Can this be fixed?
 

I thought I found a $5 steal when I picked up this Cimarron frame a couple weeks ago. I guess I shouldn't have been in such a hurry to grab it and get it in the car.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3358/...074727.jpg?v=0




I was busy and didn't really get to look at it until yesterday. Both seat stays are broken off at the cluster. I am pretty sure this means it's a goner and I got a decent crank for $5. Thoughts?
Closer pics, but these are from an iphone so might not be too great.

http://gallery.me.com/joshua.hughes/...154135/web.jpg
http://gallery.me.com/joshua.hughes/...069910/web.jpg

Have the stays completely come loose? Or is that just a case of a bad seat stay end treatment... really bad. In any case, a frame builder should be able to fix that up if you're interested in getting it back on the road.

+1

Nothing a good frame builder can't fix. And it shouldn't cost too much either. They still look attached with really bad end treatments. Should be a quick fix. :)

^I guess I don't know what is meant by bad end treatments. I do think they are completely loose though. I don't have it in front of me now, but I think one of them definitely is completely loose. If it wouldn't cost too much I'd definitely like to get it back on the road. What angle pics would best demonstrate the break?

Side, top and back angles.

Not very good angles, but that can get fixed easy. The hard part is finding out who can do the fixing for you.

It's steel. It can be fixed. Good buy. Put it aside, finish the 520, come back to it with renewed vigor and optimism. Even so, a good $5 crank.

That look more like a cosmetic issue than a structural issue. The stays appear to be solidly attached to the frame; it's just the caps that aren't fully brazed over the ends of the stays.

If you plan on repainting the frame, fill the gap with brass or even lead solder before you paint it. If you're not planning on repainting, fill 'em with bondo or something to keep water out.

^^Thanks Robbie, that sounds like my plan. The 520 will be getting my full attention shortly. I need to finish an old Super Grand Prix that I'm going to give to a friend that keeps mentioning she wouldn't mind having a bicycle. Then, onto the Trek.

^John, I think it must be structural as at least 1 of them is completely loose. I'll get a better look with better photos tomorrow.

We're going to need to see some glossy 8.5x11's with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one.

Something about this frame is bugging me. From the pictures, it appears that the frame might be twisted a bit. Look at the rear rack mounts in the above picture. They do not appear to be parallel, with the left one nosing down on the right side.

It could be the angle of the pictures, take a few more and post them so we can have a better look.

Dan

Here is a Flickr set with a bunch of macro shots I took today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3230124...7615545990735/

I think this one shows the damage best.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/...8c5876.jpg?v=0
If you look through the gap you can see light showing that it is completely detached.

That needs to be reattached by a framebuilder or a competent welder. Maybe you could post in the framebuilder's forum and see what they say.

It could be fixed, but due to the lack of horizontal drops I'd advise against it.

<groan>

I agree... the stays could probably be reattached pretty easily by a competent builder, but there is something that just seems "off" about the alignment of the frame. It could be the photos, though.

V V V V That fame is most def bent. :( V V V V

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16.../bentframe.jpg

I see what you mean, but I think it's a case of needing a better angle to tell for sure. It looks like the rear portion of the frame is pushed to the non-drive side relative to the top tube. However, it could just be the camera angle. Definitely something to look at before putting money down to get the stays attached. If there's doubt - ask the framebuilder.

OK, last pics, then I'm going to forget this frame exists for a while until I finish 2 more project bikes.
I think the cable adjuster hanging from the seatpost binder at an angle in the above pic makes it look a little more fubared than it might actually be. I still think there's something weird about this frame. Here are 2 more.

http://gallery.me.com/joshua.hughes/...604241/web.jpg
http://gallery.me.com/joshua.hughes/...495136/web.jpg

If you get it fixed you could always have the dropouts replaced at the same time. Probably too extravagant for a frame like this unless you do the work yourself.

I've seen some fubar'd frames in my day, but this one takes the cake for manufacturer incompetence. Must have been done just before quitting time on Friday.

Bad joke was Bad.

But clever.

To fix it nicely, you'd need to replace the seat stays. The close-up pic makes it evident that they are both broken through and separated from the lug by about 1/16". The cap (flat tapered part) stayed attached to the seat stay, thus the gap visible in the first pics. I don't think there's enough left to re-attach them properly. If the rear triangle is misaligned, that almost doesn't matter as it'd be straight after a properly done repair.

^Thanks.
Moot point now though, as it's RIP Cimarron. I grabbed the bits off it and let my friend practice his welding with it.