Steerer tube issue on a Fuji Altamira - Maybe someone knows what's going on

The Human G-Nome · Nov 4, 2016

I own a 2012 Fuji Altamira with a stock, FC-330 carbon fork. I noticed a little play in the headset area so I brought it to my LBS, thinking perhaps the bearings were shot.

However, my mechanic informed me that there was a rivet in the steerer tube, and that this looked like a Fuji warranty issue to him, and that I should contact the shop where I bought it.

I had him take pics which I forwarded to said shop, and they told me "this is how it was designed". Hmmmm.

I have now been going back and forth with this bike shop, and they are telling me that this is not a carbon steerer tube. They felt confident saying this even after I produced the spec sheet of my Altamira and highlighted where it says that it is.

Thoughts on this?

Jwiffle · Nov 5, 2016

The Human G-Nome said:
I own a 2012 Fuji Altamira with a stock, FC-330 carbon fork. I noticed a little play in the headset area so I brought it to my LBS, thinking perhaps the bearings were shot.

However, my mechanic informed me that there was a rivet in the steerer tube, and that this looked like a Fuji warranty issue to him, and that I should contact the shop where I bought it.

I had him take pics which I forwarded to said shop, and they told me "this is how it was designed". Hmmmm.

View attachment 316815

I have now been going back and forth with this bike shop, and they are telling me that this is not a carbon steerer tube. They felt confident saying this even after I produced the spec sheet of my Altamira and highlighted where it says that it is.

Thoughts on this?

Take it to another Fuji dealer. Any Fuji dealer can process the warranty

rm -rf · Nov 5, 2016

What is the arrow pointing to? "a rivet in the steerer tube", what does that mean?

Yes, that's obviously a carbon steerer, not aluminum or steel.

That doesn't look quite normal, but I suppose it could be okay. The steerer tube doesn't have to be smooth there, and it's built by wrapping many carbon layers.

cxwrench · Nov 5, 2016

Pretty much any way they try to say that's 'normal' is bullshit. Is that where the compression ring sits?

crit_boy · Nov 5, 2016

The Human G-Nome said:
However, my mechanic informed me that there was a rivet in the steerer tube,

View attachment 316815

Thoughts on this?

My thought is that the mechanic told you the steerer tube had a divot and you thought he said rivet.

The material is immaterial. In other words, it doesn't matter what is is made out of. That divot is bad. There is a problem.

That thing in your picture is a steerer tube. The steerer tube goes into the head tube. The only thing that may have a rivet is a head badge that riveted onto the head tube. I guess that rivet could rub the steerer tube and cause a divot in the steerer.

Regardless, it is bad. Go to another Performance and ask them to help process a warranty claim.

wim · Nov 5, 2016

Photos of exactly such a groove in another steerer:

Carbon steerer wear? - Weight Weenies

No Time Toulouse · Nov 5, 2016

I still do not see what the problem is. Did they fix your loose headset or not? Do you trust this mechanic, or is he just some minimum-wage flunky posing as a mechanic? Right now, I don't see anything that looks like a warranty issue....

wim · Nov 5, 2016

No Time Toulouse said:
I still do not see what the problem is.

Something pressed ("carbon creep") a groove into the steerer material. The cause has not been determined. It could be riding with a loose headset, bad bearing fit, crappy compression ring, excessive headtube tolerances and a few other things. If the steerer is massive, no big deal. If not, I'd not ride it. At worst, the head tube tolerances are unacceptable and the frame should be replaced.

duriel · Nov 5, 2016

wim said:
Something pressed ("carbon creep") a groove into the steerer material. The cause has not been determined. It could be riding with a loose headset, bad bearing fit, crappy compression ring, excessive headtube tolerances and a few other things. If the steerer is massive, no big deal. If not, I'd not ride it. At worst, the head tube tolerances are unacceptable and the frame should be replaced.

You mean that groove? That is not a rivet in my definition. Furthermore, that groove was from the manufacturer, not made by wear. The idea that the groove was made by wear, that is just completely crazy.

wim · Nov 5, 2016

duriel said:
You mean that groove? That is not a rivet in my definition. Furthermore, that groove was from the manufacturer, not made by wear.

What rivet?

Kerry Irons · Nov 5, 2016

crit_boy said:
The only thing that may have a rivet is a head badge that riveted onto the head tube. I guess that rivet could rub the steerer tube and cause a divot in the steerer.

In a perfectly symmetrical cut that appears to go all the way around the steerer tube? I don't think so. You might be right about the "rivet" vs. "divot" misunderstanding, but that groove sure looks like something that as put there with some degree of precision. The fact that another poster says they found a picture of a different fork that looks the same suggests strongly that this is some sort of "from the factory" situation.

bikerjulio · Nov 6, 2016

@wims excellent link did not suggest this was normal. Rather the opposite.

rcb78 · Nov 6, 2016

I've seen that on more than a few bikes, all different brands, different forks, etc. The mfg does not put that there. The one thing every single one of those bikes had in common was a loose headset. It is caused by the compression ring not be secured (or compressed) and moving against the steer tube.
Happens on metal steer tubes too, pretty easy to see on Al tubes that are black ano. The ring wears the ano right off. It's a little more common on mtn bikes because of the slack head tube angles amplifying the forces on the fork/steer tube.
If you're the original owner you can ask your LBS to send pics to Fuji, but don't be surprised if they say it's wear and tear.

Steerer tube issue on a Fuji Altamira - Maybe someone knows what's going on

The Human G-Nome

Jwiffle

rm -rf

cxwrench

crit_boy

wim

No Time Toulouse

wim

duriel

wim

Kerry Irons

bikerjulio

rcb78

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