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Carbon wheel loose threads...like a t shirt unravelling

paddy_pumpkinpaddy_pumpkin Posts: 33
edited October 2019 in Workshop
I have some DT Swiss ERC1400. My first carbon wheels they are 2 months and 4000km old.

I am regularly finding very thin loose threads of carbon. I can cut them no problem. If I pull them it is like pulling a loose thread on a shirt...could pull for ever I think. They all seem to have the source of the loose thread beneath the tyre and on the exposed surface all seems fine.

Is this normal? Or are the wheels faulty?

Posts

  • sandyballssandyballs Posts: 577
    So carbon unraveling is not a good thing and with limited knowledge I would say is near impossible if the wheels are made correctly. Are you sure it’s not the tyre threads which is a lot more common?

    Additionally you say 2 months and 4000km, that’s a daily average of 66km, chapeau if that’s correct!
  • pilot_petepilot_pete Posts: 2,100
    The tyres aren’t Conti GP4000Sii by any chance are they?

    PP
  • AlejandrosdogAlejandrosdog Posts: 1,975
    Whip the tyres off and see the cause. Then youll know.
  • Wayne PlungerWayne Plunger Posts: 444
    Pilot Pete wrote:
    The tyres aren’t Conti GP4000Sii by any chance are they?

    PP

    Yes, had the same with them myself.
  • paddy_pumpkinpaddy_pumpkin Posts: 33
    So yes it was the tyres. Continental GP 5000 TL. Contacted Continental and they told me it was normal. I asked them is it normal that I have to trim it every ride? Is it normal that they are so long they are touching the derailleur?

    Their reply...send the tyres back to Germany for analysis
    My reply...send me some tyres so I can keep riding and a cheque for the postage
    Their reply.....still waiting for a reply
  • mrb123mrb123 Posts: 3,423
    Just think... every time you cut one of those threads off you are making your bike lighter!
  • photonic69photonic69 Posts: 1,244
    Don't cut the threads, use a lighter to singe them off. It kinda melts them and seals them down. I have this problem with my 4 Seasons but less so when I use a lighter.
  • WheelspinnerWheelspinner Posts: 5,426
    Not sure I’d recommend waving a lighter around near my carbon/resin rims tbh.
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  • jollygiantjollygiant Posts: 117
    Wheelspinner said:

    Not sure I’d recommend waving a lighter around near my carbon/resin rims tbh.

    Unless your lighter can get up to about 1000˚c and you can hold it there for 2 mins or more at that temperature you'll be fine!
  • photonic69photonic69 Posts: 1,244
    Wheelspinner said:

    Not sure I’d recommend waving a lighter around near my carbon/resin rims tbh.

    Just think of using the flame to singe the hairs off your arm - won't burn the skin, just the hairs.
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