I’m about to attempt a repair on a Softride beam, and the instructable calls for creating a serrated surface using Araldite epoxy AB (seehttp://www.instructables.com/id/Repairing-a-Softride-Rocket-Beam/step3/Creating-the-Serrated-Surface/).
I can’t readily locate this in Canada - would a JB 2-part, or 3M, be comparable and suitable for this purpose?
Araldite is just a trade name for an epoxy that is readily available in the UK. If you use 3M regular epoxy (not the 5 minute) you’ll be fine - surface prep and how well you mix the epoxy are key, so make sure you use a decent abrasive (80-120 grit as noted by the instructable) to take off all the surface shine and then degrease with lacquer thinner or old-school brake cleaner (trichloroethylene) i.e. something that will evaporate completely.
Aside: I noticed that Canadian Tire now has the Gunk brand of brake cleaner both in the “old, containing chlorine” formulation as well as the “new, non-chlorine” version. The “old” version contains trichloroethylene or some similar compound, which makes it awesome as a degreaser for your clothes because it’s basically like dry-cleaning fluid in a spray can. The “new” version lists heptane as one of its ingredients… seems like that would be similar enough to gasoline that (a) it’s going to smell up anything you clean with it and (b) it’s likely to leave a residue.
Wow - this is great. Thanks for the thorough response.
3M Scotchweld 2216 is a readily-available structural epoxy widely used at NASA and elsewhere.
Let us know how well that beam holds up after the fix. OK? Thanks.
I’ve decided that Shiv would be my last bike I ever buy. Next time I’m buying a beam frame, old or new still don’t know, and build a bike from scratch. May be getting an old Softride or Zipp frame and doing the same thing you are…
Hi Davetallo,
If you opt for a softride Rocket / TT , try and get an aluminium beam, avoid the carbon beam , eventually it will delaminate. One of my 3 went in under 2 yrs. After many yrs I’ve finally soutcerd an aluminium one so no longer worry about the others going.
Also check the front of the beam sleeve for tiny cracks - a fault with very early ones.
Babs
Yesterday I was searching online for carbon fiber supplies, etc, and came across this company’s website which has a variety of epoxies. Maybe they can help.
Sollercomposites
Cheers Taugen,
The composite’s not the problem, as you,'ve noted there’s loads available. It’s the time and equipment needed to dismantle , prepare, repair and reassemble the beam. With an unavoidable part of the process being the destruction of the suspension.