Bianchigirll 

Does anyone here have experience with Kinesis carbon forks? I recently purchased one and I thought it would (or should) come with a nut for the front brake. I have one from a set of Veloce brakes, but it will not go into the hole on the fork. do I need something real funky for this fork?

Kinesis: 1 1/8'' Aero Carbon Fork

Description: This fork uses forged alcoa aluminum crowns and dropouts.
Blade cross section is 45 x 17mm tapering to 22 x 13mm
Black painted finish with visible carbon weave, polished dropouts
All have 9mm Brake Bolt to Crown Length

Fork Rake: 43mm
Axle to Crown Length: 365mm
Crown Race: 30.0mm
Steer Tube Length: 300 mm Uncut

Front Axle Type: 9x1
Wheel Size: 700c
Front Hub Spacing: 100 mm
Brake Type: Road Caliper - Standard Reach
Brake Usage F/R: Front
Steerer Tube Diameter: 1 1/8''
Steer Tube Material: alloy steel
Color: Black/Carbon Weave

BCRider

How close to fitting is it? It may be that paint or a little resin or even a burr left from the drilling operation is in the way if this is a brand new fork. And because it's a forged alloy crown I can't see it being anything special and requireing a carbon specialty tubular nut. If it passes all these "tests" and it only needs a hair of material removed I'd suggest you just scrape it out with a small knife or with GREAT CARE and slow speed ream it out with a drill to fit.

A superb scraper for this sort of thing is easily made by grinding off the teeth of a small triangle shaped file and then stoning the faces so that the three edges are razor sharp. A similar commercial triangle scraper is one of the handiest tools at the bench for deburring or shaving away a few flakes of just about anything metal or plastic.

Bianchigirll 

OH no the hole is clean as can be, it is just a tad small for the nut I have here.

reptilezs

nuts usually come with the brake. had a sram brake nut that didn't want to fit in a cervelo frame. just grabbed a different one.

onespeedbiker

I'm not trying to sound contrite, but just to be sure, the rear of the fork is drilled for a recessed nut, but there may not be a recessed area for the rim of the nut so it will not mount flush with the surface; because of this many carbon forks need longer recessed nuts for the brake. The front of the fork has a smaller hole for the brake bolt.

FBinNY 

Kinesis used to give you the nut, as do many carbon forks. The reason is that many have wide (deep) crowns and the standard nut that comes with brakes is usually too short. Also some forks have smaller counter bores and so need a nut with a smaller flange diameter.

But the basic OD of the nuts is the same, so other than length and possibly head diameter the standard nut should fit. If the nut won't drop in (maybe with a bit of thumb pressure) it's possible that the front end of the nut is a bit ovalized or burred, or that the drilled hole isn't as clean as it could be. I've had a few forks on various brands where I had to gently tap a very tight nut home, possibly shaving the hole a bit.

You're not a newbie so use your own judgment about how hard to force the nut. If you need a longer one, measure and I'll check if I have one to spare.

Bianchigirll 

Onespeedbiker, yes the crown is recessed for the nut and it fits well through that and down into the hole.

FB I tried everything, several nuts I have here, all clean and smooth, to lightly running a reamer on the edge of the hole.


I just got an email from the place I bought it and he offering to send me a nut.

FBinNY 

Hopefully that'll solve the problem. I'm curious how that nut will differ from those you have, so if it works please post details.

Bianchigirll 

I will and some pics when I get my camera out of the truck later

onespeedbiker

So you are saying the top of the recessed nut fits in the recess in the crown, but the hole is to small for the body of the nut. Are both holes in the crown about the same size? Since every recessed nut I have ever seen is built to the industry standard, except at varying lengths, my guess is your fork was not properly drilled.

Bianchigirll 

that is exact;y what I am saying and it is driving me nuts! I never saw such a thing, longer nuts yes but not one so thin.

onespeedbiker

If the rear hole is the same diameter as the front hole, then there is no recessed nut thin enough to work..

Bianchigirll 

OK I know you are all burning with desire to know how this turned out. I got the brake nut from Bike Island yesterday and tried to install the brake. as I suspected all along the new nut does not fit either. after a few emails I was told the holes on a shipment of forks was drilled undersize. a small credit and few seconds with the drill and the brake is on.

ncdave45

Good job on drilling. You have a lot of sweet bikes. Bikes are better than cats. Bikes won't stink up your house or cause a flea infestation.

ultraman6970

I have had to sand the brake nut in a couple of bikes to get it in, in a matter of fact in a ridley even the nut that matched the fork didn't fit either so had to dremel the nut a tiny bit.

Bianchigirll 

Thank You, very true

HillRider

+1 both on the fork/brake fix and on bikes are better than cats. Bikes also don't wake up your neighbors yowling all night and never come home unexpectedly pregnant. You almost never see a "Free to good home" sign offering bikes.