
18 1 60501
Rowing handle 45 1 60903 Velcro strip for Belt/Bungee pulley
19 1 60504
Handle/belt rubber cover 46 2 71002 Outer axle bushing
20 2 60506
Rowing handle rubber grip 47 2 71003
Inner axle bushing
21 2 71017
M4x15 bolt 48 5 71011 Bungee pulley spacer
22 4 60606
M4 Plastic washer 49 3 10052
Grub screw M4x6mm
23 4 10114
Plastic bushing for computer stalk mount 50 1 70107 Main shaft rear bracket
24 1 81003
Computer 51 2 71005
Brass oil bushing (short)
25 2 10097
M10 dome head nut 52 1 70900
Main shaft/Sprocket
26 1 70500
Computer mount 53 1 70100
Upper Main frame
27 2 10096
M10x70 bolt 54 1 71001
Transport wheel axle
S-350 Parts list