Framebuilders - What's your opinion of this crack?

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Kommisar89
01-14-09, 08:22 PM
Hi All - there is a small crack in the upper head tube lug as you can see in the pictures. It is only in the lug, not the head tube itself. How serious do you think it is? Cosmetic or fatal? Should it be repaired? If so how would go about it? Thanks for the input.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z77/Kommisar89/002-8.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z77/Kommisar89/001-4.jpg

unterhausen
01-15-09, 12:59 AM
could you tell us more about the bike? Was the lug thinned down by the original builder, or is that a later modification? It's a little hard to make a judgment about the crack since there is a lot of crud on the lug. Does the crack extend to the top tube area of the lug?

I'm assuming that is a pressed steel lug, and that is the weld. Not sure what to tell you about fixing it.
Nessism
01-15-09, 07:25 AM
Looks like lots of paint inside the head tube. I wonder if the head tube was properly machined for size before someone hammered in the head set cups?

I suspect the crack will be ok for a while but will likely grow over time. Before stuffing a new head set cup in the frame I'd get it properly cut by a shop or framebuilder.

Kommisar89
01-15-09, 09:20 AM
could you tell us more about the bike? Was the lug thinned down by the original builder, or is that a later modification? It's a little hard to make a judgment about the crack since there is a lot of crud on the lug. Does the crack extend to the top tube area of the lug?

I'm assuming that is a pressed steel lug, and that is the weld. Not sure what to tell you about fixing it.

The frame is a factory '67 Bottecchia Professional. I doubt there have been any later modifications but it may well have been repainted. The crack is only on the vertical part of the lug along the head tube and does not appear to extend into the top tube nor into the head tube itself. I believe it is a stamped steel lug and brass brazed construction. I can clean it up if that helps.
Kommisar89
01-15-09, 10:41 PM
Ok, I cleaned up it up a bit. Anybody have any other ideas?

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z77/Kommisar89/001-5.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z77/Kommisar89/002-9.jpg
Nessism
01-16-09, 07:40 AM
Frame looks safe to ride but that crack will likely grow. If it gets down to the junction of the top tube, I'd stop riding it.

To repair it now, you could grind the crack out, be careful to not cut into the head tube, and fill with brass. Dress the repair down with a file and touch up the paint. Chrome on the lug will be lost but frame should be sound after that.
Kommisar89
01-16-09, 09:35 AM
Frame looks safe to ride but that crack will likely grow. If it gets down to the junction of the top tube, I'd stop riding it.

To repair it now, you could grind the crack out, be careful to not cut into the head tube, and fill with brass. Dress the repair down with a file and touch up the paint. Chrome on the lug will be lost but frame should be sound after that.

Thanks, that's pretty much what a local frame builder that I brought it to told me. I just wanted to get a second opinion to be sure. Since this frame is not built yet and needs to be painted I will probably have it repaired. I have another bike with a nearly identical crack but that one is a bit more problematic since it still has its original paint/decals and all.