Welding

buffalo

I discovered a clean break through the right chain stay of my frame recently, very close to the hub. What's the story with getting it welded? What should I expect to pay, and how long would it last? Any recommendations for particular places to get it done?




Comments about the state of cassette/chain/cable ties not needed. :P

Lusk_Doyle

Ah jaysus. I read that as "wedding" and got all excited.

Can't imagine welding that shear that you have would be pricey at all. In fact, I'd pay for it as a wedding present, were there to be one!

iwillhtfu

I'd say if it could be welded it would probably warp the tube and inevitably snap again.

Unless it's got some kind of sentimental value I'd be inclined to bin it.

As for the cassette :eek:

shopper2011

Can't be done to make the frame usable again. Unkown materiall. High temperatures will stress the frame. Energy when used will be transferred and be increased on another location not designed to take the pressure. High probablity there are more cracks in other locations on the frame.

buffalo

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Unless it's got some kind of sentimental value I'd be inclined to bin it.

The timing for buying a new bike is not great, so I'd like to get even just a few months out of it.

saccades

Steel = weld it.
Aluminium = bin it (would need to be heated treated after welding which would push the price right up).

Pretty much any steel fabrication place (or autobody place) would be able to do it, I'd be grumpy if I had to pay more than 30 quid or so if the frame was stripped down ready for the welder.

Gen.Zhukov

Stick a magnet on the frame. If it sticks > steel.
It looks like an aluminium alloy frame (weight of bike should confirm that) The weld to the right of the crack looks like Al tig weld. Strip it down and bring it to a Al fabricator. Get him to weld both sides of the crack. Heat treating won't be needed. Should end up stronger than the original.

LollipopJimmy

That piece that joins the two tubes could be cast which won't weld, it'd melt first.
If you have somebody nearby who makes gates you could ask but without knowing what it is it's impossible to say unfortunately.

Eamonnator

About 20 years ago, my son cracked an alloy frame. We didn't know anything about heat stress or warping or anything like that. We brought it to a welder, who said he could weld it. we got it done. Frame lasted for years. In fact, it could still be in the attic.
Don't overthink it.

magicbastarder

isn't the bicycle design centre (naas?) the default place to recommend here?

eeeee

Get Brendan in Bicycle Design Centre to have a look. He knows whether these things are possible or not and he'll be able to do it if so.
http://www.bicycledesigncentre.com

doozerie

I suggest baling twine and rust. This combination has been holding the bulk of farming machinery together in this country since forever, a bicycle would pose no challenge to it.

nilhg

doozerie wrote: »

I suggest baling twine and rust. This combination has been holding the bulk of farming machinery together in this country since forever, a bicycle would pose no challenge to it.

Actually for this one I'd just clamp a vice grips on it and work away:D

mickdw

It's not an f1 car, I'd weld it.
Strip the parts, clean back to bare metal and get someone to weld it.
It will be stronger than factory.

eeeee

nilhg wrote: »

Actually for this one I'd just clamp a vice grips on it and work away:D

Is there anything to be said for a jubilee clip?!

Lusk_Doyle

shopper2011 wrote: »

Can't be done to make the frame usable again. Unkown materiall. High temperatures will stress the frame. Energy when used will be transferred and be increased on another location not designed to take the pressure. High probablity there are more cracks in other locations on the frame.

How is there a high probability that there are more cracks in other locations on the frame?

enfield

You can see where the piece has been welded on the top strut so it has be welded before. You would have to take the frame only to an A/C D/C T.I.G. High Frequency aluminum welder to have it done. The parts to be welded will have to be thoroughly wire brushed. The welder will do this as he will know how to do it correctly. The heating of the pieces will be done by the welding torch as this will also extra clean it using the A.C. The actual welding, including cleaning should not take any more than 15 minutes. 10 minutes cleaning, 5 minutes heating and welding. The person welding can penetrate and build up the weld to strengthen the unit. But remember it broke for a reason, so find out what that was. If you do not correct this it will happen again.
Aluminium welding is not rocket science. T.I.G. Steel welding is 95% practice and 5% theory, Aluminium welding is 80% practice, 10% theory, and 10% knowing how the aluminium reacts with the torch.
Even a T.I.G. steel welder will have to do a course to weld aluminium. Its a horse of a different colour.

Of course it can be welded, chin up lad. Its not a biggie.
Cheers.
Tom.

Melodeon

Yep, that's a fabricated aluminium frame. It was originally TIG welded together, so it can of course be repaired by TIG welding.
The top weld looks like a previous repair to me and the lower one beside the break looks like the factory original.
Strip the mechanical components off it and wipe off the main dirt with a rag, and bring it to your chosen competent TIG weldor as-is.
The joint preparation for Al TIG welding is critical, and contamination of the metal with solvents or oils will unnecessarily complicate the job.
Don't use an ordinary wire brush either, that'll contaminate the metal with iron particles that'll weaken the weld.

magicbastarder

ah, i didn't know there was a pic attached - it's not displaying for me.

Melodeon

magicbastarder wrote: »

ah, i didn't know there was a pic attached - it's not displaying for me.

It's some sort of odd google web storage account format. Here 'tis as a Boards attachment:

TheBoyConor

Scrap it. Waste of time.

Even if you welded it, year sure it might be OK for years but on the other hand you could never trust it. It could snap again or somewhere else going downhill and the frame would collapse and cause you a serious injury.

Any responsible fabricators would know this and probably refuse to even touch it in case that happened and you made a case against them.

I'm quite sure a suitably experienced bike frame specialist could repair it no problem but it would not be just a simple weld. They would probably cut out the cracked fitting entirely and weld in a new one that fits. As said, you might find that heat treatments and destressing etc might be needed.
All that is going to cost €€€€€ though and by the looks of the cassette, your bike is not a highly valuable precision built bike. So bin it.

CramCycle

Cable ties?

Nekarsulm

TIG weld it.
Have a very good look for other cracks in the frame.

TheBoyConor

Splint it with baling twine and a board off a fertilizer pallet.

ford2600

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Splint it with baling twine and a board off a fertilizer pallet.

Amateur hour.

Two jubilee clips and the straight section of a haybob tine

If you weld it yourself OP don't forget some lumpy paint to fill the gaps

magicbastarder

https://sugru.com/

TheBoyConor

Exacltly. And if the weld is lumpy just take the hills down with a grinder. (of course you'll use the cutting disk for the grinding).
Paint should be applied while the metal is still searing hot so that the paint burns into the metal. "aw lad, sure it'd be as good as galvanise sure"

There's always a plan b tho ...... Isopon and DonDeal

Nekarsulm

ford2600 wrote: »

Amateur hour.

Two jubilee clips and the straight section of a haybob tine

If you weld it yourself OP don't forget some lumpy paint to fill the gaps

All welders know that chewed gum can be moulded to look exactly like a good bead of weld. Bit of spray paint and you're sorted.

TheBoyConor

Silicone or GripFill also.

Type 17

This stuff might do it.

secman

OP time to realise that your investment of €20 in the bike is heading south, it's a write off in many ways, looks like it was never in receipt of TLC... move on .. it's only €20 after All.