How to clean your Fringe Sport Wonder Bar

What’s happenin’ Fringe Fam? We’ve got Jo from Jo’s Barbell Service explaining the in’s and out’s of disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling your dirty Fringe Sport Wonder Barbell.

Let’s be honest. The Wonder Bar is a thing of just that… wonder. The price point for one of our most versatile, quality barbells can’t be matched. Whether you’re a garage gymmer in the Garage Gym Revolution, or you own or workout at a CrossFit box or other gym, this barbell is going to be the way to go. It can take a lot of use and abuse in your journey and it’ll always do you right.

But, just because it can take a lot of abuse doesn’t mean it should without a little TLC from time to time (something we could all use, right?) because it’s not entirely invincible. Consistent maintenance will extend the life of your barbell and keep your barbell working and moving as efficiently as possible. When we’re weightlifting, we want our barbell moving with us, and not against us.

Let’s break down the tools you’ll need to get the job done:

1. A good pair of snap ring pliers
2. 3-in-1 oil
3. Blaster Multi-Max Lubrication

You can find these things at your local hardware store. You’ll also need a towel, preferably microfiber, or some other fabric (like an old t-shirt) that won’t leave any lint behind. You’ll also likely want to get yourself a cardboard box to lay out on the floor to protect it from oil, lubrication, or drips from the barbell. Most importantly, you’ll need gloves and a pair of safety glasses.

When you begin taking the pieces of your barbell apart, it’s important to set them down neatly in the order you’ve taken them out, and therefore the order they’ll be going back into the sleeve of your bar.

Let’s move on to the dirty work. Find your step-by-step instructions below.

1. Take the snap ring off of the sleeve with the pliers. When you do this, be sure to put your other hand over the ring so as you take it out, it doesn’t snap back at you in case it pops loose.
2. Take one end (without the snap ring) of your barbell off of the rack, and tilt it toward the floor so the end cap pops off. Once it does, you can rerack the barbell (and be sure to put the end cap next to the snap ring like below!)
3. Once the end cap has been removed, the next step is to take off the inner snap ring with the snap ring pliers. Again, put your other hand over the snap ring so it doesn’t pop back at you as it’s pulled out. This inner snap ring should go to the left of the end cap.
4. Next, push the sleeve of your barbell back. Put your hand over the end of the sleeve to catch the washers in case they fall. The first thing to come out is the full washer, or ring. This should be set to the left of the inner snap ring.
5. Once you’ve got the full washer out, the “C” washer (or “C” ring) should come out next. 
6. When the above pieces have been removed and organized, you can then slide the sleeve off of your barbell (which we’ve heard is an extremely satisfying feeling, so let us know).
7. Inside of the sleeve, you’ll find the bushing. This is what allows the sleeve to have a proper spin. This should go in line next to the “C” washer, and the sleeve can be set vertically on the cardboard box to ensure that no oil leaks.
8. Next, take your microfiber towel or old t-shirt and wipe down any grease or lubrication left on the shaft from its original state or previous cleaning.
9. Once the grease has been removed from the shaft, you can clean your inner pieces. Use the same microfiber towel or old t-shirt to ensure that you’re not leaving any lint behind, and be sure to put the pieces back in the order you put them down, otherwise it’ll be a lot more difficult to put back together.
10. Next, it’s time to tackle the sleeve itself. Use your cloth to wipe down the inner barrel where it sits on the shaft. This is where chalk and debris builds up over time.
11. Now, it’s time for 3-in-1 oil. Put the oil on the shaft where the sleeve sits on it. You’ll be able to tell where it sits because it’ll be more worn from spinning. The middle, between the two touch points, doesn’t need to be lubricated.
12. The next step is to apply 3-in-1 oil to the inside of the sleeve where it was wiped. Once applied, rub it around inside the bushing.
13. Then, take the Blaster Multi-Max and spray a little bit on each end of the shaft, on top of the 3-in-1 oil. 
14. Next, you can take the sleeve and put it back on the shaft. Give it a little turn, and then start reapplying 3-in-1 oil to the inner pieces to put the barbell back together.
15. Beginning with the bushing, apply a little bit of 3-in-1 oil to the inside and the outside. You won’t need much since the inside of the sleeve and the shaft has already been oiled.
16. Take the bushing and slide it on the end and bring your sleeve forward.
17. After the bushing, begin the same process with the other pieces. First, the “C” washer. This will sit on the ridge that you have on the end of the shaft.
18. Now, take the full washer, apply 3-in-1 oil to the inside and outside, and place it on the shaft. Slide the sleeve forward.
19. Next, apply a small amount to the inner snap ring. You’ll need your snap ring pliers for the next part (and remember to keep your hand over the ring and the pliers as you maneuver it in case it snaps back). Place it inside the sleeve, and give the sleeve a spin to make sure everything is working right. (The sleeve should move a lot more smoothly at this point!)
20. Up next is the end cap. If you’ve previously heard any rattle in your barbell, it could be caused by dried-up lubrication or a lack of lubrication in general on the endcap. Apply a small amount of 3-in-1 oil to the end cap. This will prevent rattling or unnecessary noise.
21. Place the end cap inside of the sleeve.
22. Now, take the outer snap ring with the snap ring pliers (covering both pliers and ring with your other hand) and put it back into the sleeve.

Now, everything is back into place and you can test your barbell. Give it a good spin, and you’re good to go. This is exactly how you’ll keep optimal performance in your barbell overtime, and create an heirloom out of your barbell.

After you’ve finished putting all of your pieces back together, take your towel and wipe off any excess oil that might’ve gotten onto the sleeve or outside of the barbell. There’s likely going to be a little bit of oil in the spot where the shaft meets the sleeve, so make sure you wipe that too.

Jo recommends that you do this process for both sides of the barbell every 1 to 3 months depending on how much you’re using your barbell. If you’ve got a gym with over 100 members, you’ll want to clean your bars frequently. If you’re a garage gymmer, you can get away with a little more time in between cleanings.

We know there’s quite a few steps here, but taking them one at a time will make the whole process seem a lot less daunting.

This process is specific to the Fringe Sport Wonder Barbell. If you have a different kind of barbell, the process can be slightly different. If this maintenance is something you’re not comfortable with on your own or might be lacking the time to do, reach out to us and Jo’s Barbell Service will drive out to you to service your barbell. We want to help you ensure optimal performance in your barbell!

If you’ve got any questions, concerns, or things to talk about, leave a comment below or reach out to our team. You can chat with us on our site, send us an email at team@fringesport.com, or send us a message on our social media platforms.

As always, lift heavy, lift happy :)