Freak puncture damage - Roval CL50

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BianchiDave
Posts: 182
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:46 am

by BianchiDave

Hi Guys

Suffered a puncture yesterday whereby a nail (about 1.5 to 2 inches in length) not only penetrated my rear tyre but went through into the rim bed of the carbon wheel - a Roval CL50 (rim brake). To say I'm raging is an understatement!
At this stage I'm just trying to find out if the damage is terminal, or if it can be repaired. I've emailed Roval for their take (I imagine they will say not to ride it for obvious reasons) and a local carbon specialist who I've used before, to see if it can be safely repaired.

Image

I'm also thinking I could just use CF epoxy filler and continue riding it. Trouble is the 'exit' wound cannot be seen and the CF could be spintered on the inside, weakening the wheel.

If the damage is terminal, I may be able to claim on my cycle insurance but these rims are no longer made, which complicates things... Annoying when the wheels are only 18 months old with limited mileage!

Anyone have experience of such damage and if so, what was the outcome?

Cheers

Maddie
Posts: 1532
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:44 am

by Maddie

This can be repaired but not just with some epoxy filler. A carbon repair specialist needs to do an ultrasound scan first and then repair accordingly.

by Weenie


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easyv
Posts: 215
Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:11 pm
Location: USA, Bay Area, CA

by easyv

Specialized will also replace them under their damage replacement program. Went over a series of potholes that cracked BOTH of my CLX50s front and rear at the end of September. Specialized offered to rebuild the wheels with new CLX50 rims for $300 or offered me the new Rapide CLXs at a discount (I can't remember the exact number... Maybe it was 30% off)? Took them ~2 mo. to rebuild them. Went that route because at the time of the damage, factory Rapide CLXs weren't going to be available till end of the 2021 and I wasn't willing to wait 3 mo. for wheels...

BianchiDave
Posts: 182
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:46 am

by BianchiDave

I'm in the UK so afaik Specialized will not replace FOC under lifetime warranty (or whatever they do in the US).
Even if they offered a discount, there is no stock of rear rim brake wheels.

The repair specialist I've used in the past won't touch them, and says an epoxy won't work as it has no tensile strength.
So looks like insurance is my best hope.

NiFTY
Posts: 1493
Joined: Sat May 26, 2012 11:26 pm

by NiFTY

That is crazy damage. I think you could just try riding them and check regularly as long as there is no obvious cracking splintering of the surrounding tyre bed. That whole is much smaller than any spoke or valve hole that would be drilled appreciating that it was caused by a nail rather than a drillbit.
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CR987
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2020 10:37 am

by CR987

Personally, I would use some epoxy to fill the hole and job dome

BianchiDave
Posts: 182
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:46 am

by BianchiDave

I misunderstood my carbon repair guy - he CAN fix it. Says epoxy is really a sticking plaster as it won't hold long term. Cost of proper (guaranteed) repair would be around £60 max so I'm happy enough with that. I was thinking about just risking it, as they're on my '2nd' bike, but they are still very nice wheels, so I want them repaired properly.

jfranci3
Posts: 1572
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:21 pm

by jfranci3

I wouldn't sweat a fix there. You'd need to put a few long fibers over the hole after you smooth out the hole edges. You can probably also just run tape over that hole any never have an issue. The biggest worry is a crack propogating, so you might need to drill out the existing hole a bit.

Maddie
Posts: 1532
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:44 am

by Maddie

jfranci3 wrote:
Wed Nov 24, 2021 5:27 pm
The biggest worry is a crack propogating, so you might need to drill out the existing hole a bit.
And that's exactly the thing with laminates. How much? You won't know just by looking at the surface. Chances are high that you are lucky and there's no cracks at all. But what if you are not? That's why I mentioned an ultrasound scan and then a repair. If OP gets a repaired wheel for 60 bucks with warranty, then I would certainly go that route.

BianchiDave
Posts: 182
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:46 am

by BianchiDave

Update - Roval replied and in the circumstances are going to extend their US policy and replace the rim for me. Great service! Happy days :D

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by MrCurrieinahurry

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Lelandjt
Posts: 833
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 7:10 am

by Lelandjt

NiFTY wrote:
Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:33 pm
That is crazy damage. I think you could just try riding them and check regularly as long as there is no obvious cracking splintering of the surrounding tyre bed. That whole is much smaller than any spoke or valve hole that would be drilled appreciating that it was caused by a nail rather than a drillbit.
This is the correct take. Replace the rim tape and ride. Carbon is so much stronger than people think.

easyv
Posts: 215
Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:11 pm
Location: USA, Bay Area, CA

by easyv

BianchiDave wrote:
Mon Nov 29, 2021 7:12 pm
Update - Roval replied and in the circumstances are going to extend their US policy and replace the rim for me. Great service! Happy days :D
That's awesome news! One of those times when going with a product from a big manufacturer seems to have paid off (literally!).

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