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Just received my new road frame from China. Not had a carbon frame before so I'm a bit nervous about damaging it. Would be very grateful if someone could help me out...
1. Headset installation. Is it ok to split the crown race with a hacksaw to ease installation? Always done it on mountain bikes and it makes life much easier without ill effects. The bearings seem to seat directly into the frame - no cups to install. Any kind of glue or loctite required here?
2. Carbon paste - between alloy stem and carbon steerer I presume. Anywhere else? Seat tube/post is aero shape so probably not needed here?
3. Bolt torques - stem and seat clamp - any rules of thumb here? Or 'just tight enough so it doesn't slip'?
Thanks!
In my experience everything will squeek like a bastard unless you use loads of grease and carbon paste.
2. Carbon paste - between alloy stem and carbon steerer I presume. Anywhere else? Seat tube/post is aero shape so probably not needed here?
If you want, never used it myself. That's not somewhere I'd rush to put it. Stem face plate/bars and seatpost are the more obvious locations, aero or not.
3. Bolt torques - stem and seat clamp - any rules of thumb here? Or 'just tight enough so it doesn't slip'?
Often says something on them, 5nm is a reasonable shout - those preset torque keys are a nice way of getting that right.
njee20 - MemberOften says something on them, 5nm is a reasonable shout - those preset torque keys are a nice way of getting that right.
I thought that but pretty sure I've cracked the Vector post on my Defy using the correct tightening method and a Ritchey torque key 🙁
Does it not have anything on it? IME where it's low, it's printed on the component.
Nothing printed anywhere - I guess that might be because it's straight from the factory in China. It all looks pretty sturdy but I'll just see what's the lowest torque I can get away with.
Think I'll split the crown race as it's a bit too tight for comfort anyway.