Okay so today I bought a rear cxp22/formula rear wheel for $30 off craiglist. It seemed like a killer deal, it had been used for around a year, the hub was in good condition and wheel was properly tensioned/trued. As i was changing the rim tape I noticed that there was a small 'crack' along one side of the rim joint. By crack I mean that if I hold it up to a light I can see a hair-thin opening along the joint, starting from the from the outermost ledge to around 4mm into the rim.

So for this little segment the walls of the rim arent touching. I did some research and read that this kind of issue dosent matter since the spokes hold the rim together etc. but I want to make sure before I start using it. Would it be better to just resell or does this wheel probably still have a lot of life in it? It seems really sturdy, I just want to know if the rim will unexpectedly crack on me haha. Thanks

If it's just a slight separation of the joint, no big deal. Can you post a photo so we can better see what you've got.

cxp22 don't have welded joints, which is why the crack is visable.

Awesome. You're concerned that it might fail on you, so you want to know if you should sell it to someone else?

I was thinking the same thing.

Yeah id probably sell off at the same price and definitely let the buyer know about the 'problem.' But apparently there is no issue and Ill ride the wheel so you guys dont have to start b*tch ing and crying. Jesus

Remember the time Brian sold that guy a wheel with stripped lockring threads?

Shut up. Jerk.

I went to my lbs and described the problem (didnt have the wheel on me) and they told me to def not right the wheel, or the crack will get bigger and bigger as i ride on it. Im skeptical as to if this is true or not. I think he was just goshing me/wanted me to buy a wheel from his store.

It's not a big deal. Weinmann DP18s are notorious for this as well, and I've never heard of one failing. This includes about 5k miles on one myself.
And if testimony doesn't convince you: consider the physics of it. The spokes are pulling the rim towards the hub. What forces would it take to make the crack bigger?

That was the first thing I thought when I read his response but I decided not to go there.

If that kid ever logs in here, he's going to get the wrong idea.

He That Is Without Sin Among You, Let Him First Cast a Stone.

Or the right one.

Surprisingly, most bicycle rims aren't welded at the joint. The only thing holding the ends of the extrusion together is a couple of steel dowels. When you install a tire, however, the two tight fitting steel or kevlar tire beads keep the ends of the rim from ever coming apart.

I think we should each go to the General Forum to post a positive review of Brian in the "POSITIVE experiences with cycling-related businesses" thread just in case.

Actually, the joint is already in a state of compressive hoop stress due to spoke tension, which holds it together and prevents it from separating. The only thing the steel dowels do is connect the rim sections to resist transverse shear forces which occur when the joint comes in contact with the road. The tires contribute absolutely nothing to rim strength.

Anyone who wants to know what a positive experience it can be to deal with me should just go to brianforums.net. That's proof of my popularity right there.

Of course your LBS is going to say not to ride on it because if they say its OK and you crash it's on them. And they want you to buy new wheels from them.

If it gets big enough the wheel can become untrueable. But that's pretty much only if it cracks along the spoke hole.