Bicycle Mechanics - Is this frame safe to ride on?

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8117/cut3vd5.th.jpg (http://img259.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cut3vd5.jpg)

This is a 1980 Schwinn Le Tour made with 1020 steel tubing that was given to me. I just noticed that it looks like someone took a saw to the seat tube, it's got a fairly clean cut in it. Should I just toss the frame, or is it okay? I am 6'2" and 240lbs.

That frame is toast. You're a big guy. Steel bends.

Why would someone do such a thing?

i don't even want to try to imagin what would happen if somebody tried to ride that.

lay a bead of welding across it and it will be fine...but your paint will be toast in that area.

lay a bead of welding across it and it will be fine...but your paint will be toast in that area.

Paint doesn't matter, this was going to be my grocery getter, I want something that no one would take the effort to cut the locks off. The uglier, the better. :)

Paint doesn't matter, this was going to be my grocery getter, I want something that no one would take the effort to cut the locks off. The uglier, the better. :)

Just make sure the bead of welding is a bit wider and longer then the cut, then keep an eye on it for awhile to make sure it's stable.

That frame is toast. You're a big guy. Steel bends.

Why would someone do such a thing?

The guy who gave it to me said that he had cut something off of the frame, and had forgotten about this cut. Ah well, can't complain too loudly about free.

lay a bead of welding across it and it will be fine...but your paint will be toast in that area.
+1 totally repairable. Any weldor would probably do that for a six-pack. I'd do it just as an excuse to haul out my welder :)

The guy who gave it to me said that he had cut something off of the frame, and had forgotten about this cut. Ah well, can't complain too loudly about free.


Yeah he did. He cut the lock off with a hack saw when he stole the bike. You probably have stolen property. You don't forget cutting a frame tube that much with a hack saw.

another +1 on the , you can fix it with a weld ...and for a beater bike,,better..........peace

A brazed patch might make a nicer repair. If the split is welded shut the weld bead will protrude on the inside. The jagged weld bead will be very hard to smooth out - very possiably breaking the blades in an adjustable reamer.

Yeah he did. He cut the lock off with a hack saw when he stole the bike. You probably have stolen property. You don't forget cutting a frame tube that much with a hack saw.

No, this guy collects vintage high end Italian racing bikes, I've seen his basement. I believe him when he said he cut something off and wasn't too careful because he didn't think he'd use the frame, and forgot about it.

You may not need to weld it if the seat post reinforces the tube.

If the bike is steel then you can get a long MTB seatpost that will fit in below the cut and that will give enough strength to the seat tube so you can safely ride the bike. Use some white Caulk to fill the hole and prevent water from getting to the seatpost.