Crack... Plan of action?
12-30-07, 03:14 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 3,268
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Crack... Plan of action?
So I am finished stripping my Bianchi frame, there are a few spots that there is still paint but those will be blasted off before powder coating the stripper I used doesn't want to take it off no matter how many times I try. Thats not the point. I noticed that there is a small crack, about 1mm, in the slot on the seat tube. What are my options? File it to "stress relieve"? Fill it with brass? Not worry about it? I need some advice...
12-30-07, 05:22 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 680
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
i'd say that you've got nothing to worry about so long as your seatpost is inserted to its recommended minimum depth. In fact, it looks to me like the crack first occured at some time when the seatcluster was spread open and is probably not due to loading or fatigue from use or age. That said, since you've stripped the frame down for repainting , now would be a great time to have the crack brazed up, if only for the aesthetics and peace of mind. If you don't , it'll bug you as long as you own the bike.
12-30-07, 07:46 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,465
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
I'd take my TIG and place one small tack on the crack after opening it up a bit with a dremel wheel.
File smooth and you'd never notice it.
File smooth and you'd never notice it.
12-30-07, 08:20 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,653
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 380 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 106 Times
in
80 Posts
At the very end of where its cracking drill a small hole to relieve the stress. Hole should be no bigger than 1/8". That should stop the crack from spreading. Roger
12-30-07, 11:29 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lenexa KS
Posts: 3,268
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I am jealous of you and your TIG setup. I think I may just leave it. The crack wasn't visible when painted so I don't think its going to be that big of an aesthetic problem.
12-30-07, 11:57 AM
#6
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
With a seatpost of the proper diameter inserted at least 6 cm and the clamp bolt secured, there will be virtually zero stress trying to spread that crack any farther open. I would not worry about it.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
12-30-07, 01:46 PM
#7
Wrench Savant
I would try to determine if it a recent crack or an older one. AS before, if it is older and your seat post is installed correctly, it will probably not matter. If it seems to be progressing, or you are concerned about it, the best thing to do is to drill the end of it with, say, a 1/8" bit +/-, clean it, and brase it full again. The hole will stop the progression, the brase basically fills it back in again.
12-30-07, 01:51 PM
#8
juneeaa memba!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: boogled up in...Idaho!
Posts: 5,632
Bikes: Crap. The box is not big enough...
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
you know, it seems as if '80's vintage Bianchis are sort of prone to cracking. Mine failed at the fork dropout...
12-30-07, 03:39 PM
#9
SkipM
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Spokane, Washington
Posts: 162
Bikes: Italvega 1971, Italvega 1972 SuperSpeciale, Holdsworth Mistral 1983.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If it were on an aircraft tubing, it would be stop drilled. I'd use a smaller drill than 1/8 ". Then fill with putty (or braze), sand and paint.
12-30-07, 03:54 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,116
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
10 Posts
Leave it alone...The powder coat will probably cover it up just fine. Unless you clamp your seat 1,000 times in a row, nothing will likely ever happen. You probably won't even notice it after the powder is applied. That doesn't really look like a real crack.
Aren't you glad its not carbon
Aren't you glad its not carbon
