I got my cargo bike back from service and while looking around trying to fix another issue, I noticed that something on the steering column was broken. There are torque values all over the bike and the bolt, where the arrow is at, compared to the other one on the right side, is protruding a good mm out more. My guess is that it was not properly torqued in with just too much force? Maybe they didn’t use a torque wrench but just eyeballed it? Or is there another explanation for this?
by falkenfink
5 Comments
or something was misaligned, not fully supported and then tightened
Since the other side has a gap where the broken one does not, I’d say someone got carried away.
I’m guessing they tightened up the bolt side too much with the QR lever open, and then folded the lever down and snapped it. Just like if you tightened up a QR axle as much as you could before folding the lever over.
Definitely time for that part to be replaced though, it’s done.
I would be surprised if there was a torque spec for something with a quick release lever. (Not saying it’s not possible, but it seems strange.)
Maybe they just went ham on it, which would be the equivalent of overtorquing.
But also, maybe the aluminum just fatigued or had a materials defect.
I’m thinking bad, damaged, or poorly designed part. You’d have had to use a crap ton of force to close that little quick release lever hard enough to break something like that. What brand of bike is this?