This Chinese carbon bike frame was damaged in shipping, and a crack inside the downtube makes it unsafe to ride. The company OG-Evkin have already agreed to replace the frame under warranty, but can I fix it myself?
I use cheaper carbon fibre bike parts all the time, and things have broken and snapped on me in the past, but I have never tried to repair them. However it seems a shame to throw this bike frame away. The crack is in a very critical area, and if ignored, could easily spread and cause a catastrophic failure, but I think it can be fixed.
I bought a carbon fibre repair kit on Ebay for £12, which includes the resin, hardener, and a large patch of woven carbon fibre, but the issue is getting the patch in the right place. The crack is inside the downtube, and not easily accessible. There is no direct access, and I can only reach the crack from either the bottom bracket, or the headset. In addition, I need to apply pressure behind the carbon repair patch while the resin cures to ensure a strong permanent bond.
So in this episode, my brother and I spend an afternoon trying to repair this cracked carbon bike frame, using a cheap repair kit, some plastic bags, and a mountain bike inner tube.
OG-Evkin Frame - Use code ‘Tracevelo’ for 10% off at checkout:
https://ogevkinbike.com/products/qonqi-cf-025-road-carbon-fiber-frame
Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:34 – Diagnosing the problem
03:37 – Discussing the crack
04:50 – The initial plan
07:30 – Repair discussion
09:22 – Problems to overcome
12:15 – The plan
14:52 – 1st attempt
17:42 – 2nd attempt
19:48 – Repairing the repair
23:20 – Removing the repair apparatus
25:25 – Checking the repair
27:10 – 1 month later
29:26 – Potential issues with the repair
31:31 – Bonus clip - Replacement warranty frame
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tracevelo/
Email:
[email protected]
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!