Cracked!!
03-21-07 | 05:12 PM
#26
Lightweight
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Waterdown, Ontario
Bikes: 2006 Specialized Tarmac, 2005 Specialized Allez Elite, 2005 Kona Cinder Cone
Yeah, I wouldn't ride it. I worked with aluminum for years - doesn't heal itself. You're taking your life into your hands if you go for a spin. Get buddy to take it back and have him deal with it. Any good dude would take it back.
03-21-07 | 05:32 PM
#27
Guadzilla
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 3
From: Dialing it up to 400W
Bikes: Pinarello F4:13 W/Campy Reecord & Blue RC6 W/SRAM Force
03-21-07 | 06:16 PM
#31
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
There is no way in hell I would ride that thing.
Playing around with it and slapping a clamp on it will just give the ER Doctors and Nurses something to
laugh about as they start re-attaching parts of your sorry behind after you've taken a catastrophic spill.
Get serious. Get a new frame or your money back and move on.
Playing around with it and slapping a clamp on it will just give the ER Doctors and Nurses something to
laugh about as they start re-attaching parts of your sorry behind after you've taken a catastrophic spill.
Get serious. Get a new frame or your money back and move on.
03-21-07 | 06:21 PM
#32
Ride 365
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,882
Likes: 0
From: NYC/UpperDutchess, NY
Bikes: '06 Cannondale Six 13 Pro 2, '05 Specialized Allez Elite, '04 Jamis Satellite, 90's Raleigh M-45 single speed conversion, 80's Fuji Team single speed conversion, 70's Schwinn World Sport
Get your money back. If the previous owner told you the crack was there, that's one thing. But if he sold you a cracked frame (even if he didn't know about it) he should give you back your money.
03-21-07 | 06:32 PM
#34
JB weld is the shinit. Works great on alumanium too. Just clean the crack well, mix the JB very thouroughly and apply evenly with a nice bead inside and out filling the crack completely. File and sand to finish smooth.
Assuming the warranty does not go through of course.
Assuming the warranty does not go through of course.
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"I love fools’ experiments. I am always making them." - Darwin
"I love fools’ experiments. I am always making them." - Darwin
03-21-07 | 06:34 PM
#35
Nonsense
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,918
Likes: 542
From: Vagabond
Bikes: Affirmative
Originally Posted by pinky
Was about to reccomend a clamp like that. We set up a buddy's cross frame with one and it lasted a season (didn't even break), so it should work just keep an eye on it...and say a small prayer just in case
03-21-07 | 06:41 PM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 0
From: Under the Thumb
If the original owner is not interested in giving you your money back,
I recommend this,
throw the bike through his front window at night and run.
I'm sure that his insurance deductable is higher than the cost of the bike.
Say you left the bike in front of his house the night before.
Ya,Ya...
I know...
Two wrongs don't make a right, but it will make you feel a whole lot better.
I recommend this,
throw the bike through his front window at night and run.
I'm sure that his insurance deductable is higher than the cost of the bike.
Say you left the bike in front of his house the night before.
Ya,Ya...
I know...
Two wrongs don't make a right, but it will make you feel a whole lot better.
Last edited by unbelievably; 03-21-07 at 08:40 PM.
03-21-07 | 06:45 PM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Kaukauna WI
Bikes: Trek pilot 5.0 Trek 7.3 FX
If you don't mind a bit of touch up painting, take the bike apart, at least the headset, drill a small hole at the very end of the crack and then take it to a local welder and have him TIG weld it. Touch up paint it and you should be good to go. A small weld like that shouldn't cost hardly anyhing to have done.
Perhaps if it isn't covered by warranty you could ask the seller to split the cost with you to have it TIG'd?
Good luck, Jeff
Perhaps if it isn't covered by warranty you could ask the seller to split the cost with you to have it TIG'd?
Good luck, Jeff
03-21-07 | 06:52 PM
#38
It's ALL base...
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,716
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
My problem would be in asking how it happened in the first place. My worry would be it was the result of a crash, and that the forks might be ready to go, there are other alignment issues, or maybe the frame was abused in some way.
Unless this was one of those "I just rode it on weekends, never raced, never crashed" bikes people always seem to be selling on the bay.
What else can cause this type of crack?
Unless this was one of those "I just rode it on weekends, never raced, never crashed" bikes people always seem to be selling on the bay.
What else can cause this type of crack?
03-21-07 | 07:00 PM
#39
I would *not* just epoxy it and call it a day. Aluminum has strengths in the thousands of PSI, depending on alloy, and Epoxy generally has strength in the hundreds of PSI, and that presumes a good bond to the surface of the aluminum.
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ElJamoquio didn't hate the world, per se; he was just constantly disappointed by humanity.
03-21-07 | 07:00 PM
#40
pluralis majestatis
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 5
From: you rope
Bikes: a DuhRosa
not a fan of jb weld.
when i was a poor student , i tried to jb weld a gear cluster (freewheel analog of cassette, for you nouveau bikers) to a hub as a make-shift fixed-gear.
thank god for the plant bush i softly crashed into
when i was a poor student , i tried to jb weld a gear cluster (freewheel analog of cassette, for you nouveau bikers) to a hub as a make-shift fixed-gear.
thank god for the plant bush i softly crashed into
03-21-07 | 07:04 PM
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Kaukauna WI
Bikes: Trek pilot 5.0 Trek 7.3 FX
Originally Posted by ElJamoquio
I would *not* just epoxy it and call it a day. Aluminum has strengths in the thousands of PSI, depending on alloy, and Epoxy generally has strength in the hundreds of PSI, and that presumes a good bond to the surface of the aluminum.
Get it TIG welded or get a new frame.
Jeff
03-21-07 | 07:18 PM
#42
Descends Like Avalanche
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,769
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere between Funkytown and Margaritaville, PA
Bikes: Lynskey R240, Sportive, and a Helix Sport disc model in the works; Eddy Merckx MX Leader; Specialized Rock Hopper Comp (1988!)
Originally Posted by Flak
How long do you think it'll last? Is there anything i can do to slow down the crack from widening?
Who will cover the labor cost for rebuilding the bike if the frame is warrantied?
I'd say get your money back and talk to him after he has everything straightened out (and a shop has inspected the fork for damage).
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The rider in my avatar is David Etxebarria, not me.
03-21-07 | 07:19 PM
#43
If you decide to ride it, I recommend buying up lots and lots of dental insurance.
As it looks like a crack resulting from impact, chances are that the rest of the front end isn't in great shape either.
As it looks like a crack resulting from impact, chances are that the rest of the front end isn't in great shape either.
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03-21-07 | 09:18 PM
#44
Thread Starter
Flatland hack
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
From: Nowhere near the mountains :/
Good point about the fork, i didnt think about that. I just inspected it and there's no cracks on the fork that i can see, although there is a very tiny slight ridge on the front of both legs. Does that indicate impact? Or is this a normal part of the weave?
The more i think about it, the more i want my money back.
The more i think about it, the more i want my money back.
03-21-07 | 09:27 PM
#45
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Beautiful Encinitas, CA
Bikes: Trek 2100, Giant Cadex
You've got to pull the fork and check the steerer tube. Don't just look at the exposed fork. And get an experienced mechanic to check it out. Unless you know what to look for you're asking for trouble.
BTW, I wouldn't ride it. Get your money back. The guy's trying to pull a fast one.
BTW, I wouldn't ride it. Get your money back. The guy's trying to pull a fast one.
03-21-07 | 09:45 PM
#46
Originally Posted by Flak
Good point about the fork, i didnt think about that. I just inspected it and there's no cracks on the fork that i can see, although there is a very tiny slight ridge on the front of both legs. Does that indicate impact? Or is this a normal part of the weave?
The more i think about it, the more i want my money back.
The more i think about it, the more i want my money back.
Either get your money back or strip it for parts and start shopping ebay for a new frame.
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03-21-07 | 09:54 PM
#48
Thread Starter
Flatland hack
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
From: Nowhere near the mountains :/
Yeah ive decided its just not worth the risk to try and ride it. If i can get my money back i will, and if i can't ill either go for plan B which is to see if i can still get it warrantied, or worst case scenario - shell out for a nashbar frame/fork combo or something similar.
Wife just had our second baby and risking my health to save $180 is just silly.
Thanks for talking some sense into me guys.
Wife just had our second baby and risking my health to save $180 is just silly.
Thanks for talking some sense into me guys.
03-22-07 | 01:41 AM
#49
Originally Posted by Flak
So i bought a used Allez today for $350, its in really great shape with only 500 miles on it (hardly any wear and tear at all so i believed him). But i got it home and was peeling off some stickers when i found a crack in the headtube! Its small, right at the bottom on the right hand side. My LBS reckons i should just watch it and maybe it wont get any bigger. But i wanted some opinions. I scraped off some paint to make sure it wasnt just the paint/clearcoat that cracked.
I talked to the old owner and he's agreed to take it up to the shop he bought it from and try and warranty it...but if that falls through im pretty much stuck with this. How long do you think it'll last? Is there anything i can do to slow down the crack from widening?
I talked to the old owner and he's agreed to take it up to the shop he bought it from and try and warranty it...but if that falls through im pretty much stuck with this. How long do you think it'll last? Is there anything i can do to slow down the crack from widening?
i don't understand why the guy just doesn't give you your money back and apologize? did you actually ask him for your money back?
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Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
Tomac Mountain Bikes | Light-Bikes l Magura USA | Industry Nine | Schwalbe Tires | Caffélatex
Last edited by mx_599; 03-22-07 at 01:48 AM.
03-22-07 | 09:58 AM
#50
Thread Starter
Flatland hack
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
From: Nowhere near the mountains :/
Originally Posted by mx_599
sorry to see this happen to you. hope everything works out.
i don't understand why the guy just doesn't give you your money back and apologize? did you actually ask him for your money back?
i don't understand why the guy just doesn't give you your money back and apologize? did you actually ask him for your money back?