Is this borked? Damaged Giant Trance Advanced carbon frame content

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Is this borked? Damaged Giant Trance Advanced carbon frame content

17 posts & 14 voices | Started 6 months ago by was | Latest reply from emac65

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was - Member

Hi all,

I have a 2007 Trance advanced frameset. On close inspection I notice in the area where the front mech clamps there is a a "bulge" between the parts of the front mech clamp and a crack running down.

You can see it here:

Front mech is the original XTR and has been moved up the tube by persons unknown.

This does not look right to me and I suspect an over zealous mechanic has torqued the front mech clamp too tight.

However it may well be normal - can anyone with a 2007/2008 trance advanced or any other giant carbon frame confirm their tube is totally round or does it have this bulge?

I have contacted a few companies for repair quotes but wonder if anyone out there has a similar frameset.

Posted 6 months ago #
float - Member

This does not look right to me and I suspect an over zealous mechanic has torqued the front mech clamp too tight.

correct, i can gaurantee that bulge isnt a design feature. any chance you can take it back?

edit, just read its from 08. bit of a bugger that. id be tempted to keep riding it but keep a very close eye on it to see if the crack grows any bigger

Posted 6 months ago #
wwaswas - Member

it must have made a good sound when whoever did it up was hanging off their Allen key

Posted 6 months ago #
epicyclo - Member

Rub it down and wrap some c/f cloth soaked in epoxy around it. You'll have to modify the derailleur to fit.

Posted 6 months ago #
whytetrash - Member

E Fit front mech ? and frame wrapping jobs a good un...had a ritchey p22 back in the day with the same issue!

Posted 6 months ago #
no_eyed_deer - Member

:Waves Hand:

I've got this exact frame and can confirm there's no deformation at that point on the frame on mine.

Doesn't look like a massive issue to me - crack looks as if it's just in the clear epoxy stuff. The best thing about this frame is you can easily keep an eye on a crack like this! I suspect that nothing much will happen.

Stormin' bike by the way

Posted 6 months ago #
BigJohn - Member

Araldite or some other 2-part epoxy resin will be a bit of a help. No need for carbon fibre, but you can use fine glass fibre mat if there is a big area to strengthen. Just pick away any loose surface material and if there is a bit of a hole left, flood it with the resin.

Posted 6 months ago #
was - Member

Hi everyone thanks for the advice.

If I wrap a repair layer of CF around it the tube will obviously be fatter and also slightly out of "round" with overlap. I'm not sure you can get a front mech larger than 34.9 so e-type is an interesting option, would need a solution for the retaining screw.

However I'm also not sure an e-type mech will fit with all the maestro suspension gubbins. Might be worth a try though.

Posted 6 months ago #
emac65 - Member

I'd use some fibreglass matting on it,it will last forever then....

Posted 6 months ago #
uwe-r - Member

I remember using car glass fibre patch kits that would do the job, I used them on surfboards. You get a small patch of glass fibres and the epoxy in the kit, just sand down the damage and then wrap the area in the fibre glass and apply the epoxy, sand it down again and your off.

Posted 6 months ago #
buzz-lightyear - Member

Get rid of the front mech and ride it 1x. Ride it an keep an eye on it I would!

Posted 6 months ago #
no_eyed_deer - Member

Hmmmm.. Personally, I'd avoid repairing it entirely. Covering it in fibreglass / resin / CF will not necessarily make it stronger, unless you do an absolutely superb job.

What it will do is:

1) Hide the crack completely from view

2) Look mank

I still reckon that crack is going nowhere. Giant definitely know what they are doing - and that area of the frame is likely to be especially hoofingly thick.

IMO

Posted 6 months ago #
oneoneoneone - Member

how about drilling small holes either end of the crack to stop them elongating. this is only an idea please get other opinions/expert advice 1st

we used to do it on ali cracks and it seemed to work but now we are dealing with a composite so the properties have changed.

Posted 6 months ago #
steve_b77 - Member

The drilling of holes on each of longitudinal cracks in carbon until they are repaired properly is quite a common thing to do on carbon fishing poles, done it myself in fact.

It stops the crack from spreading further up the tube, so long as the hole it small and right on the end of the crack.

Not overly sure I'd do it on a bike frame though.

Posted 6 months ago #
cynic-al - Member

I'd be extremely surprised if that caused any problems whatsoever, unless it is getting worse over time.

Just tighten it correctly and monitor it, no need whatsoever to spend any money yet.

Posted 6 months ago #
compositepro - Member

If you want to repair it yourself you can do it internally

Posted 6 months ago #
emac65 - Member

Hmmmm.. Personally, I'd avoid repairing it entirely. Covering it in fibreglass / resin / CF will not necessarily make it stronger, unless you do an absolutely superb job.

It's fibreglass matting not that rubbish fibreglass crap that you get in P40 tins. You apply the resin cut the matting into strips then wrap it around the frame,reappy resin,thus making a tight second skin,a very strong one too....can be built up to make several layers for added strength if you so wish.....As used on boats,cars & my Kona when it cracked around the seat tube/top tube weld 12 mths ago,which is still fine btw......

Posted 6 months ago #

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