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[Closed] Do you think this ally frame is repairable?

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[#11242263]

Quite a nice Trek aluminium hybrid frame - crack appeared around weld just below the seatpost? Doable? Economic to? Or scrap?
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Posted : 10/06/2020 5:42 pm
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scrap


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 5:45 pm
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Isn't there a lifetime warranty on Trek frames for the original owner?


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 5:47 pm
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I had a Gary Fisher crack there, it cost £50 to get welded up. It lasted another 2 years if occasional commuting and nursery runs before it went again.


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 5:48 pm
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Why that's a mere sticker!


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 5:51 pm
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Longer seatpost. A lot longer.


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 5:55 pm
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As above, repair and nice long post.


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 6:07 pm
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am guessing the crack started at the front of the weld over the top tube. Weld looks a bit shit there so definitely warranty if you are the 1st owner.


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 6:15 pm
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Thanks, not the original owner (although I do know him, bought about 4 years ago), was given to me for parts but started thinking it might actually be fixable, as some have said with a new weld and longer seatpost, cheers


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 6:44 pm
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Does that sticker say "made in a rush"


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 6:45 pm
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Scrap.

What is it worth fixed...properly?

How much will it cost to repair....properly, including heat treatment etc.?


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 7:15 pm
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Is there a sticker on it saying what grade of aluminium was used?

Some are heat treated then welded, others are welded, then heat treated.

Obviously that make a big difference to how involved any repair is.


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 7:36 pm
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If you want to keep riding it then a bodge-ish weld repair will give it a bit more life. Heat treatment isn't feasible. It will crack again sometime but a failure in that location isn't going to be sudden / catastrophic.

Minimise repair costs by prepping it yourself - clean off any lacquer, grease and adjacent parts. Drill ends of cracks. Maybe file back the cracked welds (ask welder first).

Don't use chlorinated solvents to degrease (some carb / brake cleaners) or you could poison the welder (seriously) just acetone or IP alcohol.

I presume it is a removable seat collar? Reducing the height of the seat tube stub above the top tube seriously reduces the stresses in that joint and reduces the chance of cracking (but don't go crazy with the saw).


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 7:46 pm
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Isn’t there a lifetime warranty on Trek frames for the original owner?

😄


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 8:03 pm
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Potentially cracked further under the weld. My Cannondale was, when I hacked the frame to bits , so I didnt have to send it back when the warranty replacement appeared. Was 3 cracks internally in the end and only the one visible from the outside.


 
Posted : 10/06/2020 8:11 pm