View Full Version : Columbus Carbon forks
thrilhou
02-20-2018, 04:44 PM
Hi!
I posted this in Bike Forums, but haven't had any response. Figured I would try here...
I recently purchased a 1" Columbus Minimal and found the steerer to have a small chip near the crown. The vendor and Columbus offered to replace it for me. The replacement I received is even worse than the first one which makes me feel pretty stupid for even bothering. My main concern is that it has these weird scrape marks up both sides of the steerer (see pictures).
I have no previous experience with these forks, but I worked as a professional mechanic for 7 years, and have installed many carbon forks from different manufacturers but haven't seen something like this before on a new fork. I sent an email to Columbus asking them why it looks this way.
Does any one who rides the Minimal or any other recently produced Columbus fork have a steerer that looks like this? Do you have any pictures? If your fork looks this way, have you had issues? The scrapes have enough depth to catch the fingernail. This concerns me.
Any feedback appreciated.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4765/39465524565_020031aef4_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/238r8uH)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4661/39465546745_b35a0a56d6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/238rf68)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4611/39465531025_b7ea5e109a_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/238raq6)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4621/39465537465_6634525253_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/238rck8)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4697/39465542425_182e123728_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/238rdND)
ultraman6970
02-20-2018, 04:58 PM
You have insertion marks in there IMO, probably from a crown race. About the dark ring around the steering column no clue.
thrilhou
02-20-2018, 05:02 PM
You have insertion marks in there IMO, probably from a crown race. About the dark ring around the steering column no clue.
Thanks for your input!
I'm not sure about that, though... If you zoom in on the first or third image, you will see that the marks continue under the top layer of resin as it approaches the crown... it's really weird!
Also, there are no installation marks on the seat itself.
Kontact
02-20-2018, 05:08 PM
Those aren't scrape marks. You're looking at the end of the cloth as it wraps around the tube. It is slightly uneven because the fibers parallel to the cut are slightly frayed from being cut and then pressure molded. There is no way to not have such a line with that sort of construction.
false_Aest
02-20-2018, 05:09 PM
Dunno who you bought it through but you could reach out to Chris @ Henry James to see what his input is. HJ sells Columbus forks.
Caballero
02-20-2018, 06:56 PM
My 2 look like that too. And the others I've seen were also the same.
I guess it's just to do with production method ?.
glepore
02-20-2018, 07:19 PM
Yeah, worry too much. Normal stuff with carbon.
thrilhou
02-20-2018, 07:21 PM
My 2 look like that too. And the others I've seen were also the same.
I guess it's just to do with production method ?.
Thanks for confirming that others like this exist. I suppose you haven't had any issue with it? Did the marks on yours feel like they had a little depth, like a scratch, or was it just visual under the resin?
Caballero
02-20-2018, 07:29 PM
Thanks for confirming that others like this exist. I suppose you haven't had any issue with it? Did the marks on yours feel like they had a little depth, like a scratch, or was it just visual under the resin?
No, no problems with them. Also my pinarello dogma 2s onda fork also has the same kind of thing.
thrilhou
02-20-2018, 08:03 PM
No, no problems with them. Also my pinarello dogma 2s onda fork also has the same kind of thing.
Cool, thanks for the input.
While we're here, what stem and expander did you use on your Minimal? I have the Columbus expander. Instructions, like most, explicitly state that the bolts must be within the limits of the expander. But the expander is only 30mm long. With their required 2mm of steerer above the stem, the WCS 4-axis I'd like to use puts the lower bolt underneith the expander.
I don't know of any stem with a low enough stack bolts close together enough that they would fulfill that requirement. Even a Thompson is too big...
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4629/26520449348_d8ae33dc10.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/GpweCG)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4751/25519337127_16a060d3e4.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ET4gRa)
R3awak3n
02-20-2018, 08:07 PM
Just get one of these
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/product/expander-45/
its excellent and long.
thrilhou
02-20-2018, 08:48 PM
Just get one of these
http://www.dedaelementi.com/en/product/expander-45/
its excellent and long.
I've seen these, but unfortunately the fork has got a 1" steerer.
Kontact
02-20-2018, 08:56 PM
As long as the bottom of the plug is near enough to the lower bolt, I don't see a problem. Columbus knows what their directions say and how tall stems are - give them credit.
sales guy
02-20-2018, 09:05 PM
Here are pictures of a new Columbus Minimal tapered disc fork. It's on one of our bikes. It has the same kind of markings yours has. We've never had an issue with them.
thrilhou
02-20-2018, 09:30 PM
As long as the bottom of the plug is near enough to the lower bolt, I don't see a problem. Columbus knows what their directions say and how tall stems are - give them credit.
Probably, but the problem with just giving them credit is it leaves open the question of why they would be that specific in the first place. If being close to bottom is close enough, why not express it that way? In that case, a moments more effort would be the difference between confusion and understanding. Besides, not all stems are the same size, and maybe they had specific a dimension in mind. So, assuming that the directions are to be followed to the letter IS giving them credit. Anyway, I did email Columbus asking, and can post their recommendation if they have one.
Please understand I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying it's reasonable to ask when directions aren't clear.
Thanks for all of your input between here and the other post, I honestly do appreciate it.
sales guy
02-20-2018, 09:43 PM
I hate the small expander plugs. I only use 50mm or longer. If you can't find a longer 1" one, I have one for a Colnago that should work. It's 50mm if I'm not mistaken.
thrilhou
02-20-2018, 11:34 PM
I hate the small expander plugs. I only use 50mm or longer. If you can't find a longer 1" one, I have one for a Colnago that should work. It's 50mm if I'm not mistaken.
That'd be awesome. I've been looking but can't seem to find a longer one. I'll PM you.
thrilhou
03-03-2018, 12:57 PM
Just an update for anyone interested or future visitors. I was able to correspond with the folks at Columbus.
They have assured me that the marks on the steerer are the result of removing carbon layers that remain "free" after molding. (I suppose this means filing or cutting carbon strands or prepreg that is sticking out of the resin after the molding, which makes sense since the marks are at the seam where the layers fold over).
They also assured me that, as long as one is using the Columbus expander, even if the lower bolt drops below the expander length, there should be no problem as long as everything is otherwise installed properly. Apparently, the specificity of the instructions relates more to the use of non-Columbus expanders.
In short, if you get a Columbus fork with marks similar to what you see above, it should be fine. If you are using the Columbus expander, it can be used with any stem stack height.
Thanks to the other members for input and also those confirming that they had forks with similar markings.
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