David: I got the following e-mail today concerning the product recall of a Cervelo Wolf SL fork. My Soloist has a CL type of fork which is not affected by the recall, but I am almost 100% sure that your Cervelo R3 SL has the SL fork assembled. Please check this out.
http://www.cervelo.com/wolfslrecall/default.aspx?lang=en
From: Cervélo éNews [mailto:newsletter@cervelo.com] Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 8:52 AM To: [deleted] Subject: Cervélo éNews - August 20, 2008
True Temper Sports Wolf SL Fork Voluntary Recall
Cervélo has identified a potential safety issue involving the Wolf SL fork. This fork is designed and manufactured by True Temper Sports of Memphis, Tennessee, using a blade shape supplied by Cervélo. All other aspects of the structural design, development and manufacture were done by True Temper Sports. Under certain conditions, the fork steerer can crack and eventually break during normal use, which may cause the rider to lose control, fall and suffer potentially serious injuries. To date, there have been reports of injuries in the field resulting in minor abrasions and one broken wrist. Though the fork passes US and international standards, this particular problem was not uncovered during those standard tests and the fork only showed this weakness in the field, typically after being damaged. After much work, we did develop a new test protocol that was able to replicate the same failure mode as seen in the field. If the fork steerer is damaged by impact (eg. by a crash, a fall from a roof rack, or another impact) then the damage may progress very quickly during use to complete separation. We have seen that incidence of failure on this fork is higher than on other forks, and there is a potential for injury upon failure. True Temper Sports feels that the fork meets the industry standards and that the fork is therefore acceptable and no further action is required. Cervélo does not share this opinion and therefore, is proceeding with a recall of the True Temper designed and manufactured Wolf SL forks ourselves. True Temper Sports has declined to participate. In order to conduct a recall one must be able to demonstrate that any replacement product does not display the same failure mode. We have demonstrated to the authorities that the forks we will use as a replacement - the 3T Funda Pro and the Easton EC90 SLX - pass all standard industry tests as well as the new Cervélo test that the True Temper Wolf SL fork fails. We have obviously discontinued all use of the True Temper Wolf SL carbon bicycle fork. However, please note that this does not affect the Wolf CL and Wolf TT in any way, as both have a completely different structural design (and have passed the new Cervélo test protocol). Although it is not usual for a third party to recall a product manufactured by another company, we feel it is a necessary step to take care of our customer, and we will proceed with the full recall at no cost to the dealer or consumer.
4 comments:
He has Kéo pedals !!
Recall from Look, as well.
Thanks, Michael.
Why don't they recall some of the many things that I've managed to break -- various ti and steel frames, seatpost collars, wheel rims, etc.?
I'll contact Cervelo and see about a replacement. I've got a great spare Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork that I may be able to use in the meantime if it is going to take long to replace it.
Here is the Look Keo recall info -- I think the pair I am currently using is from 2007, though I may have an older pair as well ...
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08354.html
Best,
David L.
More info about the Look recall:
http://www.lookcycle.com/KeO_Recall/
Just wanted to leave another "recall" update. The Wolf SL ... still on my bike, not yet replaced, did great today on a ride Michael and I took out over Otarumi and then to Miyagase ko and Yabitsu Pass and down to Hadano. I hopped the train back (this recalled rider being not in such strong condition today). Michael pressed on by bicycle with a plan to eat at the German restaurant in Kamakura with the infamous service.
Because of the risk of my fork having a catastrophic failure, I was careful not to put much stress on it going up the hills. I focused hard to keep my climbing speed low, even lower than usual, especially on the steeper parts of the climbs where the risk of an accident (wheel slipping where water is on the road, etc.) is high.
On the descents, however, I felt I should test the fork and see if I could recreate the problem that Cervelo had such difficulty in confirming, so I went pretty fast or very fast. After all, what are the odds that my fork would be #13 or #14 to break out of 5000, during 10 minutes zooming down Yabitsu at high speed, hitting 65+kph on the lower straightaways and zooming over the bumpy stretches where there the pavement is dimpled or striped. Made it down in one piece.
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