Scott Solace frame - carbon fibre issue?

bianchi_dave
bianchi_dave Posts: 933
edited June 2016 in Road general
Hi everyone
Whilst doing a spot of gear tinkering, I noticed a mark/defect about the mid point on the drive side seat stay. The Solace has very thin seat stays (only about 10mm thick) and no rear brake bridge (fitted with a chainstay mounted rear brake). As such the stays are designed to flex slightly to absorb rough roads etc. It may be nothing, but it's my first all carbon frame and never seen a mark like this before. I purchased the bike in April 2015 from Pauls Cycles but this is the first time I noticed it - I'm surprised I didn't see it before as I've more or less rebuilt the bike, with the bars and seatpost being the only things which I haven't upgraded. Enough ramble, I'm hoping some of you on here with a lot more knowledge than me about CF frames can give an opinion. Here's some photos -

[img][/img]P1010853_zpsr8kgzkbz.jpg

[img][/img]P1010852_zpsilg62ykh.jpg

[img][/img]P1010849_zpsg08prrcx.jpg

It goes about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of the way around the tube. It is not scratched and the mark is under the lacquer, which is intact. There has been no impact on the frame. I'll be raising it with Pauls and Scott themselves, but what do we think? Send frame away or continue to ride it, although I don't fancy a failure on a 50mph descent......

Thoughts much appreciated! Cheers
Scott Foil RC
Scott Addict RC
Trek Emonda

Comments

  • AK_jnr
    AK_jnr Posts: 717
    My bike has lines and marks on it from where the carbon is layed up but hard to tell from your pictures if its the same. Mine is unpainted carbon though.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Impossible to say from the pictures. Take it into the bike shop and see what they say.
  • bianchi_dave
    bianchi_dave Posts: 933
    Thanks for the replies - I will try and get an opinion from a shop but my 'local' ones are 30-40 miles away unfortunately. There is a definite deformity of the tube, just looking to hear if it could be normal. It would be a fair bit of hassle to strip the frame down for sending away, then being without my best bike as summer arrives, especially if there is nothing wrong...
    Scott Foil RC
    Scott Addict RC
    Trek Emonda
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I think you'll have to make the journey. Would you really be assured by strangers on here just judging from a couple of photos? I'd have thought you'd have noticed that before now and I think it's odd that it's beneath the lacquer.
  • bianchi_dave
    bianchi_dave Posts: 933
    Yeah Cougie, its the fact its beneath the lacquer which is giving me concern. I've emailed Pauls to see what they say, but will take it to a shop in the next few days, and take it from there. Cheers
    Scott Foil RC
    Scott Addict RC
    Trek Emonda
  • joe2008
    joe2008 Posts: 1,531
    Have you tapped it with a coin, if the sound changes from a ping to a clunk where it is deformed, I'd get it looked.
  • bianchi_dave
    bianchi_dave Posts: 933
    joe2008 wrote:
    Have you tapped it with a coin, if the sound changes from a ping to a clunk where it is deformed, I'd get it looked.
    Tried it, no change in sound at all! Cheers
    Scott Foil RC
    Scott Addict RC
    Trek Emonda
  • bianchi_dave
    bianchi_dave Posts: 933
    Just a quick update - Frame eventually went back to Scott who immediately said they would replace it under warranty. They couldn't say if it was a failure in the carbon or manufacturing defect but obviously not prepared to take a risk. All credit to them, and Pauls Cycles, who turned things around quickly. And a nice FOC upgrade to a Solace 10 frame so very happy.
    Scott Foil RC
    Scott Addict RC
    Trek Emonda

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