Seat Tube Break

So just a quick question.

I have a lovely frame at home, that has a crack, from too much fixie skidding, on the seat tube - right above the BB shell.

Has anyone done this before AND what did you do?

THIS IS THE ACTUAL FRAME!

Really - i suppose what I'm asking is - is it fatal? Is there any point in forking out 100 quid to get it repaired just for the integrity of the frame to be ruined?

If its steel, it can be repaired as the seat tube can be replaced. Depends how much the frame is worth to you.

If you repair it (that being a steel frame) it will never be as good and will be a weak spot in the bike. You need to seriously weigh up how much the bike is worth to you, and how much it will cost you in the future.

thats fucked mate, proper fucked.

no seriously. thats fucked.

i call troll and claim my free Olympic dinner service.

It's similar to this - but no on the weld - it's also an old steel frame.

]

Yes the image is fucked up, not sure about his frame though

oh, read fail. that frame is fucked. lets see pics of the real busted thing then,

I have had a top tube on one steel frame and a seat stay on another replaced and once repainted, the frames were as good as new, but ....

This was in the 70's when brazed steel was all that was generally available and it was cheaper than a new frame. Now, the cost of mass produced frames is much less than the cost of repair and repainting, you have to decide whether your frame is worth it.

What frame is it? Looks like quite a high end frame from the quality of the welding. Also is it Ti? Or just brushed & clearcoated steel, and carbon rear end?

If its high end, probably worth getting it repaired, However, as already mentioned, if the stays are carbon bonded into the back of the BB cluster then I really doubt it can be done without having to remove those first, then rejoin*

*and THAT will be the bit that 99% of framebuilders will say no to.

Shouldn't be a problem to fix this.
What you'll need to do is go to a specialist company that can laser weld - so that it doesn't weaken the surrounding metal by interfering with the heat treating. A friend of mine is sending his Pace RC200 frame with a cracked headtube to these people:

http://www.carrswelding.co.uk/cycling.html

They mostly weld alloyed steels so your bike shouldn't pose a problem. It's worth giving them a call to discuss.

Its definitely worth forking out for Keith. All he needs is a seat tube replacement, and then a new paint job. You're looking at about £200 + postage if you get it done at Mercian.

Edit - just to clarify, the frame in the picture is in considerably worse shape than the OPs. His is steel, and the seat tube has snapped above the bottom bracket, but not at the weld.

Talk to Ryan, tell him Joe sentcha...

Its definitely worth forking out for Keith. All he needs is a seat tube replacement, and then a new paint job. You're looking at about £200 + postage if you get it done at Mercian.

Edit - just to clarify, the frame in the picture is in considerably worse shape than the OPs. His is steel, and the seat tube has snapped above the bottom bracket, but not at the weld.

Thanks for clarifying on my behalf Rob - that was just the first picture i found on google - I will change the photo over now - its also below this post.

The frame is an 80s steel Keith Coppell pursuit frame. It's a beauty. and I love it.

Just gonna bump this up for more assesments as there is now a proper photo - thoughts?

fill the seatube with virgins blood, then lob it as far u can.. preferably in 2 a furnace.

The image you previously posted ( http://www.cyclingtechblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/3648620328_e7bf6fa293_b.jpg ) was just the welding come undone.

That is usually the sign of poor workmanship (unclean area, area not pre-heated prior to weld, or area over-heated prior to weld, etc). And it can be fixed fairly easily by someone skilled and with a jig. They'd melt of the old weld, re-position it in the jig, and put on a new weld... simples.

What you have shown isn't the sign of poor workmanship, it's a physical break in the tube.

That would come about from an accident, or as you mention from it being used in a way that it wasn't intended.

Can you get it fixed?

Yes. It involves the removal of the seat tube, and possible replacement of the lugs (particularly the BB shell).

It will be expensive, it will require a new paint job, and the frame may be weaker for it.

Unless the frame has immense sentimental meaning for you and you really want to keep it... it's not going to be worth the money.

Start looking for another bike.

Oh, and you can put that one on eBay... "minor scratches" I think the term is.

repairable or junk?

Repairable but it depends on what the frame is worth. It might end up more expensive than it's worth to you.