Top tube ding in felt Superlite Al frame :(
06-22-07, 09:02 AM
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Top tube ding in felt Superlite Al frame :(
Hi all,
In my continuing series of gripes regarding my used Felt F55 purchase, I've found a ding in the top tube. pic here
The frame material is Felt 7005 superlite with "secondary butting" (= double butting?). The ding is on the right side and is located midway on the top tube. If it were a dent I would not be so concerned, but this is actually a small chunk of missing material, between 1/4 and 1/3(!) the thickness of the tubing. I've taken a couple of rides on this, but I'm not sure I could trust this in a steep descent or in a race. I'm taking this to the shop at the end of the day to get some opinions on it, but what do you guys think?
In my continuing series of gripes regarding my used Felt F55 purchase, I've found a ding in the top tube. pic here
The frame material is Felt 7005 superlite with "secondary butting" (= double butting?). The ding is on the right side and is located midway on the top tube. If it were a dent I would not be so concerned, but this is actually a small chunk of missing material, between 1/4 and 1/3(!) the thickness of the tubing. I've taken a couple of rides on this, but I'm not sure I could trust this in a steep descent or in a race. I'm taking this to the shop at the end of the day to get some opinions on it, but what do you guys think?
Last edited by kmart; 06-22-07 at 10:18 AM.
06-22-07, 11:43 AM
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Re: (Silence)
That bad huh?
That bad huh?
06-22-07, 01:09 PM
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I wouldn't worry about it. Put a WaltMart smiley faced sticker over it and ride on. Nail polish works good, too.
06-22-07, 02:31 PM
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Thats tiny. Its more of a small gouge than a dent from what I can see. Is it all the way through the tube?
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
06-22-07, 03:15 PM
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Nope, not through the tube. But doesn't this type of gouge in aluminum have the potential to buckle or crack in aluminum?
06-22-07, 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by capwater
I wouldn't worry about it. Put a WaltMart smiley faced sticker over it and ride on. Nail polish works good, too.
sticker would totally match the paint job so i might just do that
06-22-07, 05:31 PM
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You are correct that aluminum is very "notch sensitive" and even this little nick could become the failure point. This one probably calls for a consultation with a true expert, rather than just the input of well-meaning folks on the forum. No offense meant to anyone, but advice like covering it up with a smiley-face sticker could get you hurt.
06-22-07, 05:43 PM
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Just keep an eye on it since its exposed on the top tube you should be able to see any cracks developing. Ive seen MTBs with way more beat up tubes than that. Its aluminum, not CF which can fail instantly .
06-22-07, 08:29 PM
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I took it down to two bike shops. The first one suggested to keep an eye on it but said that it was rideable. The second one was a Felt dealer (so I imagine they know a little about this particular frame). The guy there said that he's seen plenty worse damage on top tubes without problems (although he gave a steel frame as an example...). Also, he mentioned that although the point midways on the top tube has the thinnest tubing, that point also experiences the least stress (I knew this, but it was good to hear it again).
I think I'm just going to leave it alone and not cover it up so I can see any cracks develop.
I think I'm just going to leave it alone and not cover it up so I can see any cracks develop.
06-23-07, 08:33 AM
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I've been riding around with a much larger ding in my Cannondale top tube for years now. It's not quite as radically butted and shaped as yours, but it's still thin metal. So unless it's a huge dent, or located on the stays or fork, I highly doubt that aluminum will fail that easily.
