I had my THIRD failure today of campagnolo record carbon cranks while riding. All of them have separated where the pedal attaches to the crank arm with the metal housing cracking and the pedal actually coming off with the housing attached and broken. 2 have been chainring side failures and 1 has been the non-chainring crank. This has been over 2 years of usage and a lot of miles … but I have never had this happen on any metal crank. I don’t overtighten pedals.
Is this something others are experiencing with composite carbon cranks or am I just a component abuser. I’m thinking of going back to aluminum cranks though the poser part of me still likes the composites. I’m used to campagnolo components being high quality … maybe things have changed.
I have no relationship to any component company or retailer … I just ride for myself. I actually just ordered another Campy record carbon crankset … I will have confidence that the “new” model is improved … or I just made a bad choice!
Sorry … no pic. All 3 are the same though. There is a metal sleeve with threads that is bonded to the carbon crank and it completely separates from the crank and comes off attached to the pedal with some residual metal sleeve left on the crank. The pedals have been LOOK CX-7’s for all 3. To me they look like classic fatigue fractures ( I’m not an engineer by degree … just self appointed!)
I didn’t get the new 2007 version … replaced with a 2006.
Sorry … no pic. All 3 are the same though. There is a metal sleeve with threads that is bonded to the carbon crank and it completely separates from the crank and comes off attached to the pedal with some residual metal sleeve left on the crank. The pedals have been LOOK CX-7’s for all 3. To me they look like classic fatigue fractures ( I’m not an engineer by degree … just self appointed!)
I didn’t get the new 2007 version … replaced with a 2006. mmm
looks like galvanic corrosion (used inproper isloating agent) i guess but with out seeing photo it hard to tell
If I had one failure of a component that costs two three times as much as its’ aluminum equivilent with no performance improvement then I would not buy another one. Why spend ridiculous money on an item that is not proven, especially when there is no difference in performance?
If he is really breaking them he would get a new one under warranty first off. Second off…unless these are the OLD style carbon cranks I dont buy the description of the failure. “Left metal behind”? I really doubt that could be the case as it would indicate that the carbon and glue are both stronger than the metal that is threaded for the pedals.
The reason I posted this is to see if I’ve just had an unusual experience … in which case I would probably continue to waste my money knowingly … or are others experiencing similar failures in these carbon cranks which are made by many manufacturers now. I’m a relatively large rider at 6’3 212 and tend to break other components as well as I ride a lot.
If lots of riders are having problems, then the answer is clear … back to aluminum. If some products are fairing better than Campy … maybe I’d change. Riders here at least put real world credibility to product performance which is all glowing by the advertisements.
I apologize if my description isn’t as helpful as a digital photo which I can’t technically give you … but I can assure you they are all broken! They might well be covered under warranty if I wished to take the time to pursue that. I’m really just asking the question I started with … are others having similar problems??
You sure that you dont have these “Campy” cranks? With some pretty good searching on Google I cant find a source at all pertaining to a failed Campy crank (even the old style)…now these on the other hand…
I apologize if my description isn’t as helpful as a digital photo which I can’t technically give you … but I can assure you they are all broken! They might well be covered under warranty if I wished to take the time to pursue that. I’m really just asking the question I started with … are others having similar problems??
LOL - not worth your time to drop a $500 crankset off at any bike dealer who buys from Quality?
No, no others have that problem. Not with Campagnolo Record cranksets.
These are indeed Campy record 10 carbon cranksets … both sets are 2 years old as I purchased them at the same time.
If I’m the only person in the world who has had this happen, then I have made a very intelligent purchase today to replace them with a 2006 version. I sincerely appreciate your input. I have had Campy components on all my bikes for over 30 years now and I think they’re the best. I still have a 50th anniversary Campy gruppo (no I won’t send it to you!). I just wanted to know if others have had failures with their carbon cranks.
When you look at the arms…can you see carbon weave? If so, you have the older style…be that as it may, if you broke them you get a new free set. As opposed to the 2006, I would wait until December and get the new system that they are letting loose on the world.
You are not the only one, a friend who is of similar size to you had the same breakage. this was with the cranks with the 3k weave rather than the filament finish.
- this is the weave that R10C is referring to. If you are breaking the newer ones with the filament finish it is bit disappointing as they were supposed to be much stronger than that original design which was handmade and apparently a bit inconsistent.
As for other cranks to consider, not FSA, Stronglight or Time. Maybe the Zero Gravities when they finally assume material form. Or stick with the tried and true campag ally cranks.
- this is the weave that R10C is referring to. If you are breaking the newer ones with the filament finish it is bit disappointing as they were supposed to be much stronger than that original design which was handmade and apparently a bit inconsistent.