X Lab Carbon Wing Loose

Triathlon Forum
1

Apparently a couple of days before IMC is the best time for my wife’s carbon wing to come loose.

Any ideas on how to stop this happening? I have torqued to relevant setting and might throw on some Ritchey Liquid Torque.

Any other tips?

2

I had a problem with mine coming loose when I initially installed it. The clamp that goes on the saddle rails kept sliding along the rails. I had to get it at a perfect angle and it hasnt moved at all since then.

3

I could never get it to stop so I switched to Beaker Concept Carbon Tail and been happy since. Stays in place and if you pick the wright cages you do not launch bottles.

4

by perfect angle what do you mean, exactly perpendicular to rails?

5

Take it off. Don’t ever put it back on. Take hand ups from aid stations. Problem solved.

6

I had the super wing and had similar issues of the wing coming loose and wobbling regardless of how much I tightened the bolts.

I took a 2cm piece of a spoke and placed it between the mounting hardware and the saddle rails. I loosely installed the wing and before snugging up the bolts I would insert the spoke piece and tighten it. Permanent fix for me. Ghetto…you know it!

When looking at the picture below the spoke would go between the gold hardware and the saddle rail, parallel to the saddle rail.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j105/inaba116/Gone%20for%20Good/e2767d21.jpg

7

Craig Turner’s engineering on the X-Lab stuff is pretty solid- right down to the fasteners.

http://university.tri-sports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/hydrorear-6-8.jpg

The center photo shows the bolts coated with a thread locker that actually becomes nearly permanent after installation. The right photo shows the aircraft grade Nyloc nuts that come with X-Lab systems.

Now- if you have moved the system fomr one bike, or saddle, to another, this thread retention/anti-vibration capability may be compromised somewhat.

Double check all your hardware to be sure you are using the right bolts and nuts and that the Loctite thread locker is fresh. If it isn’t you can buy it at an automotive supply store.

Also, take a close look at what mounting position you’re using and if that can be improved upon.

I hope that helps. Best of luck. If all else fails call X-Lab. You may get to chat with Craig Turner. They will be pleased to assist you.

8

Give XLAB a call 760-735-3215 and they will send you a new set of saddle rail clips at no charge. What happens is sometimes the clips will be mounted on the corner of the rail as it turns upward. Sometimes that will warp the rail clips just enough that when you go to move the Carbon Wing up on the rails to a new position, it will no longer hold its position.

9

Take it off. Don’t ever put it back on. Take hand ups from aid stations. Problem solved.

I did not really want the wing but she is 5’0" and 95lbs. The bike is a super small Felt with 650’s, not enough length on the aerobars for her to put a bottle there and no room in the frame (well, you can get something in there but even a sideloader is a bit sketchy). The wing works well for her and also covers her phobia of flatting on 650’s as she can carry a couple of tubes.

10

I had the same problem. I did 2 things to fix it.

  1. I cut a section out of a cheap ink pen the length of the space between the wing and the seat rail clamp. Just the tube part. I then cut a slit in the length of the tube. I put the tube around the seat rail. Then I wrapped electrical tape around the tube for good measure. I did this for both rails. The tube should stop the wing from progressing until it hits the rear tire should it loosen again.

  2. I borrowed an inch/lbs. torque wrench and tightened the bracket screws to just under the 30 inch/lbs max on the installation sheet.

Worked like a charm. Love the wing!