You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I bought a set of Fulcrum Racing 3s at Christmas for my summer road bike, and consequently have only been out on them three times. The last time I rode them, I noticed a 'pulsing' noise as I was braking, and when I came home, discovered that there was a small, but visible, bump on the braking surface of the rim.
I emailed CRC to make a warranty claim, but now that I have actually taken the wheel off to prepare for sending, can see that this is definitely NOT a manufacturer's fault, but rather something that I must have done myself. I don't recall any accidents when out, but I have obviously hit a pothole or something.
In any case, there is a 'wow' in the rim that does not in any way affect its turning. In other words, it's still true.
What I am wondering, then, is if:
a) the rim can be fixed. Remember: the bend is in the aluminium surface itself.
and
b) it is worth me worrying about either way. It does not seem to have affected the performance of the bike at all, so should I just accept the imperfection and keep riding it?
At this stage, I am going to email CRC back, and say that I won't be returning the wheel, as it is definitely my fault.
Are you saying that the braking surface has been dented,? But out wards?
I have bent back dented rim gently. You are unlikely to have a catastrophic failure, more IF a problem occurs it will be a crack starting to appear so just keep a eye out.
If the pulsing is annoying you can probably* fix it yourself with just a large adjustable spanner. Remove the tyre, then carefully bend the bump back into line with the rest of the rim, using small movements and leverage from the spanner. Take your time, don't go nuts, and work it back into shape - it'll probably* last for ages. I've done this to quite a few rims over the years, both rim brake and disc ones, and have had no problems. It's one reason I generally prefer aluminium rims to carbon.
* This technique is definitely moving into bodge territory, rather than proper repair. A proper repair in this case is replacing the rim. You may be that one unlucky person who does this and cracks their rim or something; don't shout at me if it doesn't work... 😉
Yes - this doesn't sound like a huge issue.
Had a similar issue with my mountain bike on a vacation trip. Fixed it on the trail ... and kept/used the wheel for two more years. Deformation was very small so. Rim didn't crack - finally replaced the rim only to get a wider rim to run 2.4 inch rubber.
I have successfully bent back a decent sized ding in a rim before - years of riding since. got to be worth a go.
I'm pretty sure I had to take an adjustable spanner to my rim after nearly every ride back in the nineties! Just go steady and it'll be fine.
DIY-yes, you can probably make it better, cone spanner/stiff straight edge and mole grips or vice etc to bring it back to line is normally "easy" if its minor. If it has deformed the whole rim and not just the bead hook/brake track it can be more problamatic.
Shop- not a chance of taking on the liability of fatigued aluminium with 100psi pushing outward plus rider weight and dynamic load.
Personally if was mine and its goosed anyway I would have a bash at making it better but would also suck it up if it breaks next time you hit a pothole on the same point etc, your rim, your risk.
If the spokes are slack at the same point I would chuck the rim (unless you have a dent puller, again, can be fine/can of worms etc)
What's a 'wow' in the rim?
I did this tonight. I used a Park BB tool flat against the rim (it’s metal, straight and strong), then a Knipex pliers wrench covering both the BB tool and the rim in order to bend the rim towards the BB tool. It prevents bending it too far because you’re simply using the pliers wrench like a vice to push things together.
I have fixed dinged rims with pliers before, it's fine if you're careful!! 🙂
Depends how dinged / can you post up a picturr?
I recently dinged a brand new rim hitting a pothole I didn’t see in time but had to have a new rim. I didn’t just ding it slightly though - it had bulged the profile of the rim slightly. Didn’t cause a braking problem as I have discs but it was pulsing a bit and probably not holding the tyre on as securely. I didn’t get a puncture though bizarrely.