Carbon forks are capable of suffering - they usually survive hard landings, skidding crashes and the eternal chop much longer than aluminium forks. Only the connection between the bars and the front end suffers noticeably at some point. We'll show you how to alleviate this suffering in the workshop!
They cannot bend, are stiff and therefore allow the entire adjustment range to be used - the arguments for buying carbon forks are compelling. Anyone who surfs a lot in the waves, is on the regatta course or regularly bends aluminium forks due to a higher body weight will not necessarily ride more expensively with carbon forks. Only the connection between the screwed-on front piece and the carbon spars will eventually become loose over time. If you just keep on surfing, you run the risk of weakening the material at this point and breaking the bars at the head piece.
Carbon forks - Refresh in 30 minutes
With just 30 minutes' work and a few euros' worth of repair materials, this problem can be fixed permanently. Oli Schott, long-time participant in the German Windsurf Cup and absolute repair professional, shows you the most important steps below. Because the majority of boom models are produced by Aeron and the components are often the same across brands, the following repair tips are therefore valid for many products.
You will need the following items to repair your carbon forks:
Screwdriver & Allen key
Hammer
Scissors or cutter knife
Some masking tape
Plastic film Walopur 4201 AU
Photo: Manuel VogelRepair professional Oli Schott gained his expertise as a rider in the German Windsurf Cup.
Step 1: Remove the front piece
Photo: Manuel VogelIf you notice that the front piece is sliding back and forth on the spar or starting to wobble ...Fig. 1:Photo: Manuel Vogel... you should start with the repair as soon as possible. The front piece is usually only screwed onto the continuous bar. The nuts can be loosened and the two metal bolts removed using a suitable Allen key or Phillips screwdriver.Photo: Manuel VogelOnce these have been removed, you can detach the individual parts such as the quick-release fastener and mast mount from the spar.Photo: Manuel VogelThe bolts are often no longer completely straight and must be straightened before installation.Photo: Manuel VogelOn the bare spar you can also see the marks left by the bottom sleeve of the front piece due to the constant vibrations on the spar.
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Step 2: New support for the front piece
Photo: Manuel VogelTo be able to reinstall the metal bolts later, Oli straightens them first. Insert the screws into the bolts, place them on a hard surface and carefully tap them straight again with a hammer.Photo: Manuel VogelOli's secret tip for a tight fit of the headpiece is a synthetic rubber, which he places between the front piece and the spars. Normal tape or conventional rubbers would quickly grind down and the wobbling would return. Oli recommends a material, "Walopur 4201 AU", which is also used for kite tubes and is very resistant. This is only available to wholesalers, but Oli offers inexpensive repair kits with material for two forks for 17.50 euros via repairkit@pesunlimited.de. Alternatively, you can ask for old kite tubes at Sail & Kite Repair.Photo: Manuel VogelCut a piece out of the rubber that is slightly wider than the bottom cuff of the front piece.Photo: Manuel VogelWrap this piece of rubber around the spar two to three times (depending on the amount of play).Photo: Manuel VogelPull it tight and secure the rubber with a strip of Tesa masking tape.Photo: Manuel VogelThen start fitting the front piece and insert the first sleeve first.
Photo: Manuel VogelThen click on the mast mount.Photo: Manuel VogelYou can only see whether you have wound the rubber thick enough when the bolts are screwed back together.
You can repeat the repair described above at any time if the front section develops some play again over time. This way you can use your carbon forks for a long time.
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