Originally Posted by
dvs cycles
What they did was to replace the entire down tube and BB shell.
They had some jig and tool that made this the fastest fix for them.
Whether or not you have seen it crack there I have with at least 6 riders in my local area back in the mid '90s.
Some of these guys were doubles riders.
The last guy who had it happen they just gave him a new 2000 frame.
These were all early 90's Merlins and not Extra lights which came out mid 90's.
The tubing on the extralight was thinner and stiffer and they all came with threaded BB shells.
I'm not going to say that's not true...but I find this highly unlikely and contradictory to my experiences and everyone I knew who had one. There also doesn't seem to be anything on line that collaborates this either. There are plenty of on line reviews from people who've had them for life. My LBS mechanic, who knows this frame rather well...and the guys from Bilenky (who know a thing or two about frames) would also disagree with this.
I typed thicker but meant thinner.