Anyone know of any? My Boardman cx has cracked at the seat post/top tube joint

Aluminium often needs heat treating after welding, so once you figure in that, and probably a respray, then you’re probably better off looking for a replacement frame. Look at it as a message from the cycling gods that an upgrade is allowed 😉

An upgrade was already planned but I can’t get my ctw voucher until january. I was hoping for a cheapish interim fix but that may be unachievable

If your not concerned about painting after welding, it might be worth a go for a short term fix.

Carbon wrap? I know someone over that way who used to do repairs and may be able to help you out?

Or, you could take the opportunity to purchase a lovely vintage Peugeot frame from me, right here in sunny Leeds!

@isitafox any details would be appreciated

Deffinately the frame cracked and not the smooth weld filler job they did on some models?

@snownrock email sent!

Aluminium frame weld repairs are pretty tricky due to heat-effects from welding making the surrounding metal brittle – heat treatments required to normalise and temper.

Easy Composites Repair Kit might be a good place to start:

Depends on where the crack is: Rub back to bare-metal, use kit as instructed – a couple of overlapping ‘bandages’ at right-angles to each other, apply release film and wrap-tightly to compress the resin / remove voids and leave to cure. It’ll look rough -can be smoothed down

@parkesie, definitely the frame broken. The seat post moves backwards and forwards whilst fully tightened into the frame. A visible crack is present.

I’ll have a look at the composite kit, thanks.

I had a disc mount welded to an ally GT I-drive frame years ago by
CHRIS MARSHALL CYCLES
UNIT.1, CORNMILL GARAGE, HALIFAX RD, INGROW BRIDGE, KEIGHLEY, YORKS., BD21 5AX
01535 691073
(sorry for lazy cut n paste)

never had a problem with it.

Thanks Carlosg, I’ll give them a whirl

Roughly how much is heat treatment after the weld?

Roughly how much is heat treatment after the weld?

About 300 quid regardless of wether its a 1 off or 20 we use the same place orange used to.

Does it say 7000 series on the frame thats an easier repair as it will age itself to some degree either way we weld these things together if they are 6000 or 7000 but if its an unknown an a cheapish frame then it might just be as cost effective to skip it and find one on ebay.

lots of unknown aluminium and titanium things get welded here, a lot of them are cast weird casings from rally cars and off road trucks ,and to be honest they hold up to some pretty heavy abuse after i fix them, way more than i would think they would take

I don’t have an answer but know a man who might be able to point you in the right direction.

Andy Wood – cytech level 3 mechanic – aka The Bike Doctor Leeds; if he doesn’t know someone in the area then you’re probably stuffed.

You can find him on the interweb; best to call his mobile, it’s shown on the website.

Further thought – Dave Yates, one of the stalwarts of UK frame building; he’s somewhere in Lincolnshire and has a basic website.
Why not contact Chris Boardman the person direct or Boardman Bikes the business?

Vernon Barker in Dronfield (nr Sheffield) did an alu bike of mine.
No heat treatment and still going years later.

APF

Ah….the old Boardman crack at seat/top tube.

I’ve broken two of them in the exact spot (Pro HT).

+1 for Vernon Barker. No problems at all….and proper old school bloke! 😉