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Author Topic: Carbon Fiber Cantilever Swingarm (4K,5K etc.), possible to remove dropouts?  (Read 4761 times)

serviceguy

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I have now accumulated enough spares to be willing and risk some...I have worked with graphite shaft golf clubs both repairing the shafts (restoring to original length shafts that had been shortened, removed club head etc.) so I was wondering if it is possible to remove the aluminum dropouts from the carbon fiber swing arm ad replacing them with custom made ones including disc brake tabs, extended one to fit 27.5" or even 29" wheels etc. Would the standard technique of heating the metal part and pull it out work ? Usually when working on a golf cub you remove the shaft to replace it so the scenario is not exactly the same... Thanks in advance for any input!.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1S1Pf8B_9o
'97 PF 957
'97 PF 857
'98 K2 1K
2 x '98 K2 5K
2 x '98 K2 4K
'02 K2 Bmp Mnk
'14 Salsa El Mariachi SS
'15 Salsa El Mariachi
'18 Salsa Mukluk Carbon
'19 Knolly Fugitive LT

Colin

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Well, the dropouts do come loose on some bikes after a good few years and are generally araldited (epoxy) back in again, so it's reasonable to assume that you can intentionally remove them!
You've got some good ideas there for reasons to do it, so I await your findings!

Col.
2001 OzM
2000 OzX
1999 x500
1999 900 Frame
1998 4000se
1998 4000
1997 957 Frame
1997 857 Frames
1997 XP-X (856)
1995/6 x55/x56 Frame
1992 962 Frame
1991 Marin Pine Mountain with a Flex Stem

kiwi

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hot air gun would be my first choice i think!
kiwi proflex rider

fyrstormer

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Hot air gun might work, but it might also melt or deform the resin in the carbon-fiber itself. I'd try sticking the dropout in a pot of boiling water first, so you know the heat will be distributed evenly and it won't get above 212°F. That should be enough to soften the epoxy without damaging anything else.