Bicycle Mechanics - bad repair job

I also posted this on the Mountain bike thread, but I'm not getting much response so I will post it here as well. This summer I had my front derailler replaced. My bike had a top pull derailler on it, but for some reason my bike shop decided to put a bottem pull derailler on it and run the cable down around the bottem bracket. I did not notice it until I got back up to school, but the cable has worn a groove in my frame on the weld around the bottem bracket. I can't get it to a shop until I go home for Thanksgiving. I am no doubt going to have him replace the derailler with the correct one, but my question is, is my frame ruined? How thick are the tubes on a typical aluminum frame? The groove is not very deep, but does any kind of groove severly compromise the strength of the frame? If this was your bike would you request a new frame?

Bad repair. Very bad. Have someone reputable look at it with you. If the frame needs to be replaced, the shop should pay.

Sounds like a serious balls-up. Take it back, get them to put on the correct front mech.

Get in touch with the shop right away and get some sort of communication/paperwork started. Don't wait till thanksgiving and get it looked at then. Take some pictures and send it over to the shop. Hopefully this may give you some ideas of how to proceed. I have only had similiar issues with car repair as I try to fix my own bike as much as possible.

The wire wasn't on a guide? :eek: !...it's just a piece of plastic with grooves. 0.50$.?
And the bb is one of the tubes that joint welds are under major stress.
I think if you don't get compensated, re-post with the shops name, email.

Perhaps a few folks will send a note to him telling of their intention to not ever use his shop for repairs:mad: .

Now how did this guy route the cable down the down tube without a cable stop up near the head tube, or did he? Or did he go the top tube route and down and around the BB shell? These guys are crazy...!

I think maybe there was a piece of plastic there to route it but it was behind the BB shell so it ended up rubbing the bb.

Pardon my vocab, but I'll try to explain it the best I can. The cable runs along my top tube and then down seat tube (?) the cable is then wrapped around the bottem bracket and up to the deraileur. He did put a cable guid on the bottem bracket, however it only covers the bottem and the cable is rubbing on the side of the bottem bracket.

Pardon my vocab, but I'll try to explain it the best I can. The cable runs along my top tube and then down seat tube (?) the cable is then wrapped around the bottem bracket and up to the deraileur. He did put a cable guid on the bottem bracket, however it only covers the bottem and the cable is rubbing on the side of the bottem bracket.
That's exactly what I thought he did. At least he had partial gray matter to use a cable guide but obviously wasn't enough to protect part of your BB shell.

I sent him a letter today explaining what happened. I guess I'll just have to see what he says and go from there. I'll let you know what he says.

This is just typical of some of my experiences. Shops leaving parts off, not knowing how to install other things, such as a Shimano Flight Deck in one experience. I've been so dis-enchanted by local bike shops recently. They charge crazy prices for labor and do lousy/sloppy work. It seems I always know more about the bikes than they do. These people need to shape up or go the way of the dodo, especially since the big mail order houses are so incredibly easy and knowledgable!

The way your shop routed your cable would probably add significantly more drag. Definitely take it back and get them to put the right derailleur on. The cable probably hasn't damaged your frame structurally but it shouldn't have been installed that way.

My sense says, if a deep gouge- get filled with alu bead weld, would require shop to remove cranks etc, and reinstall. Touch up paint. An idea, needs to be a pro-weld.

??????

And after, switch mechs, or take up wrenching. Also, weekly inspection, and ya, I check all the components, bolts...yes after my mech is done....before a big ride....... :rolleyes:

You do a weekly oil and check, ya know.

ol'skool guide.