I picked up this ‘97 Trek 470 from a local CL ad, seller was 10 minutes from work…the ad stated the bike needed “minor work” – I’m thinking tires, cables, etc. When I get there, the seller tells me that the “minor work” was…the frame was cracked all the way through in front of the rear dropout…(yikes!)

I ended up buying the bike him from him for next to nothing, figuring it would be good to part out if nothing else. The bike is in good shape aside from the crank, and it’s my size to boot.

I’m thinking this frame is toast…but, might it be able to be saved? I’ve toyed with the idea of finding another frame and switching things over, but, I’m leaning toward the parting out scenario…the bike features the Shimano RSX group (aside from one shifter that’s been replaced…the headset is a Shimano 105…and the rims are Rigida SHP 60s.

Thanks!

Yes it can. One local custom frame builder charges $125 to replace a whole stay...

How much $$ is next to nothing?

Keep the parts, lawn art the frame.



Wait, does Trek have lifetime warrantys?

You should be able to find a replacement frame cheaper than fixing this one, by the time you deal with the paint and cosmetics. Assuming you bought right, you will have a lot of good parts.

Too bad the brifters don't match. You might want to find some matches on ebay or wherever.

Is there an odd bend in the seat stay on the right side or is that just perspective? Looks like the right dropout has an "issue" too. Looks funny as if there's a bend which terminates right below the upper rack/fender eyelet. But, that may just be a photo/lighting artifact too. Looks like the damage is actually to the dropout and not to the chain stay. If that's true, then it's a matter of replacing the dropout and straightening/repairing any damage to the stays and then aligning everything. I suppose if you really like the frame that it might be worth it, but from a $$$ perspective I doubt it. It's a pretty bike, if you avoid looking at a certain spot.

I paid $40 for the bike...I checked Trek's site...but the warrenty only applies to the orginal owner...great thought though...

$40 not bad price. You could probably get that for the goofy looking stem. I wouldn't put a dime into the frame. The extra parts are a bonus. Sell the frame (with full disclosure) for $10 +shipping to some sucker who thinks he can fix it for cheap.

its the $40.

Buy the aluminum frame that Performance has on sale right now for 90 and build from that.

That would be so darn unethical (and methinks will not attract many buyers)

To the OP: you did well with $40 on this. Even parting it out and selling the bits will quadruple your investment...

For $40, that frame owes you nothing!

Harvest the parts and start a new project

I see it too.

Looks as if the stay was tig-welded once before. I'd bin it, but not before conversing with a local Trek dealer - while you'll probably end up having to pay something, Trek might come up with an interesting offer. I've seen it before with a set of three 5900's with a pair of cracked rear drops and a split top tube.

-Kurt

Full disclosure is full disclosure and their is nothing unethical about it. That means, if somebody wants to spend $10 for a lawn ornament or they want to spend $10 plus whatever amount to fix it to get it rideable and safe, they can. Full disclosure means saying that the frame is not rideable and would require a couple hundred dollars to fix it to make it rideable. If someone wants to buy it after that no problem. I bet if you put it up on ebay with a starting of $1 (with full disclosure) it would sell for more than $10 plus shipping. There would be nothing unethical about it. The frame is fixable. If you find a buyer that is willing to spend the money to fix it or just use it as a lawn ornament that is more ethical than turning it to scrap metal

that rear triangle is a real hack job. The dropouts are the wrong angle for the frame, they look like they might be MTB dropouts. I don't know if that is why the dropout broke though. Someone clearly tried to weld it before, they probably didn't get good penetration.


I don't see a bend in the stay. The dropout is intentionally bent at the point that you note. They are made that way to provide chain clearance.

I can't imagine a 470 would be worth fixing. I don't know if anyone can find a dropout like that, so you'd have to replace 2. Either way, a framebuilder that values his time would charge you $100-150 before paint.