Carbon crack inside frame

[turbo]

I just received a used OZ frame from one of the group...is in very good shape with one flaw - the carbon piece inside the frame athe headset is cracked/loose - can be moved from side to side with mu finger.  How much of concern is this ?  Looks like I can easily rebond with epoxy, but how structural is this piece?  Any help much appreciated.  Also require a shock spring for a rider that weighs 155 lbs plus 20 lbs of gear!   Thanks Chris

[Carbon_Angus]

i can move the spline in that area, too. but it wasn't cracked or loose. it felt atached and solid, just could bend it there from side to side, back and forth and could make it "pop"

is that what you mean?

should be okay, if it you can see or feel something different then i'd call k2 and ask them

oh you asked if it was a structural piece....most definately, it is the heart of the frame

for an nr2 for your weight i'd try a 500-550# spring

[smiley=beer.gif]

[Oz-SUB]

Besides my 5500c, I have a brand new (never been built up) Oz-M, and I've just check the spine through the headset top hole for you.  Like OP I can put my finger in and make it move from side to side with a light pop sound.

It feels to be very thin, ans is unlikely to provide much strength, I think it is more likely to be used as a guide for bonding the two carbon fibre ˝ shells together.  If you can not see any external damage in the headset area I wouldn't be bothered about it.  Likely as not, the spine had a crack in it before bonding took place.

[Carbon_Angus]

here's a link to a .pdf file that shows the "innards" of the front carbon triange

ftp://http://idriders.com/proflex/files/carbon_tech_sheet.pdf

note to Oz-Sub.....OP is "Homer", I am a "Cow"   [smiley=laughing.gif]

[smiley=beer.gif]

[Oz-SUB]

Carbon, Oops! Sorry for grtting you mixed up with OP.

It was a senior moment, after all I've just turned ˝ a century!

My son Tim is 12 (a big tall 12) and is now coming out with me on the Malverns.  I'm building up the Oz-M for me and handing down my 5500c when he has grown a couple more inches.  Even after only three or four rides it's great to see the improvement in confidence, another year and he'll be leaving me for dust.

[Carbon_Angus]

Carbon, Oops! Sorry for grtting you mixed up with OP.

It was a senior moment, after all I've just turned ˝ a century!

My son Tim is 12 (a big tall 12) and is now coming out with me on the Malverns.  I'm building up the Oz-M for me and handing down my 5500c when he has grown a couple more inches.  Even after only three or four rides it's great to see the improvement in confidence, another year and he'll be leaving me for dust.

me thinks it was kinda funny. we could all be brothers,our ages are close 'cept i'd be the baby! i have a 10 y/o who is hockey/baseball crazy. he will ride someday though.

[Simon]

Can't find the carbon piece inside the frame at the headset or any loose carbon on my 4500, took out forks (for an unrelated reason) and had alook can only see the metal insert, would I have to remove headset races to see the carbon spine in that area?Simon. [smiley=blankstare.gif]

[Scott]

Recently put on a new fork and saw the flexy sandwich of alloy/carbon sheet in my Oz-Simon I think you've seen all there is in your bikes innards too.  PS-Oz-SUB, I like that "senior moment" and will put it into my list of excuses I now qualify for at 44 in a young mans sport...