Cracked IF Planet X?

In 2008, I took advantage of a strong pound and friends visiting from Vermont to pick up an Indy Fab Planet X. It's done sterling service over the last 7 years and fits so well that when, red wine inspired, I decided to get a custom SSCX all I did was measure it up and make a few very tiny tweaks (e.g. clearance, mudguard eyes).

After an ill conceived but thoroughly enjoyable bikepacking adventure last weekend, I though I should do a bit of cleaning yesterday. And noticed....

I'm not absolutely convinced that it is a crack but am pretty worried as it certainly feels more than paint deep with my fingernail. Off to the LBS tomorrow to remove some paint and know one way or the other but if it is indeed unsound then I'm expecting a complicated/expensive repair.

Oh dear.....

Hmmmm - junction of two tubes. But then I've seen quite a few cracked frames and never seen one go there.

Either way - with it being IF, it'll be worth getting done.

Best of luck.

That looks like it could be a crack on the edge of the weld, which would be a right bother. What did the LBS say?

Talk to IF, they are exceptional (I know, I have one of these as well as a Ti Crown Jewel and IF customer service is second to none) and you want to save that frame !

Slackly I have failed to visit the LBS but plan to on Thursday (it's shut on Wednesday).

I did contact IF on Saturday. No response yet.....

Update.

I received a response from IF to say that mades sense to check with the LBS and if problem confirmed then I should get back in touch and they'd sort it out.

As feared/suspected, the visit to the LBS today confirmed that it is cracked so I'll contact IF again and go from there.

I 2nd Ifs customer service. I had a frame that an bonded carbon sleeve came loose of the seattube on (think they only do this on the carbon and stainless versions). They sent a new sleeve and tooling (nothing serious but still) so my lbs could fit the new sleeve free of charge from usa to sweden. And i wasn't even the original owner of that frame. They obviously stand by there product even when they don't really have to.

Hope it gets sorted, lovely frame those planet x!

IF concurred that, given the position of the crack, the number of tubes involved and the weakening from further heating, it would probably not be economic to repair. A 'crash replacement' programme has been mentioned which is basically a new frame at reduced price so I've asked for more details.

That is great news. It does seem that many of the smaller American brands have great customer service and if they can't help repair are willing to do something else instead.

Yes, it's definitely good customer service although unfortunately the cost of shipping back my frame (which is part of the policy) plus the VAT and other duty when a new frame returns means that you are not far shy of a new frame bought in the UK.

I'll need to think what I might do but an option is to try to get the frame patched up locally (how long will a fillet brazed fix last?) and, if that doesn't work, look to an EU based frame builder for a replacement. Or, even better, luck out on another second hand IF of the right size.

A, not certain but if IF mark it as a warranty replacement you may avoid duty.

What is your size?

Indeed, although I think it's probably safer to factor in the duty cost - I got royally stung on VAT on a very old, tatty frame that was marked as a 'gift' because it was - and then treat it as a bonus if you don't get charged.

I'd need to measure to be sure but from memory 64ish cm for seat tube, 58.5ish cm for top tube

I visited the LBS this morning to look at the patch up option. Removing paint showed that the seat tube had rotted through from the inside due to being sealed so patching up isn't possible.

Will have to have a further think plus work on my wife letting me have it as a wall hanger

Sorry to hear that. You need a slightly larger bike ?! than i could potentially offer aswell depending on angles.

A new if doesent sound all that bad tho ;)

Thinking complete - I loved this frame but a £1,500 replacement is out of the question, and not just because it may suffer the same fate.

Nt in the same league but an All City Macho Man looks on the cards.....

So, ordered and paid for the Macho Man only to find that although listed as 'In Stock" they didn't have any and nor did the distributor......

Cue looking at all sorts of options. Nothing quite hits the mark and, pulling the IF out of the shed this morning I had renewed pangs of hurt that it isn't realistically repairable as, bar of course being knackered, it did the job so well.

I also got a bit testy about the frankly daft design of sealing the seat tube - my fault for neglecting what now seems obvious maintenance, but should you really need to take the post out every couple of months and let it dry out? Answer is clearly 'yes' although if I had another IF I'd be taking a drill to it, which is crazy.

given that the frame is a decent one is it not worth more investigation into getting it repaired?

^ so much this. It's gotta be worth gettin a frame builder to have a look at relpacing the seat tube.
Try kinetics in Scotland, seems to do most major tube repairs, and not excessively expensive.

I did check with the LBS who is an accredited 753 builder so knows his stuff. The view was that due to the position of the hole and the effect of heat treating the tubes again would mean a new seat tube, downtube, seat stays and chain stays. Plus maybe a new b/b and definitely a respray. Images of Trigger's broom came to ind.

As above though, worth getting a second (and third etc) opinion. I'll try kinetics - any others?

Matt at Talbot frameworks, and give Rourke a shout. Nowt to lose.

I'd cut your losses on this one. Getting a polish builder to build you an exact copy (same tubeset/geo) could come out roughly the same price as replacing every tube except the HT and TT.

I'd defer to Matt on this but as it's TIG'd, whilst theoretically fixable is going to require more effort to fix than it would take to make a new frame.

Yes, have been definitely thinking along those lines, could even get another Orlowski to go with the SS version, inverse paint (so sulphur and grape) or even a copy of the IF finish, maybe discs instead of cantis?