[sanjuro]

I have a steel fork on an old mountain bike, and my buddy crashed into a rock.

One leg was off about an inch, so with a rebar bender, I put back into alignment.

Is it safe to ride on casual rides?

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Oh, yes, you are fine, no problem, go right ahead.

 

[insanitylevel9]

ive seen new bikes come in with forks more bent then that, for casual stuff its fine.

 

[sanjuro]

I should point out the crash happened about 5 months ago, and my friend has been riding it bent. He didn't realize how messed up it was until he took out the front wheel.

 

[Da Peach]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_hardening#Advantages_and_disadvantages

from another site:

"Work hardening is closely related to fatigue. In the example on fatigue given above, bendingthe thin steel rod becomes more difficult the farther the rod is bent. This is the result of workor strain hardening. Work hardening reduces ductility, which increases the chances of brittlefailure."

 

[MMike]

What could go wrong?

 

[splat]

fix it my way

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228017&

 

[HAB]

Got pics? If it's at all creased anywhere, stop riding it. If not you're in better shape.


Also, who made the fork? I ask because there's a big range of material properties for steels. A higher end fork is going to be made with different steel than a cheap one, and that is relevant.

 

[sanjuro]

Got pics? If it's at all creased anywhere, stop riding it. If not you're in better shape.


Also, who made the fork? I ask because there's a big range of material properties for steels. A higher end fork is going to be made with different steel than a cheap one, and that is relevant.

It has a bad dent, and it was off a Kona, my guess a commuter bike of some type.

Anyone have a rigid fork they want to sell for cheap?

 

[HAB]

A dent isn't necessarily so bad. How abrupt is it?

 

[stevew]

no more than a 3 foot drop to flat..in pinkbike feet....is recommended.

 

[HAB]

If sanjuro sets off from San Francisco riding a bike with a 3mm deep dent in the fork headed towards Topeka, moving at 15mph, how much will his resulting dental costs be?

 

[eric strt6]

is SanJuro channeling MooShoo?

 

[Ciaran]

Let your friend keep riding it till it breaks. Then tell him he owes you a new fork.

 

[Pesqueeb]

It has a bad dent,

Toss it.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Absolutely nothing to worry about. Have him ride it until it breaks.

 

[-BB-]

Not sure if this matters, but Rim or Disk brakes? And if it is rim like I assume, id the bend below the brake boss? If disk, that is more risky overall I would think bc ALL the braking forces are below the bend. If rim, then it might only be half the brake force. From an armchair engineer's perspective at least.

 

[sanjuro]

Not sure if this matters, but Rim or Disk brakes? And if it is rim like I assume, id the bend below the brake boss? If disk, that is more risky overall I would think bc ALL the braking forces are below the bend. If rim, then it might only be half the brake force. From an armchair engineer's perspective at least.

Rim brake, the dent is halfway between the axle and the boss.

 

[jonKranked]

try it now

 

[OGRipper]

A pic would help so we can see if it's creased. But an inch isn't that much. Back in the day we used to repair badly bent steel frames and forks all the time. (From crashes, car accidents, etc.)

Repairable frames and forks - one the good things about steel.

 

[golgiaparatus]

I wouldn't, but I'm paranoid about forks and front wheel stuff.

 

[sanjuro]

Here is a bad picture of the bent fork before I fixed it.