Repair Broken SS Bottle Cage?
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Repair Broken SS Bottle Cage?
I have a King Cage SS bottle cage that broke near the bracket recently. It's 10 years old, so I am not upset that it failed as everything can break over time.
However, I really hate throwing out things that can possibly be repaired, so I was considering trying to fix this. The tubular steel is VERY thin walled, so I am pretty sure regular epoxy will not work. I don't weld, so that's out. My idea is to put a nail or some other short metal object that is similar in size to the ID of the steel tubing into each end of the break (to stabilize it), and finish the job with some epoxy. I am hopeful this would work, although might be more of a "bodge" than a "hack."
Any suggestions? Plan B is to cough up $25-30 for a new one.
However, I really hate throwing out things that can possibly be repaired, so I was considering trying to fix this. The tubular steel is VERY thin walled, so I am pretty sure regular epoxy will not work. I don't weld, so that's out. My idea is to put a nail or some other short metal object that is similar in size to the ID of the steel tubing into each end of the break (to stabilize it), and finish the job with some epoxy. I am hopeful this would work, although might be more of a "bodge" than a "hack."
Any suggestions? Plan B is to cough up $25-30 for a new one.
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When you get beyond attempts to save it, remember that throwing it in the trash will just result in it sitting in a land fill for many years. A scrap yard or recycling bin that accepts miscellaneous metal objects will be a better choice.
Metal generally recycles very well.
Metal generally recycles very well.
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Universal Cycles in Lancaster, PA has 22 of them listed on their website for $20ea. Get a new one and recycle the broken one.
https://www.universalcycles.com/visit_us.php?store=PA
https://www.universalcycles.com/visit_us.php?store=PA
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Yeah, I don’t solder so metal bar (nail?) plus epoxy is the idea.
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#7
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Blackburn also has a stainless cage called Chicane and are what I use. Have yet to have one fail and they are about half the price of a King Cage. Necessity is the mother of invention, my friend. Try your idea and see what happens. The epoxy I use for structural repairs like this is JB Weld. Do the repair off the bike and use loss of epoxy and rough up the nail so the glue gets a good grip.
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Last edited by Camilo; 06-01-22 at 07:56 PM.
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I have a King Cage SS bottle cage that broke near the bracket recently. It's 10 years old, so I am not upset that it failed as everything can break over time.
However, I really hate throwing out things that can possibly be repaired, so I was considering trying to fix this. The tubular steel is VERY thin walled, so I am pretty sure regular epoxy will not work. I don't weld, so that's out. My idea is to put a nail or some other short metal object that is similar in size to the ID of the steel tubing into each end of the break (to stabilize it), and finish the job with some epoxy. I am hopeful this would work, although might be more of a "bodge" than a "hack."
Any suggestions? Plan B is to cough up $25-30 for a new one.
However, I really hate throwing out things that can possibly be repaired, so I was considering trying to fix this. The tubular steel is VERY thin walled, so I am pretty sure regular epoxy will not work. I don't weld, so that's out. My idea is to put a nail or some other short metal object that is similar in size to the ID of the steel tubing into each end of the break (to stabilize it), and finish the job with some epoxy. I am hopeful this would work, although might be more of a "bodge" than a "hack."
Any suggestions? Plan B is to cough up $25-30 for a new one.
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If the JB doesn’t work prepare to start coughing. I bought a cage for $8. They are out there with no coughing required.
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Universal Cycles in Lancaster, PA has 22 of them listed on their website for $20ea. Get a new one and recycle the broken one.
https://www.universalcycles.com/visit_us.php?store=PA
https://www.universalcycles.com/visit_us.php?store=PA
Amazon.com : Zefal Pulse L2 Bottle Cage, Black : Sports & Outdoors
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That is crazy talk when you can buy a 19 g CF cage for < $22.
Amazon.com : Zefal Pulse L2 Bottle Cage, Black : Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.com : Zefal Pulse L2 Bottle Cage, Black : Sports & Outdoors
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Maybe the bike has Chris King hubs/headset and he wants something that matches..........kind of.
You shouldn't put CF on there anyway. That's like a ticking time bomb.
You shouldn't put CF on there anyway. That's like a ticking time bomb.
Last edited by seypat; 06-02-22 at 04:48 AM.
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JB Weld will cost between $5 and $10. Don't know about the metal rod. A cost analysis might be needed. Recycle the old cage plus some other metal scraps laying around and you have enough coin for a new cage.
Last edited by seypat; 06-02-22 at 05:09 AM.
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I use gel super glue for all kinds of jobs - amazing stuff, and you can buy it at Dollar Tree for $1.25 for 2 or 3 tubes. With a close fitting nail the repair will last forever.
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I don't think you can solder to stainless steel. A skilled welder can fix it but it won't be cheap. If it fatigued enough to fail at one point it's probably fatigued enough to fail someplace else.
JB weld is amazing stuff and might be the solution you seek.
JB weld is amazing stuff and might be the solution you seek.
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Has anyone called the OP a cheap-ass, yet?
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I'm with you on the second point you made, fatigue probably killed this cage, and it's likely developing cracks on the other side of the cage as well. IMO, that makes it a situation of throwing good money after a lost cause. BUY a new one, take this one to get scrapped.
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That is crazy talk when you can buy a 19 g CF cage for < $22.
Amazon.com : Zefal Pulse L2 Bottle Cage, Black : Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.com : Zefal Pulse L2 Bottle Cage, Black : Sports & Outdoors
You can solder Stainless if you use a strong acid flux. I'm going to be using the stuff on a stainless kettle as soon as I get the flux delivered. Stainless is a pain to weld because it needs an inert gas, right?
I'm with you on the second point you made, fatigue probably killed this cage, and it's likely developing cracks on the other side of the cage as well. IMO, that makes it a situation of throwing good money after a lost cause. BUY a new one, take this one to get scrapped.
I'm with you on the second point you made, fatigue probably killed this cage, and it's likely developing cracks on the other side of the cage as well. IMO, that makes it a situation of throwing good money after a lost cause. BUY a new one, take this one to get scrapped.
That would work very well. Take very little epoxy. If I were doing this, I'd first see how far I could stretch the tube away from the break. (Say 0.5 cm.) I'd then epoxy in my plug, oak, nail, rod; whatever I had, into the mount-side tube so it stuck out 0.4 cm. Let the epoxy set. Now gubber up the protruding end, slip the tube over, pull it tight against the joint, clean up joint and let it set.
And last, if it came out neatly, I'd send a letter/email and photo to King. They'd enjoy it. (The WB King, not Chris King! They are a small crew and love making a good product.)
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I would put a small piece of metal rod in there and JB weld but if you have a small local welding shop or metal fabricator, I see no harm in asking them what it would cost to repair. Something like this can probably be done in a minute or two and they might just ask you to slip them a few bucks on the side.