Found a hole in my frame

What I previously thought to be a rust spot has turned out to be a hole on the underside of my chain stay. Not sure whether I should be riding it like this or how easy it would be to repair. Opinions would be appreciated

1 Attachment

some bikes have drain holes drilled to allow water out
if it's one of those you're fine

Seems like a slightly odd position for a drain hole. On the end of a tube sure but not facing out. It'd be inboard of the frame if anywhere. Also its a bit of a rough hole. Unless its just corroded.

I'd bin it. Unless replacing the chainstay is worth doing - collectable, precious or much loved frame for instance.

Might the frame previously had a braze-on there for a hub gear cable, drum brake etc?

I doubt it seeing as its a track frame

I really hope its a hole to allow water out as I've only just bought the thing a few months ago :( It seems to have been covered/clogged with paint. A fair bit of rust coloured water has come out of it just now. Could it not be plugged up through welding a chunk of metal on? (excuse my lack of knowledge on the topic). I've been riding it previously near enough every day and it seems fine structurally.

Hard to tell from your photo, but you should be able to tell whether it's a rust hole (jagged edges, thinned around, more rust around) or a deliberate hole, which might be a bit irregular due to paint on the edges but the hole in the metal should be round. Holes in frames allow water out or air (during processes that heat them up). There looks to be a bit of rust on your frame though - you could clean it up, then touch up with paint or you can get stuff that chemically bonds with and stops rust spreading, and see how it goes. Keep an eye on it in any case. Other factor to consider might be how much you thrash it.

Is there anything corresponding on the other stay?

Upon further inspection it would appear that this is a purpose made hole. I stripped back a few layers of paint and after a poke around the hole widened (basically flaked off).
Had a look on the other stay and found another hole UNDER the chrome. I also dug out an old raleigh frame which coincidentally seems to have the same holes drilled. Conclusions anyone? safe? Unsafe? I've included a picture of the bike for some context.

4 Attachments

It's a hole to let the gasses expand when the tube is heated up. If it wasn't there the expanding gas would blow the join apart when it was being welded.
Just treat it with something to stop it rusting any more and ride it.

Unless the stay breaks, in which case I didn't write that ^

It's on the underside of the stay? Your initial photo showed it on top.

There's one on each side?

In which case, see adroits's answer above.

Surely these holes are fine and probably part of the design, I've had a few track frames with them including my cdale

Yeah sorry the bike was upside down mate haha I did say it was on the underside though.
Fair enough then, panic over. My only concern is that the hole is flaky and jagged. Still gonna ride it like, planning on having it blasted and powder coated in the near future.

Thanks for your advice people

That#s OK, no problem, glad this tale has a happy ending! :)

If it is a drain hole then I'd be a bit concerned by how large its getting. It looks much bigger than at first and/or compared to the Raleigh.

this. its very big for a drainage hole.. also much larger then the other one right?

maybe best to just get to a framebuilder (you in london? plenty about) and let them assess it.

It's near the end of the tube so they could just drip loads of stuff into it and fill the end of the tube then clean up any that spills out.

I'd be more worried about the truck running over the rear end.

Whats up with those dropouts?

dropouts are sound mate its just the angle of the photo

Ha.