Snapped head bolt, can i request it to be fixed?

[DanPrice]

1st off sorry if this is in the wrong section i was debating here or cyclechat cafe.

At the end of August last year i purchased a Focus Culebro road bike from Wiggle.

I have barely used it up until 5-6 weeks ago, all in all its covered approx 700 miles.

To cut a long story short, on a ride earlier i heard a loud clunk, found that the bolt that does up into the steerer (on top of the stem) has snapped inside the fork, so i cant do the forks up tight.

So im guessing that id need new forks as this doesn't come out?

Do you feel Wiggle have a duty to fix and/or replace the forks for me?

I emailed them around 11am this morning, but havent heard anything as of yet. Wiggle are great with stock and delivery and i only have good things to say about them.

I just thought id ask for opinions.


Thanks

 

[Mr Pig]

I don't know how the bars on road bikes attach. Is it different from the ahead sets on Mt bikes? Is it a quill stem?

I assume that, if the bike was bought mail order, it would come with the bars turned sideways and you'd have to set them straight and lock them up yourself? If that's the case I don't see how they can be blamed if the bolt snaps as it wasn't them who tightened it up. Unless the bolt was faulty, which is possible, but you'd have to check the fracture for imperfections in the metal.

And I can't see how you'd need new bars if just the bolt snapped.

 

[DanPrice]

Forks... No bars mentioned

Yes it came mail order, handlebars turned sideways.

BUT i only had to turn them straight and nip the side bolts to tighten stem to forks.

This is not the problem.

Its the bolt on top that goes in to the forks. On bmx theyre called headbolts (im not sure whether this is the same term with road?)

If it was just the bolt, then thats easily rectified.

But it is what the bolt tightens up in to (inside the forks) which has snapped, so i can lift the bolt out with this on the end of it.

 

[Mr Pig]

Its the bolt on top that goes in to the forks.

Right. I can't picture it, I'm not sure what bit you mean.

 

[RedBike]

No I don't think Wiggle should replace the forks.

In theory once the headset bearings have been pre-tightened and the stem is in place the bike could be ridden with this topcap removed. It's only real remaining function is to prevent the steerer causing nasty injuries.

If the bolt suddenly snapped while you were riding then this would suggest the stem / forks wern't correctly installed.

I also don't see why you can't just fit a new star-fangled nut into your existing forks (remove the old one by knock it all the way through) rather than replacing the forks.

 

[Steve Austin]

Sounds like you need to fit a new star fangled nut, and carry on. they cost a pound

Its not a wraranty issue

 

[Landslide]

Is the bit that's snapped anything like this?

 

[Steve Austin]

STOP!!

I just had a look at the spec on the Focus Culebro, it may have a fibre glass steerer, so you can't use a Star fangled nut. Yuo want something like this

HTH

 

[Mr Pig]

Ahh, so it 'is' just an ahead set. Did you loosen the top bolt before turning the bars around? It may be that the top bolt was tight and turning the bars around twisted and damaged the insert/nut.

Looks like an aluminium steerer tube Mr Austin? So it'll just need a new nut?

 

[Steve Austin]

the 2008 model of this bike is listed as having a fibre glass steerer.

 

[Mr Pig]

the 2008 bike is listed as having a fibre glass steerer.

Sorry. I bow to your more diligent research.

 

[Steve Austin]

Im not proud of being a sad bike geek

 

[TheDoctor]

To be honest, unless the OP is *sure* of what the problem is and thier ability to fix it, I'd go to the LBS and get them to sort this out. For the sake of a few quid and being sure of keeping your face convex and your teeth attached, it's got to be the way.

Have you heard back from Wiggle yet?

 

[MacB]

Im not proud of being a sad bike geek

oh yes you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and most of us need the knowledge that comes with

 

[Rip Van]

Focus Clebro 2008

I have a Focus Culebro bought late November early December 2008. I've also had this problem. It IS a fibreglass steerer and wiggle replaced the head bolt assembly with one from M-Part after I explained how often the bike had been used. They never questioned further leading me to think this is a common problem with this part. The bolt the top bolt screws into is light aluminium(alloy?) and very thin walled. The replacement is much sturdier but still should not be done up too tight.