Bandera

No, too short is too short.
A fork from a taller frame can be carefully cut to fit if the crown race milling is the same.
It seems that proprietary headsets were sourced from Mavic and Stronglight, no idea if they mix/match.

-Bandera

FBinNY 

Yes a fork made for a shorter copy of the same frame will be too short. And - No, you can't cut one longer. You need to get a fork made for a taller frame and cut it, but try not to go taller by more than 2cm, since there's only a limited thread length and needing to extend the thread will add to your cost.

Brendan992

There was me thinking I had found a fork! I should of realised it would not be that easy.

So, I need a fork from a 56cm or possible 57cm frame and theres my headset which is different! This is becoming more and more difficult...

Bandera

As Sponge Bob Square Pants once said:

"Well, Good Luck with that Plan!"

-Bandera

jyl

Steve Lubanski at Open Road Bicycles in Pasadena CA is certified to repair Vitus frames. You might call him to see about repairing your fork. (626) 683-9986. I don't think they have a website, I guess they are really old school. Postage for the fork to/from the US might be US$ 40, I'm guessing.

FBinNY 

A fork from a 58cm frame should also work. Otherwise you can go longer and have the threads extended. As a rule, you only need about 15-20mm of thread, but you can measure more precisely.

Take the old fork, thread on the headset cup, spacers, and top nut. Tighten the top nut to the bottom, then back off against that and measure crown seat to the bottom race to get the maximum unthreaded section length.

The fork you want is longer than the original, with the unthreaded section equal or shorter.

Brendan992

Thanks. I think I will wait the outcome of the insurance. ..

CliffordK

Once you figure out who is paying, just get your old fork repaired.

It may be a big chunk of the cost of the frame... but you wouldn't end up with a second forkless frame.

You could always replace the steer tube in a donor fork, but that would likely be as involved as just repairing your fork.

RoadGuy

Sellers are often wrong about what they are selling. If you find a Seller for a 992 fork, ask him/her to measure the steerer overall length, and length of the threaded section. Even that will not guarantee that the Seller is measuring correctly, so ask for a money back transaction if the fork does not fit, before making a deal.

himespau 

No option to return the frame to seller in exchange for cash back?

Brendan992

I have told the seller to chase up the insurance application as I am fed up waiting.

jyl

I've never gotten anything from shipping insurance. I think you're on your own here. Just being cynical.

Brendan992

I heard from the seller(guy who sold me the frame)who said that the carrier refused to pay any compensation for damage to the frame during transit. The seller has also refused to refund my money. I have taken the matter up with Ebay though I am not sure how they will resolve this matter to my satisfaction.

Brendan992

What do people think of this frame?

vitus xenal svr prism frame with vitus f600 carbon forks | eBay

Good value or not?

RoadGuy

Sorry, but from what you wrote about trying to deal with the Seller previously. I figured the Seller was going to refuse to do anything for you. I don't think the fork was damaged in shipping. Most likely it was that way before it shipped. If I was the Shipper, I would have denied the claim, also.

Your claim is with the Seller, and eBay is the right venue to get the problem addressed. The most likely solution to be offered by eBay is a refund of your original payment, including the cost of delivery, with you eating the cost of retuen shipping. Sounds like you got the frame dirt cheap to begin with, which might be the reason that the Seller has refused to do anything for you.

It sounds like you got a good frame and a damaged fork out of the deal for what you paid. The question is going to be whether you are better off shipping the frame back and eating the shipping, or keeping the frame and eating the cost of a replacement fork or repair of the fork.

Brendan992

Any ideas on this?

jyl

Aluminum frame. Pretty recent, late 2000s.

The current Vitus company doesn't have any connection with the original Vitus bikes. It doesn't sell bikes in the US so much of this forum won't have much knowledge on them. Probably better luck asking some of the UK or French forums. I did some searching and it seems the Xenal Prism came with Shimano Tiagra or Campagnolo Mirage, so it was a somewhat entry level road bike, and they were being sold for GBP 450 at one point. The Vitus fork was being sold for GBP 45 at that time.

I really think you're better off getting your 992 fork repaired, rather than spending GBP 200 for a so-so newish frame. Depends on why you wanted a 992 in the first place, I guess.

Wilfred Laurier

I had the same thoughts. The seller's immediate insistance that the fork somehow cam unbounded because of the shipper was suspect from the get-go. Trying to get the shipper to pay anything (if the seller in fact did even file a claim) is also dishonest.

I hope you get satisfaction from Ebay. Good luck!

Brendan992

Unfortunately I have searched high and low and been unable to find anyone to repair the fork. It should not be that difficult as the frame does not have to be dismantled... But no one seems interested, one person said he may be able to weld it but wanted the price it cost me to do it!

I am currently trying body shops but they are not interested in small jobs.

fietsbob

Not written to the Vitus company in France yet ? Call on the Phone ? and asking who repairs their previously made products?



try Aerospace .. British, BAE. find someone that works in the airplane making Biz.

Toulouse France? AirBus .. Its epoxied together aluminum components .. no welding involved ..



Or you have a Wall Hanger.. Part of the Roulette of buying used, online is undisclosed Defects and Poor packing and then, in-transit Damage.

FBinNY 

I doubt you'll find someone. If this is the fork I believe it is, it's bonded construction, and needs to be rebuilt that way. Despite what you say in your OP, it would have to be pulled apart, the joints cleaned, and rebonded. This is specialized work as it is, but then you add that the fork has to be fixtured properly so it ends up straight. Non bike people aren't likely to have a fixture sitting around, and building one would add to the cost.

Best bet, a small frame builder with enough intellectual curiosity to learn the methods of bonding this. Even then he'd have to take it in because he likes the challenge. The side issues of complications if his work doesn't hold up are serious, and entail underwriting more liability risk than the job is worth.

Even if you found someone willing and able, you'd have to accept the risk that the loose blade may be destroyed when taking the fork apart. IMO, this may fall into the ctegory where someone might undertake it for themselves or a close friend, or as a restoration of a collectible, which isn't intended to be ridden, but not as a straight out commercial repair.

jyl

Call the guy at post 55. He may do it or know someone who does, or even have a line on a fork. Also contact Mike Fraysee.

FBinNY 

This may be less than practical for someone on the other side of the Atlantic. One way shipping for a fork from USA to UK is about $35.00. If it's a repair, double that for round trip shipping.

jyl

Maybe they would know someone in Europe. If not, maybe $70 shipping + $50-100 repair, have to find out, but anyway still less than buying another frameset.

Brendan992

I am trying to find someone in the UK but no luck so far