Re: [CR] Predicting Campy Crank failure

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

From: <GPVB1@cs.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Predicting Campy Crank failure
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2002 11:00:53 EDT

I agree. Absolutely unsafe. Wouldn't touch NR/SR cranks without protective gear and a twenty-foot pole. Best to play it safe.

Regards,

Greg Parker A2 MI USA

(Where I'm still recycling those dangerous vintage parts - NOS preferred - no charge. Do the right thing for the cycling world and your fellow man, and send me all of your old junk unused/mint vintage lightweight bicycle components - they will be properly disposed of) :-)


> Message: 20
> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2002 21:38:36 -0400
> From: Flasher1 <flasher1@optonline.net>
> Subject: Re: [CR]Predicting Campy Crank failure
> To: Ben Sanford <B.Sanford@cox.net>
> Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>
> This may be a good example of the reliability of the "classical" vintage
> equipment. It may be pretty, but is it safe? Something to ponder.
> Regards,
> j.p.
> n.y.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ben Sanford" <B.Sanford@cox.net>
> To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 6:19 PM
> Subject: [CR]Predicting Campy Crank failure
>
>
> > There was a discussion about SR crank failures a month or so ago. I
> looked
> > at my cranks but apparently did not look close enough, and I looked at the
> > spider area most critically instead of where the crank broke. Mine that
> > broke was an undated track crank just marked "165 PISTA" with the 144mm
> bolt
> > circle. The crank broke at the eye where the pedal mounted. Now looking
> at
> > it, it appears that the metal at the break point is discolored in one
> area,
> > which seems to indicate (to me) that there had been a hairline crack there
> > for a while. I had also previously noticed an occasional 'clicking' in
> the
> > BB area, and had tightened crank bolts, chainring bolts, etc. in an effort
> > to clear that noise up. Apparently the noise was an early indication of
> > pending failure, although I now believe that if I had looked more
> carefully
> > I would have seen the crack.
> >
> > Since having a crank break can be painful, (I hit the pavement rather
> > quickly) I would suggest taking another close look at your vintage Campy
> > cranks. I had previously retired a 175mm SR road crank due to a crack at
> > the spider. (Now I have two orphan left crank arms)
> >
> > Ben Sanford
> > Falls Church, VA