Framebuilders - crack?

I guess this is the right forum to post this in, but I figured you guys would know.

I was waxing my bike and found this.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/mrbrightside61/005.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/mrbrightside61/006.jpg

What would cause this?
The only thing i can think of is a slight trailer mishap(operator error!), but everything else seems fine. Help.........

Thanks, Mike

That's kinda blurry and the lighting is bad. Could you get a better photo?

I don't know if these pictures help, but it's definitely a crack. Bikes not even a year old. :mad:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/mrbrightside61/002-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/mrbrightside61/001-2.jpg

What tubeset is it? 525? 520? 501?

The frame is TIG welded and the crack is in the HAZ. It looks like a manufacturing defect to me. I'd make a warranty claim and try to get a new frame.

It's 520. I will be going to the bike shop in the a.m.

you can tell there is bulging around that area too. They may have reamed it to make up for their lack of effective heat sinking. They probably see this a lot so they'll deny there is a problem. Most custom bikes built like that nowadays would sleeve that area because it's fairly difficult to support all the loads with just the tube.

Does it have the original seat post?

It's because the seat tube is too thin.

Just imagine....the seatstays are in compression and they cycle a hundred times a minute, pushing an pulling that piece of tube......until they work harden and crack just like that.

Don't ask me how I know this

:o

too bad people like this never tell us the resolution to their problem.

on edit: I searched his other threads, he had cross-posted this and Raleigh replaced it

too bad people like this never tell us the resolution to their problem.

on edit: I searched his other threads, he had cross-posted this and Raleigh replaced it

That's good to hear.