Crack in Brompton folding hinges?
 

A Brompton has two large folding hinges in the main frame, each provided with a screw clamp. Each of these hinge pins seems to be riveted.

In my 2006 steel Brompton, both these rivets have on both ends a small crack in the steel. So there are four small cracks in total on these essential construction points. Does that pose an extra risk of breaking? And could I replace those hinge pins, if necessary?

See the small dark circle bottom-right in this picture, which i found on the internet. That circle is the side of the rivet that I mean. This picture shows no clear crack in the rivet.

http://www.velovision.com/ftp-admin/.../brompton6.jpg

Im guessing the heading of the rivet is still sound though in stretching the end there to set said rivet

may have been a crack, just in the thin edge

Contacted your Brompton dealer yet?* [no I don't see them, go Macro , super-close up on yours]




*I Wrote , then sent such a close up picture of a cracked folding pedal, to the Website of the company in London,

they sent a new pedal.. if the crack is not in the hinge assembly itself are you sure its an issue?

show it to your Brompton dealer.

look at the lace grommets on your boots the inside, they may not all be perfect, either..





...

When a rivet is formed, the metal is spread and cracking of the thin edge is perfectly normal.

Thanks for your replies. The cracks in my hinge rivets look more or less like these cracks:


http://www.speedzilla.com/forums/att...1&d=1176829763

Why don't you post some photos of your own/actual bike and it's problems rather than dredging up old internet copy ?

The poster asked a question and hot an answer. No need to be snide, rude, etc. Relax, it's a bicycle company not a religion.

George3 is joining the club of obsessive type posters who found this site a place to express themselves.

Have you asked the Dealer that sold you the bike yet?

Wouldn't it be better to use nuts and bolts as hinge pins, instead of rivets? Then these critical components can be inspected after each 2000 miles. Or would that pose a risk of the nuts to unscrew?

Video: