Dent in frame, how bad is to bad.
03-29-15, 06:17 PM
#26
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Whether it's worth it really depends on the bike, the tubing it's made from, the bike's cachet, your sentimentality over aforementioned cachet and your willingness / ability to fork over money to a frame builder. It's a Viner, and Italian, so it might very well be worth the repair.
The top tube's probably going to have to come out of the lugs. It means cutting the old one out, then machining the stubs out (seat tube) and busting out the torch. It's not a job for a do it yourself-er unless you have a drill press, torch, silver braze rod, foundry bricks, and other associated framebuilding swag. Plan on at least $200-300 just on the frame repair from a pro. I could recommend some folks here on the east coast, but they aren't where you are. Should be someone up there in the PNW willing to do the job.
The top tube's probably going to have to come out of the lugs. It means cutting the old one out, then machining the stubs out (seat tube) and busting out the torch. It's not a job for a do it yourself-er unless you have a drill press, torch, silver braze rod, foundry bricks, and other associated framebuilding swag. Plan on at least $200-300 just on the frame repair from a pro. I could recommend some folks here on the east coast, but they aren't where you are. Should be someone up there in the PNW willing to do the job.
03-29-15, 06:32 PM
#27
Senior Member
What the photo doesn't show is that the top tube is not just dented but also bent downward.
Another problem, the bike should have come from the factory
with a Campagnolo group set,
but someone along the line swapped it all out with modern Shimano components.
Why do people do that?
What it does have is Campagnolo hubs and nice Wolber wheels.
That are worth the asking price of the rest of the bike.
Except I'm worried they're Italian threads.
Another problem, the bike should have come from the factory
with a Campagnolo group set,
but someone along the line swapped it all out with modern Shimano components.
Why do people do that?
What it does have is Campagnolo hubs and nice Wolber wheels.
That are worth the asking price of the rest of the bike.
Except I'm worried they're Italian threads.
03-30-15, 10:40 AM
#28
Senior Member
from a frame builder perspective, that's a hard dent to fix. you'd have to remove the paint in the affected area, then un-braze the cable guide. then roll out the tube with an aluminum frame block to remove most of the dent. then fill in the remaining dent with silver or brass, and re-braze the cable guide. then file / sand it down, and repaint the frame.
all-in-all that's 4-5 hours of workshop time plus materials, not including the re-paint.
all-in-all that's 4-5 hours of workshop time plus materials, not including the re-paint.
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Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
Check out www.djcatnap.com for articles on vintage Japanese & French bicycle restorations, components and history.
03-30-15, 12:10 PM
#29
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Whether it's worth it really depends on the bike, the tubing it's made from, the bike's cachet, your sentimentality over aforementioned cachet and your willingness / ability to fork over money to a frame builder. It's a Viner, and Italian, so it might very well be worth the repair.
The top tube's probably going to have to come out of the lugs. It means cutting the old one out, then machining the stubs out (seat tube) and busting out the torch. It's not a job for a do it yourself-er unless you have a drill press, torch, silver braze rod, foundry bricks, and other associated framebuilding swag. Plan on at least $200-300 just on the frame repair from a pro. I could recommend some folks here on the east coast, but they aren't where you are. Should be someone up there in the PNW willing to do the job.
The top tube's probably going to have to come out of the lugs. It means cutting the old one out, then machining the stubs out (seat tube) and busting out the torch. It's not a job for a do it yourself-er unless you have a drill press, torch, silver braze rod, foundry bricks, and other associated framebuilding swag. Plan on at least $200-300 just on the frame repair from a pro. I could recommend some folks here on the east coast, but they aren't where you are. Should be someone up there in the PNW willing to do the job.
Davidson in Fremont could either help or provide a referral. Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles | Bicycles Handbuilt in Seattle, Washington
Haulin Colin specializes in bike trailers, but does frame work as well. He also mentions other builders in the area. Haulin' Colin
That said, this Viner sounds like it is in bad shape. I ride an old steel bike with a dent in the top tube, but it is on the side and the tube is still straight. I would pass on this unless you want the components or just really want a Viner and are willing to pay for the repair.
03-30-15, 01:53 PM
#30
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from a frame builder perspective, that's a hard dent to fix. you'd have to remove the paint in the affected area, then un-braze the cable guide. then roll out the tube with an aluminum frame block to remove most of the dent. then fill in the remaining dent with silver or brass, and re-braze the cable guide. then file / sand it down, and repaint the frame.
all-in-all that's 4-5 hours of workshop time plus materials, not including the re-paint.
all-in-all that's 4-5 hours of workshop time plus materials, not including the re-paint.
03-30-15, 02:56 PM
#31
High Plains Luddite
Say, as long as we're talking dented top tubes, does anyone have an opinion on this one? A friend gave it to me in 2013. I had a LBS overhaul it in early 2014 and I've been riding it without concern ever since. The guy who overhauled the bike is a veteran cyclist and repair guy. He didn't say anything about it. I haven't given it much thought, as the bike is all scratched up anyway and it was free. But now, reading all the negative comments above, I'm a little concerned. 
I weigh 205 pounds, if that matters. I ride it fast (sometimes) and I ride it down hills, too.
Thanks for any opinions.
I weigh 205 pounds, if that matters. I ride it fast (sometimes) and I ride it down hills, too.
Thanks for any opinions.
03-30-15, 03:52 PM
#32
Decrepit Member
Say, as long as we're talking dented top tubes, does anyone have an opinion on this one? A friend gave it to me in 2013. I had a LBS overhaul it in early 2014 and I've been riding it without concern ever since. The guy who overhauled the bike is a veteran cyclist and repair guy. He didn't say anything about it. I haven't given it much thought, as the bike is all scratched up anyway and it was free. But now, reading all the negative comments above, I'm a little concerned.
I weigh 205 pounds, if that matters. I ride it fast (sometimes) and I ride it down hills, too.
Thanks for any opinions.
I weigh 205 pounds, if that matters. I ride it fast (sometimes) and I ride it down hills, too.
Thanks for any opinions.
03-30-15, 07:20 PM
#34
Senior Member
03-30-15, 11:27 PM
#36
Decrepit Member
Plastic body filler is strictly cosmetic, so if the dent has compromised the structural integrity of the frame like the one in the OP it would do nothing but cover up a potentially dangerous flaw.
For the dent in post 31, plastic filler would be fine unless the frame is to be powder coated. For powder coating to work, the dent should be filled with brass or silver alloy filler and then faired (assuming the frame is steel, of course).
For the dent in post 31, plastic filler would be fine unless the frame is to be powder coated. For powder coating to work, the dent should be filled with brass or silver alloy filler and then faired (assuming the frame is steel, of course).
03-31-15, 03:12 PM
#37
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A lot of good information on this thread.
I started this thread not so much about the frame in the original post,
but for dents in general.
Anyway, I talked to a couple of frame builders.
One of the advantages of living in the city,
and living in the blue collar parts of the city,
they were less the seven miles from my house.
This is what I found out.
I don't want to talk about dollars, because labor and shop rates
can very so much between cities.
A cosmetic repair with a silver alloy,
about an hour of shop time.
For a workhorse or cargo bike,
a repair with a split sleeve. Ugly but strong.
about two hours of shop time.
Replacing the top tube,
about four hours shop time.
So it all gets down to the frame.
Is the frame something special that's worth the money?
I started this thread not so much about the frame in the original post,
but for dents in general.
Anyway, I talked to a couple of frame builders.
One of the advantages of living in the city,
and living in the blue collar parts of the city,
they were less the seven miles from my house.
This is what I found out.
I don't want to talk about dollars, because labor and shop rates
can very so much between cities.
A cosmetic repair with a silver alloy,
about an hour of shop time.
For a workhorse or cargo bike,
a repair with a split sleeve. Ugly but strong.
about two hours of shop time.
Replacing the top tube,
about four hours shop time.
So it all gets down to the frame.
Is the frame something special that's worth the money?
