Originally Posted by
SlimRider
So to answer your question...No. I would not consider a failed weld as a mechanical problem. It's more related to a structural problem.
We are on the same page with that definition then. But I'm not sure why you think a steel frame could not have a structural failure. I have owned several aluminum and steel framed bikes. The only one of those that ever had a structural failure of the frame was chromoly steel.