Classic & Vintage - Oh no! The Casati's cracked!

Last night I discovered a nice little crack running along the lower head lug on my Casati Gold Line.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z306/tweso/IMG_1543.jpg

I'm going back to Santa Cruz on Wednesday and know a few framebuilders there who I could talk to about repair, but I don't think it'll be cheap. I'm almost tempted to start hunting for a new frame (but save the Casati for something later). Am I crazy? Either way it'll be expensive, and I'm running on a really tight budget these days, so anything drastic may have to wait until much later (February/March, when I actually have a job again).

I felt some chattering on my last ride, but I just assumed it was the headset (it's pitted). Could it be this crack?

I hate it when this happens. Don't feel bad, it happens to the best of 'em. But that doesn't make it feel any better.

That could account for the chattering.

el twe - I feel your pain. Really sorry to hear about this. Casati is one make of bike I have on my list for "someday" - just after Frejus and maybe Somec. hope it's either salvageable, or that something equally nice falls into your hands shortly.

The good news is that a framebuilding friend of mine has expressed some interest in doing the replacement. Now we just need to talk prices.

USAZorro - I know it's salvageable, it's just a matter of my being able to afford it.

Unfortunately the repaint is as usually as expensive as the repair.

I know. I was planning on getting it repainted anyway, so this makes for a good excuse.

I'm curious, was that frame ridden hard by you or previous owner(s)?

Given the negative publicity about the inherent weaknesses of CF and aluminum, I've been surprised to find quite a few threads on BF recently related to steel failures. Yes, I know steel can be repaired, but it seems the cost is often prohibitive.

I think any auto/weld shop could TIG weld that to perfection for relatively little money. Paint work for a total respray, well MAACO does a whole car for a few hundred. Best tube welders I've found and learned from are the Aircraft restorers/builders

i just dont think tig is going to cut it on a casati

I don't think TIG welds quite cut it for anything!

Such a shame, for a purple bike!

Why wouldnt TIG cut it. It's not CF. TIG can weld aluminum foil together in good hands. Are you thinking of MIG?

TIG is very sloppy compared to a silver-brazed lug joint. If I just wanted to ride it into the ground, I'd opt for a simple spot weld. Trouble is, I imagine it would ruin the lug if I ever wanted to do it correctly.

My friend has agreed to do the work, and for a very nice price.

I'm curious, was that frame ridden hard by you or previous owner(s)?
I went back and looked at the pictures I took when I first bought the bike, and it appears there was a minor crack, but it didn't extend past the lug. The frame was used by a messenger in Santa Cruz who used it to carry heavy-loaded trailers. He bought it from a notoriously shady bike shop, so who knows what history is behind it.

I believe that you have commited a Cardinal Sin!

Tungsten
Inert
Gas is a welding operation.

The bike we have here has been brazed.

You die!


Regards,
J T

wait who sinned?

I hope he means prschaa.

I hope he means prschaa.


By all means!

(L O L)

Regards,
J T

Sorry no offense,, I restore Vintage Porsche's as a hobby where brazing is a sin, lower temp, lower strength bond of rookies (usually found in cheap previous repairs from the 60-70's). TIG is by no means sloppy it's the most fine controllable weld possible giving a a stronger seamless repair. Technically difficult, but materials in close approximation requires no filler material or very little, which can easily be ground level.

I have nothing against TIG or MIG for that matter, in the right situation. and this is not really the right situation. I would use TIG if I was building a frame with wonky angles or out of AL. For this bike though, it has to be brazed. Tis only right

Don't take it too hard 'Prschaa', you only die twice, -

The first, & the last.

(ROTFLMAO)


Regards,
J T

A good gas welder, is more than not, a good TIG welder.

regards,
J T

Sorry no offense.


PS I really dig you sig.

Back on topic. El Twe, I am glad you found somebody to fix it so quick and at a fair price. Are you going to respray the same color? I hope so.

Same purple, but with a little more sparkle.

:D

el twe,

I had the exact same crack in the exact same place on my Mondia. Ed Litton replaced the head tube on mine for $70. Then he painted it for $350. :D

If you're getting it painted anyway, replacing the tube is a snap for any experienced frame builder, and it is the best way to go.

Wow, $70 is quite a good deal. I was quoted $100, but I have the convenience of locality with him. I was also looking at about a $300 paint job. Maybe I can trick Dr. D. into something cheaper...

Wow, $70 is quite a good deal. I was quoted $100, but I have the convenience of locality with him. I was also looking at about a $300 paint job. Maybe I can trick Dr. D. into something cheaper...

Or--- you can save your dollars (for now), and I'll send you a 21" cromolly "nameless" Schwinn frame (it lost its decals) and fork for the cost of shipping (less than $20???). It has a stripped RD hanger, so it would be a perfect candidate for a CA Fixie Hipster, such as yourself! ;)

You see, Dr.D is still busy putting the finishing touches on that SS you sold me, and I don't want you to distract him. :eek:

I think the heat of TIG would actually melt some of the brass out of the joint or at least interrupt the fillet inside and make it weaker on the down tube junction.

I think the heat of TIG would actually melt some of the brass out of the joint or at least interrupt the fillet inside and make it weaker on the down tube junction. That is my concern, as well.

... Given the negative publicity about the inherent weaknesses of CF and aluminum, I've been surprised to find quite a few threads on BF recently related to steel failures. ...

Every bicycle frame is an engineered compromise among conflicting goals of lightness, durability, appearance, and affordability. Having broken two steel frames just by riding them (plus two more I don't count because they had been crashed and restraightened before I finally cracked their downtubes), I can claim only that a steel frame will typically outlast its aluminum or fiber counterpart.

Or--- you can save your dollars (for now), and I'll send you a 21" cromolly "nameless" Schwinn frame (it lost its decals) and fork for the cost of shipping (less than $20???). It has a stripped RD hanger, so it would be a perfect candidate for a CA Fixie Hipster, such as yourself! ;)
There's been a 22" Super Sport on Sacramento Craigslist for weeks now, always tempting me. And I have two fixed gears, thank you very much!