Warning signs of aluminium fatigue?

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  • I've never had a set of bars (flat or riser) fail on me but...

    I currently have some TRANS X risers on my bike and there is definite flex and the occasional creak that comes directly from the bars. Sounds like splintering metal. But I cant see any external crazing or cracks. My bike is full of creaks and groans but I know what they are, just not this one.

    I don't like the idea of a sheared handle bar in the middle of a busy road.

    BTW, I have seen the results of a failed bar... not pretty. Although the dude probably over torqued the stem bolts.

  • Change the bloody bars then.

  • Change the bloody bars then.

  • While you're there, get a new stem too.

  • hmmm, yes thats the obvious thing to do. I will be changing them, more just wanted to know if alu does fatigue and fail with warning signs or just goes pop.

    fugg it. I'll change my bloody bars on sat.

  • It's not rocket science.. take the freakin' bars off and inspect them. It could just be dirt under the stem clamp causing clicking and stuff.. but if it's not.. you will die.

  • This reminds me of Phil's - (pajamas) post...

  • it's similar to the crank creak problems people experience
    wierd unexplained noises
    ghosts in the machine

    take apart oil grease and re attach see if the problem is still there

  • It's not rocket science.. take the freakin' bars off and inspect them. It could just be dirt under the stem clamp causing clicking and stuff.. but if it's not.. you will die.

    +1 Alot of the time it's just a bit of grit.

    I've had a quill stem snap as I set off from some traffic lights. I heard or no warning noises. There may have been something visual but I had not been checking my stem for cracks every morning (who does?).

  • I had a pair of handlebars snap on me, they did not make any warning creaky sounds at all. My bars were really vintage thin wall aluminium though, tbh quite badly designed.

    Trans-x are 90's mtb ones right? Should be strong enough for your fixie-skidder especially if you cut them down.

  • I don't grease my bar (ooh sailor!) stem interface. I don't like have it hangs onto dirt and grit. Just wipe it down.

  • Trans-x are 90's mtb ones right? Should be strong enough for your fixie-skidder especially if you cut them down.

    Unless they've been crashed.. or scratched.. or have any other sort of damage..

  • aluminium usually* snaps without warning

    *disclaimer, in case someone has an accident and tries to blame me.

  • Yeah all clean in there. I guess i'm just being cheap.

    I hunt around for replacements... cheaper than new teef

  • grease all the bolts on the stem, spray a bit of gt-85 on the clamp/bar interface and make sure your stem if quill is well greased, inside steerer also , expander wedge and bolt also......

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Warning signs of aluminium fatigue?

Posted by Avatar for TRA @TRA

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