Can a Cracked Carbon Steerer be Fixed?

[Kenny]

I have a fork with a 1" cracked carbon steerer. The crack was due to
over doing it with the stem clamp. The crack begins at the top of the
steerer and is cracked clean through, from the inner wall to the outer
wall and is about 2cm in length. This crack shows signs of lengthening
as there are fissures manifesting itself from the original 2cm crack
and extending downward another 12cm. My friend who works for a bicycle
manufacturer says it can be fixed. I'm a little skeptical as he is a
bicycle designer and not an engineer. So here I am seeking your expert
advice. Can it be done?

 

[bookieb]

On Apr 10, 2:37 pm, "Kenny" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I have a fork with a 1" cracked carbon steerer. The crack was due to
> over doing it with the stem clamp. The crack begins at the top of the
> steerer and is cracked clean through, from the inner wall to the outer
> wall and is about 2cm in length. This crack shows signs of lengthening
> as there are fissures manifesting itself from the original 2cm crack
> and extending downward another 12cm. My friend who works for a bicycle
> manufacturer says it can be fixed. I'm a little skeptical as he is a
> bicycle designer and not an engineer. So here I am seeking your expert
> advice. Can it be done?

It could be fixed, just about anything *could* be fixed.

I wouldn't though. If done right, it'll cost close to or more than
the cost of a new fork, and you'll never know if it was done right
until the day it fails. A steerer failure at speed? Bad news...

Don't do it. Don't even think about it. Bin it a buy a new fork.

bookieb.

 

[Lou Holtman]

Kenny wrote:
> I have a fork with a 1" cracked carbon steerer. The crack was due to
> over doing it with the stem clamp. The crack begins at the top of the
> steerer and is cracked clean through, from the inner wall to the outer
> wall and is about 2cm in length. This crack shows signs of lengthening
> as there are fissures manifesting itself from the original 2cm crack
> and extending downward another 12cm. My friend who works for a bicycle
> manufacturer says it can be fixed. I'm a little skeptical as he is a
> bicycle designer and not an engineer. So here I am seeking your expert
> advice. Can it be done?
>


You are lucky that you noticed it before it failed. Don't push your luck
I would say.


Lou
--
Posted by news://news.nb.nu (http://www.nb.nu)

 

[bfd]

"Lou Holtman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Kenny wrote:
>> I have a fork with a 1" cracked carbon steerer. The crack was due to
>> over doing it with the stem clamp. The crack begins at the top of the
>> steerer and is cracked clean through, from the inner wall to the outer
>> wall and is about 2cm in length. This crack shows signs of lengthening
>> as there are fissures manifesting itself from the original 2cm crack
>> and extending downward another 12cm. My friend who works for a bicycle
>> manufacturer says it can be fixed. I'm a little skeptical as he is a
>> bicycle designer and not an engineer. So here I am seeking your expert
>> advice. Can it be done?
>>
>
>
> You are lucky that you noticed it before it failed. Don't push your luck I
> would say.
>
Agree, come on, a new fork is relatively cheap compared to the alternative.
You may also want to consider paying a shop to install your new fork too!

 

[A Muzi]

Kenny wrote:
> I have a fork with a 1" cracked carbon steerer. The crack was due to
> over doing it with the stem clamp. The crack begins at the top of the
> steerer and is cracked clean through, from the inner wall to the outer
> wall and is about 2cm in length. This crack shows signs of lengthening
> as there are fissures manifesting itself from the original 2cm crack
> and extending downward another 12cm. My friend who works for a bicycle
> manufacturer says it can be fixed. I'm a little skeptical as he is a
> bicycle designer and not an engineer. So here I am seeking your expert
> advice. Can it be done?


Classic false economy. Why risk that?
Let yur buddy ride it after the repair.
Get yourself a new fork and enjoy your riding, sleep well with no worries.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

 

[jim beam]

Kenny wrote:
> I have a fork with a 1" cracked carbon steerer. The crack was due to
> over doing it with the stem clamp. The crack begins at the top of the
> steerer and is cracked clean through, from the inner wall to the outer
> wall and is about 2cm in length. This crack shows signs of lengthening
> as there are fissures manifesting itself from the original 2cm crack
> and extending downward another 12cm. My friend who works for a bicycle
> manufacturer says it can be fixed. I'm a little skeptical as he is a
> bicycle designer and not an engineer. So here I am seeking your expert
> advice. Can it be done?
>
if the tube has a removable plug, and you can fit a steel tube snugly
inside the current tube for its full length, sure you can fix it. but
you'd have to make sure the epoxy holding the tube is coherent for the
full length, which would be nigh-on impossible without liquid components
and vacuum gear.

personally, i'd just replace and consider the lesson learned.

 

[Kenny]

Thanks everyone.