My carbon frame.......
 

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[Closed] My carbon frame....again

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I've had it totally stripped down and forks removed. Had it thoroughly cleaned and dried. Went over it with magnifying glass under my L&M lights and couldn't find anything other than a tiny chip about 1.5mm round on the lower part of the fork. I then tried twisting, spreading it squashing it and it was fine.
I think if I replace the forks it'll be fine, but is there a more scientific test?
I've just finished a 1.5 hour power interval on the bike fitted to the turbos and it was perfect on those.
What do you reckon?


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 11:57 am
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I'm sure I've seen someone post here about a company that does crack checking using some hi-tech method (?x-rays?) but I'd be happy with what you've done myself.


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 12:09 pm
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is this to do with your collision the other day ?

christ knows what stresses that would put through the frame, even in absence of actual impact damage. even if visible, the outer bit of a frame is only cosmetic normally isn't it ?


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 12:15 pm
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Why are You concerned?


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 12:48 pm
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If you visually inspected it and there's nothing to see then unless you have access to ultrasound and a guy used to doing NDT on compoites then it might just be a case of riding it and see


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 2:34 pm
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I crashed some carbon bars a while back. Seemed ok so kept riding. At the start of the following ride, they snapped JRA. I really wouldn't trust your frame after a shunt like that.


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 2:59 pm
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Okay....
Even though the insurance (I've been advised) won't take long it's still another three months without a bike.


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 3:16 pm
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yikes. What do you need to get a bike up & running? STW has helped out at times like this before I think.


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 3:19 pm
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Cheers I'll get by. I've got my race cross bike that needs parts and rebuilding. I just wanted to save that for race days, but needs must etc.


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 3:24 pm
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well I've got a Dialled PA frame (med) sitting here doing nothing if required.


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 3:26 pm
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Cheers pedalhead, though I wouldn't know what to do with such a beast as I've not ridden a mountainbike since last November 😳


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 3:51 pm
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lol fair 'nuff 🙂 Best of luck getting yours sorted


 
Posted : 20/08/2011 4:11 pm
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Just ride it! I stuffed a Trek OCLV into a car at 30mph, shattered the forks, snapped the (alu) bars, broke both STI's, pringled the front wheel. Frame had a few deep-ish gouges, but I rode it for another 18 months, then sold it to a chap in Jersey who raced it.

I'd be far more trusting of a frame than a pair of bars, particularly if it's withstood a vigorous turbo session, which does all sorts of unpleasant things to the frame!


 
Posted : 21/08/2011 7:16 am
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what size bike do you need, you can borrow my trek 1.5 56cm if you want, it's no racebike light weight though!


 
Posted : 21/08/2011 7:23 am
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If there is no obvious creaks or cracks then just ride it!


 
Posted : 21/08/2011 8:34 am
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Another quick test is the tap test - get a coin and tap the frame and listen for a 'different' sound.


 
Posted : 21/08/2011 9:29 am
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[img] [/img]

Not a great piccy. But this is the only odd mark I can find, and it's on the impact side. The weave is perfect everywhere apart from the bit by the A and N. The surface is unmarked, but it looks like the carbon weave has distorted. On the other leg the weave is perfect and uniform?


 
Posted : 24/08/2011 1:21 pm
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This crack? was there already, not sure it is/was anything to worry about. You can feel it with your finger nail, but it could just be the laquer?

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 24/08/2011 1:27 pm
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Upper pic - can't see any way the tows in the woven cloth could have moved as much as the the pic would suggest without the resin matrix cracking - [b]a lot[/b]. Cloth must have been like that to start with - plus some 3k woven cloth is usually only put on as a surface layer because that's what people expect CF to look like.

Lower pic - is it tube/lug/bonded construction or monocoque? Probably a crack in the surface laquer/gel coat, but it is right where a joint would be.


 
Posted : 24/08/2011 1:32 pm