Carbon fiber fork clear coat problem - need advice

[rozman]

I have an 8 year old Time carbon fork on my Merlin roadbike. A small area (1/2" x 1/4") on the fork has what appears to be a 'clear coat' bubble/delamination area (looks like clear coat cracking). It appears to be cosmetic, and doesn't look like it is affecting the carbon cloth below, but I'm not sure. I'm hoping that I can just clean it up (with what?) and apply some new 'clear coat' (what do I use?) to the area.

Is it time for a new fork? :-(

Any thoughts?

thanks

 

[cPritch67]

I have an 8 year old Time carbon fork on my Merlin roadbike. A small area (1/2" x 1/4") on the fork has what appears to be a 'clear coat' bubble/delamination area (looks like clear coat cracking). It appears to be cosmetic, and doesn't look like it is affecting the carbon cloth below, but I'm not sure. I'm hoping that I can just clean it up (with what?) and apply some new 'clear coat' (what do I use?) to the area.

Is it time for a new fork? :-(

Any thoughts?

thanks

Rozman
You might want to contact Time and inquire with them. If it were me, I would take the stance that I got a solid 8 years out of the fork, and buy a replacement. A structurally sound fork is pretty critical to your safety and there have been a lot of improvements with carbon mfg in the last 8 years as well.