Folding Bikes - Help! Damaged Dahon Antique folder, purchased online...

Ok, I lurked around this forum when I was initially looking to purchase a folder for better transportation around campus. I purchased a Dahon antique (1986?) on eBay used and received it this morning. To my dismay, the left-side lower front fork is completely destroyed. Not only is it bent slightly to one side, it's bent in like a banana peel.

Pictures...
http://systema.googlepages.com/bike01.jpg
http://systema.googlepages.com/bike02.jpg
http://systema.googlepages.com/bike05.jpg
http://systema.googlepages.com/bike06.jpg
http://systema.googlepages.com/bike07.jpg

I've already contacted the seller and am waiting for her response on the matter, but frankly as a busy university student I'm thinking that it's likely that I will not have the time to ship this thing back. And regardless of what she says, I believe that is it her fault as the buyer for not shipping the bike correctly. I'm not even sure if it was damaged during shipping or before because I just don't see how this could happen when it was contained inside a box. It was shipped via Fedex Ground in a large box with tons of hard paper-packaging, and there was no damage to the box upon inspection of the exterior.

So my question to you folks is if this bike is indeed beyond repair? Yes, I realize it'll never be like it is new, but is it in any way salvageable despite what you see in the pictures? I know it's simply a bad idea to try to bend this thing back into shape and expect it to work, but frankly, that's about the only option I'm considering before I'm stuck with a non-function bike in my already cramped living space.

It does look like it's beyond repair. Ship it back to the seller....make the time to do it.

BTW, there's no such thing as an antique Dahon. As far as I know, they were no around 100 years ago. Vintage may be the word you were looking for.

Thanks for the fast reply; sorry about the terminology...I mean Dahon vintage.

So there's really no way to repair this? I was thinking blowtorch + pliers :lol:

edit: please delete this thread I reposted in Bike Mechanics..thanks.

soo how much you paid for it ?
If you paid anywhere more than 75 bucks including shipping and such I would send it back ...
otherwise bend it back get a couple of thick washers and use it as intended as cheap transportation
slap a brushfull of paint over it so it does NOT rust away
done

thor

Yep I'd bend it back, if you can, heat it to a dull red and apply the pliers.

wow! i'm surprised you managed to damage the fold and split it in 2 :D

i'll go with what jur said, it's a relatively simple task to do, and works well.

once the wheels goes on, and the nuts/bolts are on, it wont move at all.

same thing applies to the QR + SQ

Thanks guys, I managed to bend it back into shape. Took her out for a spin this morning ... feels great riding again!

Oh, good tip on the paint to prevent rust...I'll have to find some.

Thanks guys, I managed to bend it back into shape. Took her out for a spin this morning ... feels great riding again!

Oh, good tip on the paint to prevent rust...I'll have to find some.

I have some suggestions on how to locate some paint in some unlikely stores on my site as well as to
apply it. Here it is:

http://www.geocities.com/folder_fanatic/Maintenance2.html (http://www.geocities.com/folder_fanatic/Maintenance2.html)

Hope it is helpful.