Hi Ducatisti.Oh sorry wrong site lol. I don't really bother posting much on forums anymore but still pop on Ducati ms and some Ducati forums in the UK for a browse. Anyway had to post this WARNING to any owners on this forum using Dymag single sided carbon wheels. I had a pair fitted to my Ducati 916SPS and have been using them on the roads here in the United Kingdom without a problem until last week.Rear wheel failed and did its best to part company with the rest of the bike.Luckily I had just pulled away from my local bike meet café and only doing about 60mph in a straight line when it failed.I managed to stop bike at the roadside despite loss of control of rear of my bike. I had Ducati Coventry pick my bike up and they sent wheel straight to Dymag for inspection. Dymag have now issed a warning on there facebook page and will add warning to there website on Monday morning. Until then I wanted to spread the word before someone is seriously injured. As these wheels were available via official Ducati Performance book as well as direct from Dymag it could effect many of ducatis customers. Please see the following link and help spread the word worldwide via all the various ducati forums in US and Europe Aus etc etc.I HAVE ALREADY POSTED THIS ON DUCATI MS IN USA.Maybe you folks on here that are members of other UK bike and ducati forums could help spread the word of warning to fellow bikers. https://www.facebook.com/dymagwheels
Please help spread the word of warning folks and Dymag themselves have asked me to add this warning to blogs or forums im a member of.If you read the link you will see that Dymag are advising ALL CA5 CARBON WHEELS FOR SINGLE SIDED SWINGARM BETWEEN 2002 - 2009 NEED TO BE RETURNED FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION AND EITHER MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT WITH UPDATED DESIGN
Welcome mat seems a long time since Ducatisti finished, hope you get the enthusiasm to post more often.Steve
Saw this on FB, seems they are taking responsibility of sorts even tho its a way in the past company who folded who were producing them
I thought they would have offered me a new set for FREE but as you say its a problem they have inherited.Im going to talk further with the owner for sure. Also interested to find out what modification they made on the wheels the new company makes that irradicated this safety critical problem. Anyway hope word gets out to all ducati owners using these ca5 carbon rear wheels so the y can get them checked by Dymag. Heres some pics I took at the roadside . Picture 1 - If you pull on wheel you can see the magnesium hub clearly behind the carbon part of wheel,next to rear brake disk.I guess bonding has failed between the two parts. Picture 2 & 3 Hub is loose from carbon part of wheel causing cover plate to shatter.Exposed cover plate bolts are the only thing holding it all together on the very edge of the carbon part of the wheel. Picture 4 - Bits of alloy hub cover plate I found at roadside in or whats left of it .
Could have been very nasty. I saw the FB post and to be honest would have thought a FOC replacement would be more fitting.
On a wheel at least 4 years old and not that co any more? Free check and repair would be a fair result imho.
I would expect free replacements too. if that were me think Id get my old mot's out and prove the limited use my bike gets lol pleased you are ok
Its good of them to say their is a fault and glad you came to no harm, Matt but since the company that supplied them no longer exists I can't see why people think the new company should be responsible for free replacements.
Normally, it's a complete "no-no" to put aluminium and carbon next to each other in a structural joint. The reason is the galvanic potential between the two materials - they are each at the opposite end of the galvanic spectrum so there will be a potential difference between them in the presence of an electrolyte. This translates to: when there is water present, the part behaves like a battery. The aluminium will corrode like buggery. Magnesium alloy is even further away from carbon and so would corrode like fuck. The only way to prevent this is to: a) Isolate the two materials with say an GFRP layer or, b) don't do it! I'm not surprised that this has happened. I have always wondered how these composite wheels stood up to environmental degradation...now I know! I think you have a good case for a foc replacement as the design is inherantly flawed. R
I am not so sure about this. I agree with galvanic corrrosion with certain combinations of metals but without checking not sure if carbon fibre completes the 'battery' or is an insulator so to speak..... on a larger scale and subject to torturous weather conditions. rain humidity. freeing etc is the new airbus with an expected service life of 25+ years the skin is essentially a carbon alloy composite sandwich..... I am no expert though - but just a thought
yes indeed it can occur. airbus uses a different type of carbon plastic composite bonded. galvanic corrrosion with carbon and alloys has been known about for years apparently and usually there is a 'screen' used between the 2...
I am an expert though. CFRP is used on many Airbus and Boeing structural parts, not just in the new 787 and A350. We (Virgin) have operated A330 and A340's for many years that use this technology. CFRP is ALWAYS isolated from ally due to the galvanic difference. I have seen the effects of parts that have corroded due to a failure of the barrier - the ally just turns to powder!
This type of problem is the reason that puts me off buying a set of CF wheels tbh. I know that there nice and lightweight but does this really outway the outcome we've seen here.
