How tight front quick release on a carbon fork

markiegrim

Given what I have read about the fragile nature of carbon (i.e. use a torque wrench to avoid cracking etc), should I be worried about over-tightening the front quick release against the drop-outs? My LBS has tightened significantly IMO... but guess they know what doing

monkimark

The drop outs will be metal no?

Even if they're carbon, presumably they're solid and you're not going to crush solid carbon composite

nochekmate

Far too many 'scare-stories' with carbon frames & components IME

diamonddog

Mine are tightened enough so that the lever is just holding level by the tension then I lock it. Have a look on youtube loads on there about it.

sungod

it needs to be tight enough to stop the wheel shifting in the dropouts - easy to detect, the wheel will no longer be centred between the brake pads

fwiw i've got a full carbon fork, the pressure on the qr lever is quite firm, i'm not sure a qr could actually apply enough force to damage the cf dropouts

experiment with the adjustment nut, i find there's a point at which the closing force on the lever increases significantly, that's too tight, back off the nut 1/8 - 1/4 of a turn

cougie

It has to be solid. The drop outs aren't carbon so don't worry.

You want it to be a firm effort to undo it.

smidsy

cougie wrote:

It has to be solid. The drop outs aren't carbon so don't worry.

How do you know? Mine are carbon, so it is not a given.

nicklouse

the same as if the fork was Alloy or steel or unobtainium. It does not matter.

cornerblock

Just tight enough so that when you close it there's a slight imprint on the palm of your hand is how I gauge it.

Mikey23

if your palm is bleeding and your bike is in two bits then youve probably overdone it ...

keef66

I do up my QRs the same on the alu bike and the carbon one. Just starting to bite when the lever is in line with the axle; progressively tightening through the next 90 degrees.

Pituophis

Mikey23 wrote:

if your palm is bleeding and your bike is in two bits then youve probably overdone it ...

Or you've left it too loose and the wheel has popped out going over a pot hole

markiegrim

Thanks all. Guess I was over worrying, but I may loosen a bit

It's a carbon fork. So I assume carbon drop outs

chuckla

markiegrim wrote:

Thanks all. Guess I was over worrying, but I may loosen a bit

It's a carbon fork. So I assume carbon drop outs

My forks are carbon, and have alu dropouts! Don't assume they are carbon, take a look!

keef66

Yep, I have an all carbon fork with carbon dropouts on the Scott CR1-SL, and a carbon / alu fork with alu dropouts on the racelight Tk.

(My feeling is that the all carbon arrangement is likely stronger / better long term since there's no alloy to carbon bonding involved)

diamonddog

markiegrim wrote:

Thanks all. Guess I was over worrying, but I may loosen a bit

It's a carbon fork. So I assume carbon drop outs

IME sometimes if you over tighten them they creak a bit.

slowbike

keef66 wrote:

(My feeling is that the all carbon arrangement is likely stronger / better long term since there's no alloy to carbon bonding involved)

I've seen photos of chewed up carbon dropouts over in Workshop ...

keef66

Slowbike wrote:

keef66 wrote:

(My feeling is that the all carbon arrangement is likely stronger / better long term since there's no alloy to carbon bonding involved)

I've seen photos of chewed up carbon dropouts over in Workshop ...

Me too, so I went home and checked mine which still appear showroom fresh. In that thread opinion seemed to be that either the QR had been insufficiently tightened or the dropouts were made of cheese.

Daz555

nochekmate wrote:

Far too many 'scare-stories' with carbon frames & components IME

Yes there are far too many scare stories. Completely unjustified they are too.