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Talll bike, snapped steering column

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Old 04-23-12, 02:55 PM
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Talll bike, snapped steering column

The steerer tube on my tall bike snapped and i need to get a new one welded. My question is, should I buy a new fork and weld the existing tube to it, or vice versa? Any advice?

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Old 04-23-12, 03:06 PM
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A weld is a weak point. My advice is to make a fork yourself. If you are going to be welding one.
Fork Kit
Steerer Tube
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Old 04-23-12, 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by I_like_cereal
A weld is a weak point. My advice is to make a fork yourself. If you are going to be welding one.
Fork Kit
Steerer Tube
Very true. If you weld the original parts back together I'd certainly re-enforce the weld seam with a tight fitting internal sleeve.
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Old 04-23-12, 03:14 PM
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Hmm, the only thing is I need a steerer tube that's about 27.5 inches long
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Old 04-23-12, 03:25 PM
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Ouch, I hope you weren't riding that when it went.
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Old 04-23-12, 03:46 PM
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https://www.horsecycles.com/contact/

https://www.thebirdwheel.com/nyc-bike-builders

Someone should have one or can fab one. A solid piece is safer than a weld.
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Old 04-23-12, 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by I_like_cereal
https://www.horsecycles.com/contact/

https://www.thebirdwheel.com/nyc-bike-builders

Someone should have one or can fab one. A solid piece is safer than a weld.
I actually moved to LA
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Old 04-23-12, 08:33 PM
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However you fix the fork, you might continue to see breakage. The design of the frame depends on the fork's extended steering column as a structural member. Frame flex bows the steerer, and combined with rotation will cause breakage.

If you're going to keep up with this trick bike, have someone align both heads properly, then fit either a continuous non rotating head tube to span the distance, or at least a structural brace to take the stress of the fork's steerer.

As for the fork itself. There's plenty of room to fit an inner liner to connect both sections and brazing it into a single unit. Any decent shop that does frame repairs should have no trouble doing the job so it holds up well.

But, unless the frame is properly aligned and braced don't expect the repair to last.
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Old 04-23-12, 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
However you fix the fork, you might continue to see breakage. The design of the frame depends on the fork's extended steering column as a structural member. Frame flex bows the steerer, and combined with rotation will cause breakage.

If you're going to keep up with this trick bike, have someone align both heads properly, then fit either a continuous non rotating head tube to span the distance, or at least a structural brace to take the stress of the fork's steerer.

As for the fork itself. There's plenty of room to fit an inner liner to connect both sections and brazing it into a single unit. Any decent shop that does frame repairs should have no trouble doing the job so it holds up well.

But, unless the frame is properly aligned and braced don't expect the repair to last.
Yes! I forgot to mention I was also getting a support welded to the frame
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Old 04-23-12, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by pavement_nyc
Yes! I forgot to mention I was also getting a support welded to the frame
OK you're getting closer to a well engineered bike. My next suggestion would be to try to use a standard fork and headset fitted to the lower head tube, with a similar arrangement using the upper headtube and headset to support the stem and handlebar. Now with fork and bar/stem stress confined to the two respective systems, then a connecting tube could be fitted to connect the upper and lower assemblies. Since it would only carry the steering forces which are very low, it could be a fairly lightweight tube connected to the upper and lower steerers via an expander wedge or similar arrangement.
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