Topic: After 20 yrs hard use my Eleiko comp bar has stopped spinning

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Tonight my Eleiko competition bar stopped spinning reliably. I should have taken some pictures but I was a little upset. 

I guess I need to have a machinist look at my friend, my barbell. I manipulated it "up and down" some and at moments could get it spinning smoothly until you set it down or jarred it when it immediately reverts to being jammed. I had my Eleiko locked up for a while but I recently found the right situation. There has been a lot of heavy lifting on this bar and I would like to repair and keep using it.

I could use some advice.       
 

[Mike Wittmer]

Could be a broken snap ring inside the sleeve.  Probably need a machinist to take it apart.

[Tom Banister]

Yes, a machinist would be your best choice of someone to take a look. An intelligent mechanic should be up to the task though.  Whoever looks it should be advised that there are needle bearings in there before they disassemble it. My guess is one of the needles has broken or worn to the point that it can shift out of position.      Oh wait, what I really mean is that Eleiko bar is now toast. If you send it to me I'll make sure the steel is properly recycled.

This is a topic of great interest to me and have been considering starting a thread advocating regular maintenance on weightlifting bars.  It has been my observation that weightlifters in general are NOT mechanically inclined. Too bad. I believe if bar ends were disassembled and the bearings cleaned, relubed (maybe) and readjusted (if possible), bars would last longer and would be more enjoyable to use.  A bushing bearing bar (like a Pendlay training bar, maybe other training bars)  could be maintained by anyone. The only tool you would need is a snap ring plier which is cheap. (don't let me start talking about what lube to use, tribology is a hobby of mine).  Needle bearing bars; virtually all competition bars, require a little more expertise. And frankly, I'm not sure what lube; if any, should be used.

Good luck, I hope that beautiful bar of yours sees many more years of use.

[Paul LaDuke]

Interesting topic!

Chris, I would call Bud Charniga in Michigan and ask him what his recommendation would be. 

[Carl Darby]

I agree with Tom, it sounds like one of the bearings finally gave out. To take it apart, you just need to pry the end cap off, then a pair of internal snap ring pliers will take out the snap ring. The rotating sleeve then just slides off. The bearings are encased and pressed on to the shaft, so unless they are already toast, you don't have to worry about the bearings falling out. If I remember right, there are three bearings on each side. Don't know about where or if you can get replacement bearings if that's what's wrong, but like Paul said, Bud Charniga is a good bet.

I had to take mine apart and clean it up about 5 years ago when the weightroom where I was keeping it got flooded. Mine's only 15 years old though. It could be different on yours. Good luck nursing your baby back to good health.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Thanks for the tips. I feel like my dog died. I didn't want to get out of bed today and face my dead eleiko bar. I will get it looked at pretty soon but I just can't afford to do much with it right now. So, its back to my old school York. I haven't taken the York apart and cleaned and lubed it in a long time though so I guess I now have some motivation to do so.

[Patrick Donnelly]

Chris,

Your Elieko bar is older than I am - it amazes me how far I still have to go in this sport.  Thank you for this strong reminder.

Take care,
Patrick

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I finally have my bar back from repair and tonight it will be used once again!