Carbon Fork Issue
04-30-08, 08:22 AM
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Carbon Fork Issue
My bike has a Zero Carbon fork on it and I had it shipped to a race and thenn back again last week. When I went to put the front tire back on, it would not easily go on. I finally got it on by pulling the forks apart a little and getting the hub past the tip of the metal part of the fork. As I looked at it, it looked to me like the metal part that holds onto the tire got slightly bent and that is why it won't slide in. Once the tire is in place, it works fine, but it has lost it's moniker of quick release. Is there a way to replace the metal end on the tip of a carbon fork, or am I going to be stuck with buying a new fork?
Sorry for not using the proper terminology for some of the parts. Thanks.
Sorry for not using the proper terminology for some of the parts. Thanks.
04-30-08, 09:28 AM
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This sounds like a serious problem and should be checked out by a professional mechanic. You don't want to do a face plant in the middle of a race.
Al
Al
04-30-08, 09:45 AM
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The dropout (that's the name for the metal part) is bonded (read glued) into the carbon fork leg and is a permanant part. Straightening it would compromise the bond and replacement isn't practical. I'm afraid you are in the market for a new fork.
BTW, next time you ship the bike, put a spacer in the fork dropouts to support the legs and prevent just what happened to the current fork. You can get a plastic spacer from any bike shop as new bikes are all shipped with them or make one from a trashed front hub.
BTW, next time you ship the bike, put a spacer in the fork dropouts to support the legs and prevent just what happened to the current fork. You can get a plastic spacer from any bike shop as new bikes are all shipped with them or make one from a trashed front hub.
04-30-08, 12:01 PM
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Time to upgrade to a steel fork that can actually be aligned. Any custom builder can assemble one for the same price as your high end Easton...
Damn a gram save a man! no good carbon!
Damn a gram save a man! no good carbon!
04-30-08, 08:54 PM
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FYI, repeated tests have shown that carbon forks have a fatigue life easily equal to a good steel forks so there is no negative to having one.
