Full Carbon Forks anything to be careful of?
06-01-12, 09:01 AM
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Full Carbon Forks anything to be careful of?
Thinking about getting a set of full carbon forks (including steerer tube) are there things you need to be concerned about as far as attaching a threadless stem? I know some carbon stuff requires extra care/torque wrench etc. Is this a must to keep from destroying them?
06-01-12, 09:23 AM
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Use a stem with a steerer clamp two bolts facing opposite directions, don't over tighten. IME a torque wrench isn't necessary, but a short allen is, use the long end of a single key to minimize leverage or one of those Y shaped 4-5-6 park allens to stay out of trouble.
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06-01-12, 09:38 AM
#3
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use an expanding stem cap assembly.
don't use a star nut stem cap assembly.
take care of torque specs on all components attached to the steerer tube
don't use a star nut stem cap assembly.
take care of torque specs on all components attached to the steerer tube
06-01-12, 09:42 AM
#4
Your cog is slipping.
Never use a starnut inside a carbon steerer. Use a top cap with a compression plug.
edit - cruiserhead beat me to it.
edit - cruiserhead beat me to it.
Last edited by Scrodzilla; 06-01-12 at 09:43 AM. Reason: slow on the draw
06-01-12, 09:46 AM
#5
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watch out for those asploding fibres
There is also the issue of whether or not to use a spacer under the stem. Some head sets come with a cone shaped spacer while others leave it up to you. FWIW there was a big stink about Trek forks' steer tubes breaking and Trek basically blamed it on people not placing a spacer between the stem and headset. The idea is to avoid creating a point load on the steer tube. The same idea applies to using certain stems and seat tube collars that won't create point loads and damage the carbon.
There is also the issue of whether or not to use a spacer under the stem. Some head sets come with a cone shaped spacer while others leave it up to you. FWIW there was a big stink about Trek forks' steer tubes breaking and Trek basically blamed it on people not placing a spacer between the stem and headset. The idea is to avoid creating a point load on the steer tube. The same idea applies to using certain stems and seat tube collars that won't create point loads and damage the carbon.
Last edited by hairnet; 06-01-12 at 09:52 AM.
06-01-12, 10:42 AM
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Your cog is slipping.
Amazing.
06-01-12, 11:43 AM
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i raised this question in Scrod's thread a couple weeks ago
after some entertaining videos i was concluded that carbon is nothing to fear, at least if you dont buy total crap, which is synonymous with pretty much anything really
a video posted in the today i thread shows a carbon frame cracking, but it landed on the front wheel which essentially puts force onto the fork first, and it was the frame that failed not the fork
after some entertaining videos i was concluded that carbon is nothing to fear, at least if you dont buy total crap, which is synonymous with pretty much anything really
a video posted in the today i thread shows a carbon frame cracking, but it landed on the front wheel which essentially puts force onto the fork first, and it was the frame that failed not the fork
06-01-12, 09:55 PM
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I am of the opinion that if you have a full carbon fork it's worthwhile to buy a torque wrench. A preset one isn't very expensive compared to the cost of a fork replacement. Also, I think that it's always a good idea to run a 5mm spacer above your stem with a carbon steer tube. It gives you a more secure attachment for the same torque on your bolts. Also, I have heard anecdotal talk of the clamp on the top of a cut steerer tube causing fraying of the carbon fibers. Personally I just avoid the issue by going with an alloy steerer tube.
https://www.amazon.com/Snap-Industria.../dp/B004XG5YEE
https://www.amazon.com/Snap-Industria.../dp/B004XG5YEE
06-01-12, 10:09 PM
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Cheap carbon is what you should be worried about. The usual problem is the joint between the carbon and the steerer tube. If you're dropping enough coin for full carbon, its not going to be cheap. Full carbon also doesn't have the joint issues with the steerer tube.
06-01-12, 10:16 PM
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06-01-12, 11:29 PM
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06-01-12, 11:35 PM
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Nearly every person had a star next to their name, haha.
06-02-12, 12:48 AM
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I dont even remember how I stumbled upon that gold mine haha
06-02-12, 01:09 AM
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+1
You also misspelled "science."
06-02-12, 02:46 AM
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from what I understand, spacers between your headset and stem are just fine so long as they are within a certain stack height limit determined by the manufacturer. I have a few below the stem and one above it. I also recommend the torque wrench.
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06-02-12, 06:13 AM
#19
Your cog is slipping.
It's typically recommended to not go over 35-40mm of spacers below the stem on a carbon steerer.
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