Is my carbon fork steerer tube damaged by overtightened stem bolts
As per the title: I've had my bike serviced by a bike shop, who helpfully tightened up the stem cap and pinch bolts on my headset. I rode it approx 15k and I noticed some play in the headset was reintroduced. I went through the usual steps of tightening it again (loosening off the pinch bolts, then checking wheel/bar alignment, then tightening the cap bolt, then re-tightening the pinch bolts), however I noticed the ridiculous amount of tightening on the punch bolts. So much so, I could barely remove the bolts and nearly rounded them off.
I'm concerned that there's some damage to the steerer tube, as the pinch bolts were only rated to 5nm and they were clearly much tighter than that, and the play in the headset had returned in a short distance. Attached are some photos of the tube, where I can't see any obvious cracks, but you can see where the stem has been tightly mounted. (The top section that is dark, with an oval imprint, is where the stem has been mounted very tightly).
Without returning to the shop that bungled the job, is there a way to tell if this is safe to ride?
headset stem steerer bolt
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
add a comment |
As per the title: I've had my bike serviced by a bike shop, who helpfully tightened up the stem cap and pinch bolts on my headset. I rode it approx 15k and I noticed some play in the headset was reintroduced. I went through the usual steps of tightening it again (loosening off the pinch bolts, then checking wheel/bar alignment, then tightening the cap bolt, then re-tightening the pinch bolts), however I noticed the ridiculous amount of tightening on the punch bolts. So much so, I could barely remove the bolts and nearly rounded them off.
I'm concerned that there's some damage to the steerer tube, as the pinch bolts were only rated to 5nm and they were clearly much tighter than that, and the play in the headset had returned in a short distance. Attached are some photos of the tube, where I can't see any obvious cracks, but you can see where the stem has been tightly mounted. (The top section that is dark, with an oval imprint, is where the stem has been mounted very tightly).
Without returning to the shop that bungled the job, is there a way to tell if this is safe to ride?
headset stem steerer bolt
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
add a comment |
As per the title: I've had my bike serviced by a bike shop, who helpfully tightened up the stem cap and pinch bolts on my headset. I rode it approx 15k and I noticed some play in the headset was reintroduced. I went through the usual steps of tightening it again (loosening off the pinch bolts, then checking wheel/bar alignment, then tightening the cap bolt, then re-tightening the pinch bolts), however I noticed the ridiculous amount of tightening on the punch bolts. So much so, I could barely remove the bolts and nearly rounded them off.
I'm concerned that there's some damage to the steerer tube, as the pinch bolts were only rated to 5nm and they were clearly much tighter than that, and the play in the headset had returned in a short distance. Attached are some photos of the tube, where I can't see any obvious cracks, but you can see where the stem has been tightly mounted. (The top section that is dark, with an oval imprint, is where the stem has been mounted very tightly).
Without returning to the shop that bungled the job, is there a way to tell if this is safe to ride?
headset stem steerer bolt
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
As per the title: I've had my bike serviced by a bike shop, who helpfully tightened up the stem cap and pinch bolts on my headset. I rode it approx 15k and I noticed some play in the headset was reintroduced. I went through the usual steps of tightening it again (loosening off the pinch bolts, then checking wheel/bar alignment, then tightening the cap bolt, then re-tightening the pinch bolts), however I noticed the ridiculous amount of tightening on the punch bolts. So much so, I could barely remove the bolts and nearly rounded them off.
I'm concerned that there's some damage to the steerer tube, as the pinch bolts were only rated to 5nm and they were clearly much tighter than that, and the play in the headset had returned in a short distance. Attached are some photos of the tube, where I can't see any obvious cracks, but you can see where the stem has been tightly mounted. (The top section that is dark, with an oval imprint, is where the stem has been mounted very tightly).
Without returning to the shop that bungled the job, is there a way to tell if this is safe to ride?
headset stem steerer bolt
headset stem steerer bolt
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
edited 2 hours ago
tomandco
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
asked 2 hours ago
tomandcotomandco
347
347
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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In practical terms, it's impossible to tell for sure in a case like this. It's probably fine, but there's no way of knowing absolutely via visual inspection.
The surface indentations from the stem windows do occur naturally even with consistently correct torque on the fasteners. They're pretty normal to see.
It would be a good idea to get it as clean as possible so it can inspected closely for cracks or delamination. If you find any of that, it's toast.
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
In practical terms, it's impossible to tell for sure in a case like this. It's probably fine, but there's no way of knowing absolutely via visual inspection.
The surface indentations from the stem windows do occur naturally even with consistently correct torque on the fasteners. They're pretty normal to see.
It would be a good idea to get it as clean as possible so it can inspected closely for cracks or delamination. If you find any of that, it's toast.
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
add a comment |
In practical terms, it's impossible to tell for sure in a case like this. It's probably fine, but there's no way of knowing absolutely via visual inspection.
The surface indentations from the stem windows do occur naturally even with consistently correct torque on the fasteners. They're pretty normal to see.
It would be a good idea to get it as clean as possible so it can inspected closely for cracks or delamination. If you find any of that, it's toast.
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
add a comment |
In practical terms, it's impossible to tell for sure in a case like this. It's probably fine, but there's no way of knowing absolutely via visual inspection.
The surface indentations from the stem windows do occur naturally even with consistently correct torque on the fasteners. They're pretty normal to see.
It would be a good idea to get it as clean as possible so it can inspected closely for cracks or delamination. If you find any of that, it's toast.
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
In practical terms, it's impossible to tell for sure in a case like this. It's probably fine, but there's no way of knowing absolutely via visual inspection.
The surface indentations from the stem windows do occur naturally even with consistently correct torque on the fasteners. They're pretty normal to see.
It would be a good idea to get it as clean as possible so it can inspected closely for cracks or delamination. If you find any of that, it's toast.
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
answered 1 hour ago
Nathan KnutsonNathan Knutson
23.5k12060
23.5k12060
add a comment |
add a comment |
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