Carbon Seat post failure
Discussion
HI all,
The carbon seat post on my Felt F75 failed this morning. Fortunately as I was coasting up to some red lights. The saddle suddenly felt loose. I decided to stop and check and the post has a huge crack running round approx. 80% the circumference of the post .
I've only ever used a torque wrench on this, i've NEVER tightened it up without one.
The crack around the circumference is approx. 1inch/25mm above where the post goes into the seat tube. Having taken it out, there is a crack running top to bottom(so to speak) beginning at the crack ive mentioned and running down the tube quite a way below where the clamp was.
Any ideas? Dodgy torque wrench?, just unlucky? Although thank god it went where it did, couple hundred meters more and id have been tearing down a hill where it might not have cracked so gently.
I love my F75 but do Felt have any rep for shoddiness?
I know its difficult to assess without pics, ill try to upload some. I've had the bike almost 4 years now (3yrs 11months) so I can't see a replacement being forthcoming although I'll be mailing the dealer and Felt on Monday.
These things happen of course , in the meantime I think an aluminium replacement is in order! TBH im just glad it failed in the way it did, when it did, could have been a lot worse.
The carbon seat post on my Felt F75 failed this morning. Fortunately as I was coasting up to some red lights. The saddle suddenly felt loose. I decided to stop and check and the post has a huge crack running round approx. 80% the circumference of the post .
I've only ever used a torque wrench on this, i've NEVER tightened it up without one.
The crack around the circumference is approx. 1inch/25mm above where the post goes into the seat tube. Having taken it out, there is a crack running top to bottom(so to speak) beginning at the crack ive mentioned and running down the tube quite a way below where the clamp was.
Any ideas? Dodgy torque wrench?, just unlucky? Although thank god it went where it did, couple hundred meters more and id have been tearing down a hill where it might not have cracked so gently.
I love my F75 but do Felt have any rep for shoddiness?
I know its difficult to assess without pics, ill try to upload some. I've had the bike almost 4 years now (3yrs 11months) so I can't see a replacement being forthcoming although I'll be mailing the dealer and Felt on Monday.
These things happen of course , in the meantime I think an aluminium replacement is in order! TBH im just glad it failed in the way it did, when it did, could have been a lot worse.
Thanks for the reply. Deda was gong to be my choice funnily enough.
Just surprised that a post that hasn't been abused breaks so soon, ive never had a post break on a road bike ever, so was a little surprised to say the least. slightly less than 4 years old, approx. 15k kms. hardly longevity is it !
Best not over think it I suppose
Just surprised that a post that hasn't been abused breaks so soon, ive never had a post break on a road bike ever, so was a little surprised to say the least. slightly less than 4 years old, approx. 15k kms. hardly longevity is it !
Best not over think it I suppose
It gets a lot of stress does the seatpost
Sure, it shouldn't break, but things do. As they get older, that can get more likely
And whilst, with the right equipment and time, you might demonstrate the presence of a manufacturing defect that has led to the breakage, you might not.
Moreover, even if you did, there would be further time and energies to expend to get the supplier / manufacturer to agree and do something about it.
Even more moreover, that something might, after allowances made for 4 years of use, be the equivalent of a small red balloon.
Life is too short!
Enjoy the new one
Sure, it shouldn't break, but things do. As they get older, that can get more likely
And whilst, with the right equipment and time, you might demonstrate the presence of a manufacturing defect that has led to the breakage, you might not.
Moreover, even if you did, there would be further time and energies to expend to get the supplier / manufacturer to agree and do something about it.
Even more moreover, that something might, after allowances made for 4 years of use, be the equivalent of a small red balloon.
Life is too short!
Enjoy the new one
Unless you are a Cat 1 racer why not replace it with an alloy one and then forget all about it! carbon fibre is a great material but the main way it saves weight is by allowing the designer to build strength in the direction(s) required, this is fine unless you happen to inadvertently load it in the wrong direction then you stand the chance of starting a catastrophic failure (remember Rolls Royce nearly going bust because of RB211 carbon fibre turbine blades exploding when hit by a chicken!)
Your failure may well have been set in motion months ago by a seemingly innocent incident.
Your failure may well have been set in motion months ago by a seemingly innocent incident.
Mr Ted said:
Unless you are a Cat 1 racer why not replace it with an alloy one and then forget all about it! carbon fibre is a great material but the main way it saves weight is by allowing the designer to build strength in the direction(s) required, this is fine unless you happen to inadvertently load it in the wrong direction then you stand the chance of starting a catastrophic failure (remember Rolls Royce nearly going bust because of RB211 carbon fibre turbine blades exploding when hit by a chicken!)
Your failure may well have been set in motion months ago by a seemingly innocent incident.
Be careful with alu in a carbon frame.... likes to get stuck/welded in.Your failure may well have been set in motion months ago by a seemingly innocent incident.
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