Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,345
Likes: 5,463
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
GMM- I think you need to get the frame to a person (builder) that has a proper flat surface and the tools to check alignment who will documemnt the process with both photos and numbers. The process would go something like this. The frame (and fork as it's part of the whole) is stripped of all parts. the frame is suspended on a through rod, with cones at each end of the head tube (this way only the internal reamed bore is used, not the outside surface of the HT), and the frame is supported parallel to the surface with a jack stand under the seat tube center. A rear axle dummy is placed in the drop outs and it's center is used to insure the frame is parallel to the surface. This dummy axle is checked for squareness with the surface (alternitely a good wheel could also be used here). The bb shell is checked for being axle centered height off the surface, as is also the rear brake hole and the seat post entry of the ST. Now you know whether the frame is in line front to rear or twisted, HT WRT ST and rear axle. The shell could stll be crooked but mounting a BB and crank (with old fashined tapered square and cup and cone design) both ways and measuring each arm to stay BOTH ways the BB axle is installed will tell you aout the shell's alignment (relying on the crank manufacturer to have symetrical arms after mounting is asking a lot). The fork is clamped by the steerer (if not tapered) or the dummy axle and the other end is checked for being centered/parallel to the surface. Twist is simply two straight edges across the axle and the top of the blades.
You can't rely on the out sides of a carbon frame to be symetrical to the frame's centerline. You can't rely on the edges of the Bb shell to be square (as in being faced with a cutting tool). You can't rely on any one "tube" being straight by design of the curves being symetrical. Only the insides or contact points are needing to be correct. This type of alignment is very hard to do without proper tools and understanding. Without dial or height gauge readouts any viewed discrepincies will be subjective and not "real".
I am not surrprised that Felt is hesitant to work with a consumer on this. How they take a pro's report will be interesting. That they allow 3x the common amount of missalignment (that many pro builders use as their tollorance) is telling to both the process of building with carbon (in a cost concerned production factory) and their company policies. Andy.