CARBON FRAME DAMAGE

DAZLIN6

I got my first carbon road bike just under a year ago. I flipped it over today to fit some new wheels to my horror I noticed a small hole approx 6mm in the frame under the front wheel. Is the bike still rideable. What should I do ? ? The bike has only seen light road usage always in good conditions ? Max 1000 mile total.

Thanks
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Monty Dog

Without seeing a photo it's hard to tell whether it's deliberate of due to damage or poor quality. A nice round hole centrally positioned would indicate it's deliberate, whereas something jagged isn't. If the hole is in the middle of the underside of the fork crown, then it's probably deliberate.

Smokin Joe

Are you sure you don't mean the hole from the fork crown up through the hollow steerer tube? It would be very unusual for a hole to just appear from nowhere without a considerable amount of other damage.

Just what Monty said, in fact. I really should read things properly :oops:

DAZLIN6

The hole is 2 inches up from the bottom bracket, about 5-6mm dia , on the underside of the down tube. No other signs of damage?
:shock:

nicklouse

lets have a picture. also what is the frame?

Monty Dog

A company called MDT Composites offers a composite 'patch' repair service - can't vouch for it's efficacy, cost or reliability but worth checking out in comparison to the cost of a new frame

DAZLIN6

Thanks for all your replies I am awaiting answer from the frame manufacturer (focus) I have sent them pics. Will take your advice monty and try the composite company for a repair.......? This may well put me off carbon 4 life

nicklouse

the hole should be there.

But your as i said before looks like it is covered in crap compared the the bike and frame i looked at this evening.

so continue enjoying your bike.

Edit but just been looking at your pics again and the holes on the bikes in the lbs allthough they were in the same place were cleaner looking.

cougie

If you'd been cleaning the bike from day one - surely you'd spot stuff like this ?

DAZLIN6

I only road this bike in good conditions it hardly needed cleaning and I never felt the need to flip it over whilst cleaning......flipped it for the first time to fit some new wheels....will try and get some pics up soon..

beckenham

Dazling I've also got a carbon frame from Focus. I'll have a look this weekend to see if there are any holes and let you know on Monday. I'd be interested to hear what Focus have to say about it.

wildmoustache

what the hell's going on here ... Focus holes appearing everywhere!!! :shock:

beckenham

I didn't say that there was a hole, only that I would have a look :roll:

nicklouse

Ok back from the LBS and have pictures. you will have to wair a couple of hours for them as i am still at work and dont have cable for camera.


the Hole is normal. and it is not quite round. i would say that yours looks bad due to it being half full of dirt.

looked at 2 bikes and on frame one bike was the same as yours and the other 2 were painted and the hole was neater.

as i said a couple of hours and shop fresh frame photos.

nicklouse

the two painted frames.

and now the



so get out on it is normal

aracer

Very interesting. I've got a hole like that on my brand new cf frame (not a Focus, though just possibly made in the same factory :roll: ) which I assume must be deliberate. Was thinking of plugging it with a tiny bit of wax just to stop water and dirt getting in the frame.

DAZLIN6

[<a href="http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=focushole0907ei4.jpg&quot; target="_blank"><img src="http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3484/focushole0907ei4.th.jpg&quot; border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at [url=http://www.ImageShack.us]www.ImageShack.us[/url]&quot; /></a>]

I have had it confirmed from wiggle and focus that this hole is normal and its a drainage hole, although mine is very rough not really round. So it appears its nothing to worry about. Time to go out for a ride.[/img]

nicklouse

dont know which is best?

the latest (first)or the first you sent (second)