I need a Bike Doctor...

I was just cycling and felt a thwap... What can be done and where can do it?

Frame 'Andre Bertin Vitus 979'.

the lugs need to be reglued using an epoxy resin.
Quite common on old Vitus Alan and other alloy / carbon bonded frames.
Not that hard to do

Fuck! I bet that was a dramatic discovery.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Cheers pal. I'm on it.

It was dramatic indeed.

Anyone think this might be a link to my other thread? Downtube shifter keeps moving
I checked the shifter and couldn't spot any abnormalities... Perhaps it was a sign that it was stressed.

the BB shell could have been moving and pulling the cable.

Aye. Because it only happened 'if' I were on the bike, and not off it. Must be it...

I'll post here the type of 3M 2-part epoxy I used. You can borrow some if need be. I gave up in the end as if I had a failure in London traffic, I'd be kaput.

Thanks for the offer bud but I'm going to be extremely busy over the next few weeks so would find it hard to find time to meet. Where are you located by the way?

Also, in terms of durability etc etc - Will this generally be fine to ride? If the frame was put together originally using a substance, then I don't see why it wouldn't hurt?

Found this. Looks suitable.

"Bondloc B2013 forms a high strength chemical weld on most metals. Steel Weld actually contains steel and works on steel, aluminium, brass, copper, iron and pewter. Strength 2500 psi. Please note: We are not allowed to sell butane or solvent based products to persons under the age of 18."

http://www.maplin.co.uk/metal-epoxy-resin-46006?c=froogle&u=46006&t=module

might do nasty things to the carbon if it has solvents in to clean up the metal it's bonding.

Araldite

Araldite gets my vote too, the slow setting type is perfect, cheap and more than strong enough

Alright, just purchased this from Amazon. I hope this is rather successful. I love the bike too much.

Cheers.

M

You need something with a very high peel strength. Which is why I used 3M DP-420.

It might break again; it's difficult to get a good bond the second time around as the surfaces need to be exceptionally clean.

Also, you should try and imagine how much force you put on the BB joints when stamping on the pedals. If you're not careful, you'll smash the thing to bits.

If I were doing this, I'd carefully drill the lugs and tubes before adhering, and fit maybe M2 or M2.5 bolts through them (glued in place).

I have reglued three carbon / alloy frames, one over 10 years ago, with araldite, and they are all still in use. The critical thing is to prepare the surfaces to get a good bond, first remove anything loose, like bits of old glue, and then clean the whole lot with lighter fluid. Leave it to evaporate, then apply the glue. Be very very careful with the mix, you have to get the ratio of adhesive to hardener exactly right.

The beauty of triangulation is that the forces through the frame are well dispersed, so once the glue has set (leave it at least 48 hours to allow full curing) the joints won't be under too much load.

The BB area fails due to water especially salty water getting in to the joint. This is also true of the lower joint on the head tube. Before you do any gluing wrap some old inner tubes around the down tube and see if there is any sign of the joint at the top being loose, because if it is it will be quite a pain to redo it once you have glued the other two frame tubes, so now is the time to find out.

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Yeah Rodabod initially I did think about doing something like that but my resources aren't great for this. Plus I would be worried about ruining it somehow. Would only put that in careful hands of a pro.

Adroit - Some one did mention about using sand paper to roughen the inner side of the down tube and outer part of the lugs to add extra support because of the grittyness? But this was based on an analysis of general metal bonding and not for bikes. What do you think?

I will ensure that the procedure is done correctly, I don't want this going tits up somehow.

Yeah, giving some roughness to the surface is a good idea, but the carbon would be weakened, as it would also be by drilling it.
I don't think either are really necessary, but a light scouring with say 240 grit emery cloth would help, to remove the old glue from the surface of the carbon, and if you can get inside the lugs to remove any glue and probably some oxidisation from the aluminium.
Drilling it and putting screws in wouldn't really help, and would certainly spoil it!
Also looking at the picture are the chainstays bonded to the shell too? Might want to make sure they are secure!

http://www.ebay.at/itm/CARBONREPARATIES-/220926945962?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_146&hash=item337045aaaa

Take care!

Have a specialized epic allez, lovely to ride, but stopped riding because I don´t want the bonds to losen up while I am on the bike!

I'd rather be riding my gas pipe Dawes!

Yeah, just be careful. You don't want to be thrashing against the BB while in front of a car and then suddenly find your foot hits the floor. That's why I sold my frame (after repairing it like you did, and subsequently breaking it again). And I loved that bike; it was a Peugeot PY10 fibre de carbone.

Well, I did actually get around to doing this some time back.

Bad news...

Recently the vertical tube has come apart (looks like I didn't apply enough resin). But, in order for me to apply another 'fix' to this. I need to get the other tube to come apart. I've tried applying some force with my weight, and even bashing the frame (cushioned of course) in hope that the shock will crack the resin apart.

Can anyone recommend a solution to getting it apart again? Or somehow sorting out the issue. I'm more than happy to leave this in someone elses hands with pay.

I can't bear to let this bike go. I've been considering drilling a small hole through the frame and have a bolt to support it. But I'm wary that this may damage it and also shun it's beautiful looks.

Once again I'm either walking 3.5 miles to work or taking public transport. (wretch...)

Before you do any gluing wrap some old inner tubes around the down tube and see if there is any sign of the joint at the top being loose, because if it is it will be quite a pain to redo it once you have glued the other two frame tubes, so now is the time to find out.

what I was saying!
What glue did you use?

Oops...

Araldite

what I was saying!
What glue did you use?

Seriously, I once read that pineapple juice dissolves Araldite.