Titanium and carbon fibre - anything I should know?

[winjim]

In the near future I will be starting a new build using super-duper space age titanium and carbon fibre parts. I've never used these materials before, so is there anything I need to know? Do I need special pastes and a torque wrench? I've always just used a bit of grease and some common sense.

 

[ianrauk]

I've always just used a bit of grease and some common sense.

Just this

 

[Spoked Wheels]

In the near future I will be starting a new build using super-duper space age titanium and carbon fibre parts. I've never used these materials before, so is there anything I need to know? Do I need special pastes and a torque wrench? I've always just used a bit of grease and some common sense.

I have a Ti frame and I haven't had a problem with it but I got one with a life time warranty. I read a few cases where the welding is a problem for some Ti frame.

You will probably go with a CF fork and mine has cf steerer too. No special paste but I use a 50mm expander, a tenner from planet x.

I have a cf seat post so I got myself a torque wrench.... handy for lots of jobs. A good tip for CF is got finger tight if you don't have a torque wrench

 

[Drago]

When its built you'll be needing a lot of Kleenex.

 

[winjim]

I have a Ti frame and I haven't had a problem with it but I got one with a life time warranty. I read a few cases where the welding is a problem for some Ti frame.

You will probably go with a CF fork and mine has cf steerer too. No special paste but I use a 50mm expander, a tenner from planet x.

I have a cf seat post so I got myself a torque wrench.... handy for lots of jobs. A good tip for CF is got finger tight if you don't have a torque wrench

It's a refurb frame, so they'll have checked the welding. Ti frame and stem, CF fork (including steerer), bars and seatpost. Comes with headset fitted so hopefully they'll include the expander plug.

When its built you'll be needing a lot of Kleenex.

 

[ianrauk]

You will be fine with all those components. CF will certainly not stick to Ti.
I have a Ti seatpost and have had no trouble it sticking in a Ti frame. I think the problems start when you have two different metals together ie an Alu seatpost into a Ti or Steel frame etc

I have never felt the need to use a torque wrench on both my CF or Ti bikes, in fact any bike. As long as you don't go down the hamfisted route then you will be fine. You soon learn the tolerances of nuts and bolts.

 

[mangid]

Just assembled my new Ti bike, used Copaslip on all threads (bolts, bb) and on seat post, used carbon fibre paste on the carbon steerer and Ti-Stem.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

It's a refurb frame, so they'll have checked the welding. Ti frame and stem, CF fork (including steerer), bars and seatpost. Comes with headset fitted so hopefully they'll include the expander plug.

One tip that @ianrauk gave me so the credit is all his. .... and it is a good tip.

The BB came loose 2 or 3 times so on Ian's advice I put some FTPE tape on the BB and the problem went away. I've heard the same issue with other Ti frames.

 

[winjim]

I have never felt the need to use a torque wrench on both my CF or Ti bikes, in fact any bike. As long as you don't go down the hamfisted route then you will be fine. You soon learn the tolerances of nuts and bolts.

A good portion of my working life is spent taking apart and reassembling lab equipment so I'm pretty handy at telling the difference between tight enough and too tight.

One tip that @ianrauk gave me so the credit is all his. .... and it is a good tip.

The BB came loose 2 or 3 times so on Ian's advice I put some FTPE tape on the BB and the problem went away. I've heard the same issue with other Ti frames.

I'm using Campagnolo Ultra-Torque, which comes ready covered in threadlock type stuff. I hope that might be enough, but I'll bear it in mind.