goldfinch

My hybrid bike has a carbon fork. There is significant peeling on the fork, it looks like the coating that is over the carbon. What to do, if anything? Is this unsafe?

I'll try to post a picture, but my first download tries failed.

Wilfred Laurier

how old and what brand
because that could be covered
by the warranty

not unsafe i think
although its impossible
to know absolutely

goldfinch

Cannondale Quick, 2011 model bought spring 2011. About 5000 miles on it. Paint warranty is only one year.

fietsbob

looks like scuffing of the surface finish , 'Snow Bird' wear and tear?(multiple bikes on a rack for transport? ),

does more flake off ?


Touch up paint? add a bit of spray lacquer?

Wilfred Laurier

i dont think forks or
paint are covered past one year
for cannondale bikes

goldfinch

How about nail polish?

I had no idea this was happening, it could be snowbird wear and tear.

RoadGuy

Not knowing much of anything about carbon fiber parts, and being paranoid about part failure, I would not be comfortable riding the bike in the condition until after it was inspected by a Cannondale Dealer.

Looks to me like it could be a manufacturing defect, or crash damage, not just cosmetic damage. It should be inspected before anymore riding on it.

fietsbob

IDK about nail polish, ask the Trek dealer..

typical Composites are Epoxy with the CF fabric ..

goldfinch

I am a long way from a Cannondale dealer right now and want to sell this bike as I am no longer riding it. Do others agree with this guy? I don't want to sell something that might be a serious issue. It looks like peeling coat to me, the carbon underneath looks fine.

There is a Trek dealer nearby, I suppose I could bring it to them for their thoughts. But, isn't just about anyone going to say replace the fork?

If I had to replace the fork to sell the bike, were could I find a cheap fork? The bike can't be worth more than a couple hundred bucks at this point.

fietsbob

If it was a boat, you could sand the surface to roughen it up a bit. and mix and apply More Epoxy .. but the esthetics seem a paramount issue on bicycles .

hauling it back and forth between seasons and border states north and south, you may need to use more packing material around your bike in transit..

RoadGuy

If you were here in CA, and were going to sell it, I'd say that the front fork is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I don't know how it is where you are.

Maybe do some research to find out what the value is for a bike without problems, and what it's worth as a parts donor. You may decide that it would not be economical to fix the bike before selling it, and to sell it without the front fork for use as parts. Or, you may decide that it's worth dumping money in the bike to fix it before selling it. If it's only worth $200-$300 as a running bike, I would not think it would be worth the cost of replacing the front fork before selling it.

On the other hand, if you took the time to check with Cannondale, they might be willing to replace the front fork under the frame warranty, not as cosmetic, or crash damage, but because it's a question of safety if they decide that the damage is a manufacturing problem/defect.

If you remove the front fork (with a written warning/disclaimer noting the front fork damage, and have the Buyer sign it), and sell the bike for parts, whatever the Buyer does with it is on him/her.

spdracr39

Looks like bike rack damage to me.

goldfinch

It rides in a Yakima rack that wouldn't have a place for that kind of damage. But for sure the front fork looks scuffed in a number of spots. I just don't know why or how. I will say that most of our bikes do not look pristine (other than my CF Madone) so we probably are not as careful as we could be.

dweenk

I don't have a carbon bike - all of mine are either steel or aluminum. If I did want to buy a carbon bike, or one with a carbon fork, it would not be yours. Sorry.

goldfinch

Hey, don't be sorry. I am thinking "damn stinking carbon" right now. I won't sell it as is if it is unsafe.

Will any threadless fork for a 26 inch wheeled bike work as a replacement?

e_guevara

To me, it just looks that the clear lacquer was scratched off, just cosmetic damage. It's fine and hasn't compromised the integrity of the carbon underneath.

If the fork has pretty deep gouges (run a finger over the exposed area), then I'd start to worry.

rydabent

Carbon forks are of "iffy" in the first place, it looks like an accident waiting to happen. Remember carbon forks "plastic forks" dont crack or bend like a metal fork, they shatter and put you on the ground.

KBentley57

False.

Wilfred Laurier

+1

2old

Considering the ramifications of front fork failure, I wouldn't sell it as is even with a disclaimer. Either remove the fork and sell it or purchase an inexpensive fork (Check Nashbar today - 21% off and free shipping).

fietsbob

matching all the dimensions, so the material the fork is made of is the only difference , Then .. Id say so ..
.. taller, longer blades, different rake , No.

Coal Buster

Since you're talking about replacing the fork anyway, maybe you can send it alone back to the dealer or Cannondale.

goldfinch

Well, we drove the distance to the Cannondale dealer. They said the fork is just fine, it is cosmetic peeling of the paint or whatever they call the thick clear coat. Of course, it is outside the warranty period for paint. They said nail polish to neaten it up is fine.

So, I'll sell it and tell people what they said and what I did.

RoadGuy

One hour of an attorney's time will cost more than you are going to be able to sell that bike for. After getting dragged into Family Court on a monthly basis for twenty years by my ex-wife, I'm probably more sensitive to legal action risks/threats than most other people.

So to me, any extra money you might get selling the bike whole (what, $50?), vs as parts, without the front fork is not worth the potential legal risk.

Just because you tell a potential Buyer that you had the bike inspected, and what the shop said (who knows for sure, it's carbon fiber), will not protect you if the buyer gets hurt. You're still going to get dragged into Court.

goldfinch

Why? How am I negligent? I am not. I had it inspected. I disclose. I am not negligent.

Keep in mind, you admittedly know nothing about carbon parts and you suggested the inspection:

You might as well never sell anything used because it is used, something might go wrong.

BTW, I am a retired lawyer.