Hear me out, and convince me why I shouldn’t. I feel like this is my last option but hoping someone has a clever idea.
So my bike is a 2023 Nukeproof Mega Elite 290. I was fortunate to be amongst the last in the USA to get one from Chain Reaction before they stopped shipping to the states. Anyway, here is my problem and here is what I’ve done so far –
I’ve had a rattle in my top tube (maybe) since I got the bike. Based on what I’ve read elsewhere on Reddit, this is likely a rivet or similar that’s dislodged and bouncing around. I can FEEL it bouncing around in the top tube when I shake the bike. The frame is carbon and the vibrations are very noticeable when you hold the bike by the top frame and move from side to side.
I’ve taken my seat post out, there is not opening between there and the top tube.
There are two screws threaded into the top tube from below (to mount a tool or a strap), and when I take the screws out and put a poker tool up in there it makes contact with the “the object” as I move the frame back and forth.
I have NOT taken the headset out, but not even sure if there would be an opening there to begin with?
Enter: the spray foam.
Am I stuck?
by mixed-em0tions
12 Comments
Well I mean, have you tried to contact the seller about this?
Other than that taking the fork out shouldn’t be a big deal and I would think that should give you access to the top tube. I would absolutely try that first.
There’s probably a hole at the head. Take off the forks and try to shake it out?
Or could it just be internal cables rattling? You can slide some soft foam tube around them or something.
If you’re able to make contact with the object just use a drop of super glue to fixate it followed by some two component epoxy for permanent fix.
Best way to crack your top tube
Wouldn’t it make more sense to just take off the headset and fork and just tilt it out?
Also have you tried using magnets to guide the mystery item out towards these’re holes in the top tube? If it fits then it may drop out, and if not surely you could always find a matching screw and carefully position the washer/nut if that’s what it is to solve your problem???
Failing all that why wouldn’t you just take this to a shop if you’re worried about it and have them just take apart the headset and potentially resolve the issue if you’re concerned about not refitting it properly after?
Why on earth would you risk destroying this frame that you can’t even get shipped to the US again just for something you have multiple alternatives to resolve?
Am I stupid? Because using expanding foam seems like a really dumb idea to change the feel of your bike and potentially ruin the frame.
If you decide to do fill this thing with expanding foam, at least video it and post it. I feel something this ridiculous needs to be documented
Next week OP posts “How to remove foam from top tube?” because it still rattles.
Take the fork off. If that doesn’t work you can inject some glue through the tool mount hole and move the frame around until the object makes contact with the glue. Leave it to dry.
Bad idea. Try shooting some grease or spray adhesive in there. Expanding foam will be a mess and could damage things.
Definitely not using expanding foam, thanks for all the tips folks
Just keep in mind that different kinds of expanding foam expand with very different amounts of force. There is definitely some foam out there that would expand with enough force to explode a carbon tube.
Take the fork of and get one of those long flexible magnet sticks and pull it out. If the object isn’t magnetic out some strong double sided tape on the tip and try and get it out that way
Have you tried using a strong magnet to see if you can locate it? Maybe you could move it and get it out that way?