Weld issue...

[hudsong]

http://oneshot.me.uk/addimages/_IGP5289.jpg
http://oneshot.me.uk/addimages/adf.jpg
Serious, or nothing to worry about? I think it has always been like this, but I never noticed before.

[okay]

talk to a ****in welder

[shapelike]

talk to a ****in welder

Damn, son. Mondrian's gettin' all up in your grill.

[okay]

Damn, son. Mondrian's gettin' all up in your grill.

it's all about that motha ****in composition, son

[pittmatj]

terrible penetration. looks like the welder just pooped filler metal on top.

[hudsong]

SHUD I SOLDER IT guys?

Thread tools > delete

[jdms mvp]

pictures of the whole bike? apart from that weld.... the rear looks intriguing

[bonechilling]

What frame is that?

[hudsong]

It's a Swobo Sanchez, despite the hate on these boards for it, I like it a lot.

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/1042/igp3590lv1.th.jpg (http://img382.imageshack.us/my.php?image=igp3590lv1.jpg)
The handlebars are wrapped in celeste deda tape now, but that's pretty much how it looks.

[Hobartlemagne]

Theres a very handy sub forum called "Framebuilders". Post this there and you'll get a real answer.

[hudsong]

Thanks Hobart.

[Hobartlemagne]

Actually, you could ask a mod to move this thread there so you dont have to re-do everything.

[no name]

If you got it from Your LBS I would see if they will swap the frame under waranty. If you got it used I would find someone to do a little welding there, just to prevent a crack from forming. It definately looks like a crap weld but it's probobly not too bad.

[bottom-bracket]

Sweatshop labor always ****s somone

[shaan]

thats a pretty god awful weld, a bead that bad and incomplete penetration should never get passed qc, i would contact swobo about that

[trace215]

terrible penetration.

That's what she said.

[SinVoz]

thats a pretty god awful weld, a bead that bad and incomplete penetration should never get passed qc, i would contact swobo about that

agreed. That looks like f*cking shiiiiieeeeeeet. If i would have seen that, I'd sent the bike back and never bought anything they made EVER again. That isnt something that happens on accident. The welds look like someone used flux core and a lighter. Maybe thats why they ground them down.

Ill tell you what, just seeing this, I would never by anything made by these guys.

[Noestaencasa]

SHUD I SOLDER IT guys?

Thread tools > delete

No.

Wait for it to break and warranty the biznitch.

DW

[DieselDan]

Don't wait. Get that frame replaced before you get stranded.

[willypilgrim]

i think the soldering issue is wayyyy better, think it came out in February.

[blickblocks]

Framebuilders ought to be a better place for an answer.

[hudsong]

Dang. Maybe I should ask LBS for a refund? Swobo said they would send me a new frame for free.

[shants]

get the replacement if you are worried and then accept it as a learning experience. it's really not the bike shop's issue that you chose a budget bicycle. now you have a better idea of what you should be looking for when you shop for frames.

[hudsong]

I was going to get a pista, and LBS talked me out of it, so it's not really my fault, just their stupid marketing bull**** imo.

[Nessism]

Normal framebuilding process is to slot the chain stay for the dropout to slide into. It's normal for some clearance to be present around the fit of these two parts but the weld should have closed up that hole. My guess is that the frame will be fine, but I'd ask the manufacturer about it anyway.

[dwood]

Normal framebuilding process is to slot the chain stay for the dropout to slide into. It's normal for some clearance to be present around the fit of these two parts but the weld should have closed up that hole. My guess is that the frame will be fine, but I'd ask the manufacturer about it anyway.

With 45 years of welding experience I tend to agree that, although it is a sloppy weld, it will present no problems with strength. I might be tempted to fill the hole on the top with something to prevent the ingress of water . . . which 'could' lead to problems with internal rust.

[hudsong]

Yeah, I think some epoxy over the hole will do the trick. Thanks guys!

[dy123]

You'll will probably be fine riding it as is, but since they have offered why not just swap it out?

Interesting thing is that the rear "fork end" should have a been pushed up tight into the slot. There shouldn't be that extra gap at the end. Makes me wonder if one side is pushed in all the way in and this one isn't?

That is just the difference between handmade and factory made bikes. You just can't compare the attention to detail of a one man shop vs. a production environment with hourly workers. I'm not bashing factory made, just pointing out the differences. I believe there are customers and needs for both.

You could probably have ridden this for miles and miles and never noticed. Now that you know it is there, it will probably bug you.

[shaan]

you could also get a Magnaflux Spotcheck dye pen kit and check for cracks around the weld yourself if you wanna do that, just gotta get rid of the paint

[dwood]

Interesting thing is that the rear "fork end" should have a been pushed up tight into the slot. There shouldn't be that extra gap at the end. Makes me wonder if one side is pushed in all the way in and this one isn't?


Not necessarily. There usually is some 'slop' in the fit so that when the frame is placed in a welding fixture the dropouts can be shifted around some for proper alignment, then welded.

The small gap also allows for deeper penatration when welded and would normally be entirely filled with weld metal, therefore not visible.

Magnafluxing is not necessary. The problem is cosmetic!

[dy123]

Yes I agree...there can be some slop.

There is no reason for slop like this except speeding up production. It should be fit up correctly. If there is slop it should be side to side to allow the fork ends to be set up square and parallel in the jig. There shouldn't really be any gap at the end of the slot. Is this a fast way to correct for uneven chainstay length cutting?

I'm not saying it isn't done all day long all the time or that it would be a major issue, but it is not the way it is done on a custom level.

[kill.cactus]

You could use it as a secret bomb now since you can sneak in explosives through that hole

[Torchy McFlux]

Shoddy craftsmanship. That sharp corner is a stress riser in a high-stress location of the frame. Take Swobo up on their offer and get a replacement.