HJR

...Hi all,

The other day I changed out my stem to a slightly longer 110. Putting it back together, as I was tighten the stem to the steerer I heard a "pop" or creak as I was putting the last turn on the bottom stem bolt. At first, I thought it was no big deal, but then I thought about the "catostrophic" carbon failures some people bring up from time to time. The fork is a Wolf Carbon with a carbon steerer. I used a torque wrench, but that "pop" has me thinking I put a hairline crack in my steerer. Are my fears justified, or am I just being paranoid? I would hate to find out with a fork failure on a descent.

Thanks for any and all help,
HJR

konageezer

As Shakespeare said, "Hie thee to a bikery." Get this looked at by a pro.

galen_52657

why not try taking it apart and looking my good man**********

clfjmpr44

Get it checked out or check it out yourself. You'll never trust it unless you do...that seems pretty obvious.
A

Ebbtide

Take it back apart and look, if its broke you'll see it.

galen_52657

and remember for next time... snug the bolts evenly... a smidge at a time... then bring them up to torque. If any fitting has more than one fastener (auto, motorcycle, bike, lawnmower..whatever!) if you bring one bolt to torque while the others are loose..you gonna have a problem.

HJR

Wow! Thanks for the fast replies. I swear this forum is awesome.

That's kind of what I was wondering. When I take it a part will I be able to see a hairline crack, or is there something that my LBS might be able to see that i wouldn't?

55/Rad

If it cracked enough to make a noticeable sound, you should be able to see it pretty easily.

55/Rad

zakk

get a friend to be a test monkey. SOme friends and I would get old junk cars and trucks running to go out and roll them, do burn outs, generally jackassery.

Once we got on 'street legal' in the loosest sense of the word, we'd draw straw to find out who was the test monkey.

Good luck and godspeed!

PS take it to your LBS

caotropheus

You can inspect the parts you are suspicious about together with a mechanic. Don't tell him about the sound you heard.

cydewaze

Are you sure it wasn't just the bolt turning through the dry threads? Sometimes when I tighten things into aluminum, you get that creaking sound if the threads are dry.

jeff800

Yes the LBS has wonderous and mystical powers and X-ray vision much like Superman.

lrnorup

I was a LBS once. I stopped because i didn't have X-rays... If you have a strong flashlight you can see the crack if it is there.

HJR

Sarcasm! I like it. I meant is there a technique for finding a crack or something special to look fo that is a tell-tale sign of a problem. It is my understanding that the cracks could start on the inside and work their way out.

eblaska

You might have broke the screw or stripped the bolt. I've done that before with the same sound.

PinkFloyd

Have the video camera rolling if you follow this option. Maybe they could use it for the next Vonnage phone commercial.

HJR

I've taken it off and looked at it. I don't see any cracks, but there are a few scratches in the top surface. Nothing to serious looking.

I am going to take to my LBS just to play it safe. I'll post what they tell me.

Thanks for the help.

jeff800

Sure, glad my sarcastic smarta** comments could be of some help. Carbon frames don't do well with over torquing.

HJR

First of all, thanks for all the helpful and quick replies.

I took it to my LBS and they said it looks good. The owner did mention that you can never be 100% sure, but that he would be comfortable with the fork on his bike. So that is good enough for me.

HJR