Bicycle Mechanics - Help! Damaged Dahon Vintage front fork wheel mount

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dyesan
10-13-08, 12:28 PM
Reposting this here in hopes of more feedback.

Ok, I lurked around this forum when I was initially looking to purchase a folder for better transportation around campus. I purchased a Dahon vintage (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.

Foldable Two
10-13-08, 12:57 PM
Hard to figure how it got that way - assume it came with the wheel not mounted on the frame.

It's steel, so figure it would be an easy fix for a bike fabricator. At worst, they cut it off and weld on a whole new fork-end.

Might not be what a time and money starved student wants to hear, though.
dyesan
10-13-08, 01:02 PM
Yes - it came with the front wheel detached. How about DIY options? Blowtorch + pliers and clamp?

BTW, thanks for the reply.

j mendivil
10-13-08, 01:24 PM
Wow! Well, I think you could get it back. It may be that a skilled welder could fix it, but I would be worried about metal fatigue. I like Foldable Two's idea about a new fork end.
Perhaps another fork could be found?
Joshua A.C. New
10-13-08, 01:27 PM
I don't know for certain, but it seems like a BMX fork might fix you up good.
dyesan
10-13-08, 02:33 PM
I'm thinking about welding this back together or having someone help me. Good or bad idea? BTW, Joshua I'm in Amherst, MA :) Nice to see neighbors on this forum!
fuzz2050
10-13-08, 10:19 PM
I think that's what negative feedback is for...
Joshua A.C. New
10-15-08, 11:34 AM
Huh! Check your PMs! I have a local recommendation for you!
Bacciagalupe
10-15-08, 01:25 PM
First of all.... Caveat emptor. Not seeing how you have much recourse from the seller.

Second, UPS can screw a LOT of stuff up in transit. I'm sure other carriers can as well, but so far UPS has the worst track record in my experience.

Third, if Josh New doesn't have the solution :D then contact Gaerlan Cycles. He's a big Dahon dealer and does a lot of fixes, he may know what your options are.