Carbon bar advice

baz2963
baz2963 Posts: 174
edited August 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
Hi,

I have RC next carbon bars and a thomson stem, I was worried about overtightening the clamp bolts so naturally I had'nt done them up enough and after landing a jump the bars decided to spin round in my hands, luckily no damage, however since the bars were clamped a few score marks have appeared as a result of the movement.

I have heard that this type of damage can weaken the carbon, is this correct.

I got some of this http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Finish%20Line-F ... _18125.htm on the way home to see if will work

Cheers

Comments

  • Larok
    Larok Posts: 577
    I'd do them up tight enough so they don't slip and not worry about it.
  • hucking_fell
    hucking_fell Posts: 1,056
    My aluminium bars slipped in my Thomson stem because the face plate bolts worked loose. I then covered all of the thread on all four bolts with thread loc and no problem since.

    Does this happen a lot with Thomson stems?

    I've never had this happen with other stems before so I'm keeping my eye on the Thomson stem holding carbon bars on the other bike. I've not thread locked these bolts as I've never had the bars out of the stem.

    Assuming the score marks are only slight and not deep I'd make sure the bar and stem are clean, fibre grip the bars, loc tight the stem bolts and do them up tight.

    You should use a torque wrench for the bolts but really how many people have them. I don't 'cos they cost so much.

    I'm still not sure about carbon bars. When riding, try not to think of your bars exploding in a cloud of black dust :wink:
    More freerange chicken than Freeride God
    Bighit , 5 , BFe
  • mhuk
    mhuk Posts: 327
    If you overtighten them you may crush the bars and they'll be RIP.

    Screwfix sell a 1/4" 5NM torque wrench for £30 but if you're on their mailing list they sometimes send you a 10% off code, which is when I bought mine :)
  • I would use the above torque wrench and make sure you check how tight they are every few rides.
    Marin Nail Trail with a few modifications...

    http://fatmongoose.pinkbike.com/album/Marin/
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    mhuk wrote:
    If you overtighten them you may crush the bars and they'll be RIP.

    Screwfix sell a 1/4" 5NM torque wrench for £30 but if you're on their mailing list they sometimes send you a 10% off code, which is when I bought mine :)

    i didnt know that about screwfix, might go for a look see.