Why you need to inspect carbon. ( Carbon failure)

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kode54
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by kode54

looks like delamination with some stress fractures. it that hole caused by rocks/debris hitting and getting stuck up there?

good thing you checked. count your lucky stars.
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nicrump
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by nicrump

2 things

to me the pic looks like the underside of just about every carbon fork that gets ridden a lot.

the amount of material around that area on an Alpha Q in that area is very thick. 10mm or more. Are you saying the hole goes through the wall?

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by nicrump

Juanmoretime wrote:Nick, that is correct. I cac see the front brake bolt thru one of the holes. I've never had a rock wedge in it either.


scary...

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coloclimber
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by coloclimber

I am glad the bike is okay (and you as well). An ounce of prevention...
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WMW
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by WMW

I've never heard of a fork breaking in that spot. I'd patch it up with a couple layers of cloth and resin and call it good.
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progetto
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by progetto

( I'd patch it up with a couple layers of cloth and resin and call it good. )

Then put that sucker on ebay, no one will ever know. :oops:

hasbeen
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by hasbeen

I could see that sort of thing happening if you're running 25c tires (or bigger). I had an older 3t fork that just couldnt take a 25 without the sand and grit rubbing the fork right at that same spot. You can see plenty of scratches leading to that center area which would imply the same type of damage. Just a thought.
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WMW
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by WMW

progetto wrote:( I'd patch it up with a couple layers of cloth and resin and call it good. )

Then put that sucker on ebay, no one will ever know. :oops:


No, but I'd happily ride it.

Seriously, has anyone heard of a fork breaking in that location? Looks like erosion rather than a structural crack.

First, I'd try to pull the blades apart... and if that doesn't produce any strange sounds then patch it up. That's how they'd fix it if you sent it somewhere anyway.
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jmilliron
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by jmilliron

Juanmoretime wrote:Nick, that is correct. I cac see the front brake bolt thru one of the holes. I've never had a rock wedge in it either.


The photo doesn't do it justice then. Just looks delaminated. Cosmetic.
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em3
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by em3

Juanmoretime wrote:I've never had a rock wedge in it either.


...an actual hole doesn't just happen from carbon delamination. Even if a rock never got wedged in there u could have hit a rock that got shot onto the underside or a nail or other sharp object. Carbon doesn't just disintegrate and fade away leaving a hole that appears like a puncture wound. EM3
______________

progetto
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by progetto

Fault in manufacturing along with poor QC would be a pretty safe bet.

rebizap
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by rebizap

Seven years seem pretty good to me for a non-coated carbon fork.
Both UV radiation and moisture have adverse effects on the mechanical properties of the polymeric epoxy matrix, while the carbon fibers are not affected significantly by either environment. The polymer matrix in a fiber-reinforced composite serves to transfer the loads to the reinforcing fibers and provide shear strength. Its not the non-coated carbon but the non-coated epoxy that leads to reduced damage tolerance and lack of long-term durability. But really seven years is good, consider the flat a blessing.

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Powerful Pete
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by Powerful Pete

1. I would not ride it. Life is really too short for that.

2. No comment on how it may have happened. No idea.

3. Good to see you are safe and that it was caught in time, Juan.

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