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help needed: titanium frame repair

Old 09-02-07, 06:46 AM
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help needed: titanium frame repair

Hi,
I am living in SS/FG forum here, almost all my bikes are fixed gear. Recently, a newly built up titanium frame broke at the seat cluster during first skid. The failure was related to the previously repaired crack of the seat tube, partially hidden under the top tube. Only the visible part of the crack had been originally repaired.
This time, the weld between the top and seat tubes broke on one side, the crack on the seat tube reopened.

I was told that the original crack was caused by a destructive (not intentional) test, not while riding, so I have some trust in the frame and would like it repaired.

Any opinions as to whether it can be repaired and guesstimate of the cost? Somehow, I do not trust the welder who did it the first time - hairline cracks showed on his welds after the bike traveled on the bike rack for 400 miles .
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Old 09-02-07, 07:40 AM
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The previous repair welding appears to have been done so poorly it probably damaged all of the metal in the heat effected zone to the point where it can't be fixed by anyone, even a competent welder. I expect the welder didn't use an inert gas fill inside the tubes even if he did properly inert the outside.

Once the metal has been embrittled, you can't do anything but cut out the entire area and properly weld in good metal. That would be very expensive and very likely not worth the money.
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Old 09-02-07, 07:45 AM
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If you find someone between Russia and Poland who welds Ti into bike frames I'd love to hear about it. That being said, one of the Russian Ti builders is probably your best bet.
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Old 09-02-07, 12:57 PM
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HillRider: thanks - what you say makes sense.

Ziemas - Would you like a contact to the guy who did the repair the first time?
Seriously, I hope I will find someone in helicopter works in Mielec in Poland, they do bike frames, too, yet the only ones I have seen so far were aluminum - the welds were excellent quality.

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Old 09-02-07, 01:53 PM
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LiteSpeed?

What about litespeed bikes?
https://www.litespeed.com/2007/home.aspx
They started as a welding shop and now build ti bikes. They might be a resource for a repair or know who on the west cost could do the repair. Since ti bikes is a small world.
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Old 09-02-07, 02:05 PM
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USA ti repair prices at
https://www.ticycles.com/store/repair.html#frame

Some ti outfits closer to home:
https://www.sibexsports.com/
https://www.morati.cz/
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Old 09-02-07, 02:27 PM
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Eric, Michael - you rock. I am frequently in the US and can bring in the frame for the repair no problem.
BTW. I thought Morati was dead, killed by their cranks breaking apart.
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Old 09-02-07, 04:35 PM
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speaking of Ti repair - I have Moots frame that I picked up second hand. I've been having some rough shifting, and have spent, literally, hours tweaking the derailleurs to no avail.

I'm not suspecting a bent derailleur hanger. I plan on taking it into the LBS to have it checked out and straightened if needed. For some reason, I'm terrified that this is a difficult/impossible repair. Of course I've had hangers straightened on other bikes of other materials - but the titanium is freaking me out.

should i cease freaking? is this something any decent shop can do?
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