But before you start sawing that steerer tube down to size, make sure to adhere to some critical. You cant fix carbon fiber if cracked, and a steerer tube is no place to screw. Fibre grip between stem clamp and bars plus a bit on the steerer tube where the stem slides over it. Our carbon expert weighs in on the value of carbon repair kits, and has smart advice for fixing your frame by caitlin giddings. Have you got the right compression plug for your carbon. The steerer tube, in this case a tapered version on a magura thor fork, is highlighted above in red. I picked up this bike used about 8 months ago and have not had any accidents and ive taken good care of it. What is a good indicator as to when a carbon fork should be replaced. Carbon steerer tube damage question velocipede salon.
A lightening hole that is too large can allow the edges to gouge the steerer tube as the bars are muscled around. If you dont see any irregularity from the inside, then some epoxy and a 2long aluminum tube go to home depot and get a pipe in the 2224mm range will easily fix it. The 10minute carbonfibre inspection canadian cycling magazine. My question is, would it be possible to replace the carbon tube with an aluminium tube. In this video i show you guys how to repair carbon fiber cracks with nothing more than sandpaper, resin, polish and elbow grease. Make your road bike look pro by cutting the steerer tube. World championships how a rider in the junior race crashed due to a broken fork steerer tube. In this trancelike state, the world around you slips away, your existence distilled to timing pedal strokes with your inhalation and exhalation. If you own a specialized bike with a future shock, listen up. Thats where a steerer tube expander, or compression plug as some call it, comes in handy.
Whether it was actually a carbon steerer tube or just an excuse for a failing part, we will never know but just thought id tell ya. Jan 09, 2019 if you own a specialized bike with a future shock, listen up. For ahead type carbon steerer tube wo threads, check that the handlebars are at the desired height then cut the steerer tube using a saw suitable for cutting composite fibers. Get the best deals on cannondale carbon bicycle forks when you shop the. The steerer was cut by them at 285mm with a recomendation 1. Dear specialized rider, the safety and reliability of our products is a top priority for us. I sent my crashed frame to a very competent guy that inspectsrepairs carbon frames and. I noticed a crack in the same spot after a crash the paint was chipped away and there was a very thin line visible all around. Installing a carbon fork on your road bike is a great way to shed weight and improve ride quality. To prevent damage to the fibers and to leave a minimum margin for the placement of spacers for future adjustments, we recommend cutting the tube using two cuts from. Carbon frames and forks sometimes develop witness cracks where the.
Trek also makes it clear that stems that require a clamping torque of more than 6 nm are to be avoided, as higher torque values can crush a carbon steerer tube. I have a carbon fork i pulled out of the trash at an lbs. Another trick is to whack the tube with a quarter over and around the crack. Personally, i wish they made more aluminum steerer tubes. As they were just about done fixing it i got a call that my carbon fiber steerer tube was cracked. This video has the advice you need whether you have a carbon or aluminium steerer. However, let it be known that aarons bicycle repair, inc.
It would be cheap enough to crack test and to make a new steerer, if you have any trouble i can get it done for you. Full carbon fork is it really safe and stiff youtube. Jun 23, 2010 a lightening hole that is too large can allow the edges to gouge the steerer tube as the bars are muscled around. This full carbon barstem is lighter and eliminates the need to bond an aluminum clamp to a carbon stem extension. Jan 08, 2017 here is a clip on topic if full carbon fork really offers safety and stiffness as advertised. Attached are some photos of the tube, where i cant see any obvious cracks, but you can see where the stem has been tightly mounted. Vaughan has begun a mini crusade to get to the bottom of the issue.
This fullcarbon barstem is lighter and eliminates the need to bond an aluminum clamp to a carbon stem extension. Modulus carbon fork, tapered steerer tube, uncut, vgc. Sometimes the damage is visible such as a crack due to overtightening of the stem or the. I had loosened everything off again last night to re align the stem, and when i was re tightening the steerer clamp bolts there was a loud crack long before i got to what i deem to be a sufficient torque. Has anyone ever extended a carbon steerer tube or has any idea how this could be achieved.
Unbelievable carbon fiber material selection 100s of round tube layup options new products added every week. Ask a mechanic carbon friction paste on steerer tubes. The down side is that they are too short in the steerer tube by about 25mm. Carbon steerer tube damage question dont want to tell you anything that will hurt you, but my fork had the same marks, way more visible than that, result of a deda newton stem.
In this situation its better to have the stem slip on the steerer to lessen the amount of force transmitted to the steerer tube. Sometimes the creaking can be coming from the steerer tube, sometimes its the stanchions. Oct 11, 20 you feel somethings not right, hear a noise that wasnt there and discover that crack that also wasnt there before. If you cant feel it with a fingernail, the crack probably isnt in the carbon. Al steerer tube and i can see markscracks running lengthways in the. New full carbon bike creaking from front headset area. I do not think it is safe to ride with it as it is.
I think cdale was worrid the steerer stem connection would crack and flex but the rider wouldnt notice except for maybe a creaking from the headset. I have a small hairline crack at the top of my carbon steerer tube. Here is a clip on topic if full carbon fork really offers safety and stiffness as advertised. Also, with carbon steerers, its a good idea to have a solid bung in the steerer tube to support the tube when the stem is clamped down on it. Btw ive done the coin test and the results are inconclusive, sounds broadly the same over the crack, different above and below but that must be the transition between alu steerer and hollow carbon below. Bontrager race xxx lite 700c carbon fork with a tapered carbon steerer tube for sale a great preowned bontrager race xxx lite 700c carbon fork with a tapered carbon 118in steerer tube. Would it be safe to do this and also cost effective. Jul 20, 2012 installing a carbon fork on your road bike is a great way to shed weight and improve ride quality. Our carbon expert weighs in on the value of carbonrepair kits, and has smart advice for fixing your frame by caitlin giddings. Quieting a creaky bike with arts cyclery 2 there you are, cruising along and feeling fit on your favorite scenic climb, the rhythm of your breathing matching your smooth and steady cadence. It is very important that the steerer tube be cut straight. It is not tapered and 1 18 and about 30mm too short for me anyway.
Sep 04, 2009 hi, just got a bargin set of carbon forks. Hi, after my first test ride and a check of my bike, headset am so on, i noticed this mark about 1cm on the top of the steerer tube, at the stem. Introduced in 2010, our fullcarbon barstem features a calfeesourced bar and stem modified by calfee. We have identified a potential problem with an ohlins branded rxf36 air and rxf34 air suspension forks sold as aftermarket equipment and as original equipment on some specializedbranded enduro, stumpjumper, fuse, and levo mountain bicycles. I have a funny feeling that my stem zipp service course might actually have been faulty. Only complication was expander plug was replaced by a star fangled nut. Luckily trek is giving me a new 2011 paragon frame. Youll also need to remove the forks from your bike. Lbs said thats the spot where the aluminum steer tube joins the carbon fork blades and the bond between the two was compromised. I think cdale was worrid the steererstem connection would crack and flex but the rider wouldnt notice except for maybe a creaking from the headset. The alloy steerer tube has started to separate from the carbon fork blades, so it was replaced warranty. The other concern with applying carbon paste to steerer tubes is that the paste could make its way into the headset where it could grind down moving parts and possibly wear the steerer where the compression split. Is my carbon fork steerer tube damaged by overtightened stem bolts. Specially designed to accommodate wider, carbon specific saw blades, the sg8 threadless saw guide ensures a straight, clean cut on 1 25.
How to tell if a carbon frame is damaged or if the paint just. Also after a hard crash or if the front end of the. Feb 07, 2012 the steerer tube, in this case a tapered version on a magura thor fork, is highlighted above in red. Have you got the right compression plug for your carbon fork. If you remember about a little less than a year ago, bontrager came out and said hincapie crashed at parisroubaix because he was testing out a carbon steerer tube. To cut your steerer tube, youll need a hacksaw and, preferably, a hacksaw guide. I am in the engineering business and have access to quality aluminium and all. Im currently on my 3rd fork 3t funda, and so far, so good. You feel somethings not right, hear a noise that wasnt there and discover that crack that also wasnt there before. The crack has possibly been caused by an overtightened stem bolt and runs vertically, adjacent to where the stem clamps onto the steerer. If there are any differences in sound, the frame has probably sustained damage.
Cutting the steerer tube too long will result in a loose headset. The steerer tube length is 290mm when measured from the crown base to the top of the steerer tube. Blade cross section is 38 x 22mm tapering to 18 x 20mm black painted finish on top with visible carbon weave, polished dropouts. How to adjust a bike headset with full carbon fork part 3. Carbon steerer tubes are typically rated significantly less, and easily crack through crushing by 8nm. Ive had two carbon steerer tubes on my argon 18 mercury crack on me. Okay, heres a carbon fiber fork for your bike that needs a 1 inch steer tube. Btw ive done the coin test and the results are inconclusive, sounds broadly the same over the crack, different above and below but that must be the transition between alu. Jul 29, 2015 are diy carbon repair kits safe or sketchy.
Avoid breathing the dust created during cutting carbon composite materials. The problem in general for frames and all components from carbon is aging of epoxy glue which. Crack in carbon fork steerer cyclechat cycling forum. Fuji recommends that when cutting a steerer tube, a steerer tube cutting guide tool be used. When i got to the shop i asked them how it happened and they said they have no idea. And then i thought surely the carbon has flexed enough for it to cause this crack as well, which cant be good. Cannondale carbon bicycle forks for sale in stock ebay. Dec 24, 2010 i have something similar to this on my deda fork steerer too. In addition to the bike24 shipping costs customers not living in the eu have to pay the national vat and duty in their country for the imported goods. Normal grease on carbon fibre can attack the material. The steerer tube was cut to size by fabricator according to the way i was fitted on the bike. Fixing your broken carbon fiber parts can be time consuming but it. I have an ems pro in an old litespeed catalyst frame, 1 steerer tube, that seems to be a stout fork. Because of the more delicate nature of carbon, setting a traditional star nut into the steerer tube as you would on an aluminum fork is no longer an option.
Whether your project is big or small, we are bound to have round carbon fiber tubing that suits your needs. Also works great when cutting handlebars or other round tubes from 22mm to 33mm. The fork should be replaced when you see any damage, or a crack found during inspection. A lot of these bungs are cut down or omitted in the interest of weight savings, but this situation illustrates why that might be a false economy. The second one, it wasnt over torqued, for sure, but it cracked on me anyway after several hundred miles on it. Otherwise, ems pro forks had and may still have steel steerer tubes and were are.
How to size and cut a carbon steerer tube on a carbon road. Apr 17, 2015 would you ride with a 1 slight crack and indentation in the fork steerer, if you had an expander fitted to the top cap. Specialized announces steerer tube collar recall for roubaix. Riders on another treksponsored team told him they. This passes through your bikes head tube, along with all of. Ask a mechanic using steerer tube expanders with carbon. I have something similar to this on my deda fork steerer too.
Remove the bar from the stem, and inspect the clamping area for any cracks or blemishes. Creaky stanchions and steerer tubes blue liquid labs. Uses recessed brake bolt and requires 1 inch star nut for aluminum steerer, not included. If youre cutting a carbon steerer tube its good to have a specialised carbide blade as this will prevent the fibers from fraying. This passes through your bikes head tube, along with all of the headset parts, and the stem is. Introduced in 2010, our full carbon barstem features a calfeesourced bar and stem modified by calfee.
Do the same at a similar location that doesnt have a crack. Would you ride with a 1 slight crack and indentation in the fork steerer, if you had an expander fitted to the top cap. I recently took my baby into the shop for a tune up. Also try a very fine smear of grease between the headset spacers where they sit on top of each other. All carbon fork vs carbon with aluminum steer tube. Once the steerer tube is cut, round out the top edge of the steerer tube by using an emery board or fine grit sandpaper. The leftys crowns, steerer, and stem would keep the fork and crame connected even if the steerer and atem are no longer solidly connected. Most modern road bikes, even the aluminumframed ones, have carbon forks with carbon steerer tubes. Sg8 saw guide for carbon composite forks park tool.
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