[Closed] Frame snapped at chainstay

Yes

Is it an On One? If so, i think Brant pays you to have it repaired.

Not your El Mar I hope.

Yes, the El Mar! I'm absolutely inconsolable as that's the only bike I've ever really properly become attached to, it's such a wonderful thing.

I was on a bit of trail that's slow, rocky with a topping of turf, goes up and down a bit. Pedalled, heard a bang, thought I'd broken a spoke. Took me a minute or two to realise what'd happened.

As it happened, my wife had left her phone at home that day so I couldn't call a rescue in. She was due home before too long but as it happened, I'd brought her phone with me in case the school called due to snow. So I had to walk. I was on a tiny little road that's pretty difficult, and I assumed that the chance of meeting a car was virtually nil however within about ten minutes a van came past. Thumb out, he stopped, turned out he was an MTBer too. He brought me all the way home!

The frame's already a warranty replacement, but I'm still inside the warranty period of the original one, so here's hoping they don't deny my claim by blaming it on chainsuck. Even if they do agree a replacement they don't currently make anything similar. The Fargo is the closest but I'd need new drop bars and appropriate levers/shifters from what I can tell.

Trawl through http://www.bespoked.cc/2019-a-c.html and find someone near to you. It's doable, just gonna be a balance of cost V new.

@Molgrips gutted for you.

Nearest I have seen recently is Brother cycles Big Bro.

Hope it can get sorted for you.

Yeah, I can't really afford a new frame. Plus, that bike has a 135 rear and no boost or anything.

Thats rotten luck. Interested if you have it repaired as I have a Sherpa with a cracked chainstay I may get repaired.

Talking of which a Sherpa is an option and they are on offer at the moment.

Try Argos Racing Cycles in Bristol, they specialise in steel frame repairs.

2 options - fast and dirty - local welder to weld it up and either sleeve it or reinforce with something inside it or the proper method - get a frame builder to replace the entire tube

Bin it, if they don't replace. If it's failed inside a warranty period, I wouldn't be chucking any more money at it.

That's the other question - is it going to fail again? It's not like it's had abuse, the only thing they could complain about is having had a spot of chainsuck a few times, but that shouldn't wreck a steel frame. But there's no cash to replace it.

Get a new tube put in

Tbf

I have done them lately by welding a shaped plate over it and silver soldering the open end of the gusset ...most folks are like yep holding up

Fingers crossed warranty comes good, but if not shoud be able to find a local framebuilder to fit a new chainstay. Id not get a local welder to bodge it myself as the Mariachi isnt made anymore so hard to replace.

get a surly as a replacement. far far too thick walled steel to snap.

a good welder will fettle that no problem.

Bin it, if they don’t replace. If it’s failed TWICE
inside a warranty period, I wouldn’t be chucking any more money at it.

Anyone had this done and able to give an idea of cost?

http://argoscycles.com/resprays-refurb/price-lists/

Looks like £120 at Argos cycles to replace a chainstay and chainstay bridge.

Reynolds 725 tubing used - but other more expensive options available.

Aye, well observed Scotroutes! 🙂

If one has snapped twice what is the other one like? As above^^^ get a full replacement or bin the thing, and don't buy another, however much you like it; you cannot rely on it. Not a good advert for them.

The first one bent during a big ring/big sprocket/too short chain incident. They replaced the frame, and gave me a new fork too because the old one was the wrong colour to match the new frame. I told them about the too short chain so they could have refused a replacement but they didn't, they felt that the frame should not have bent regardless. They were extremely generous and that give me a very positive impression of the company.

They may have designed this particular bike a bit on the light side but I'm prepared to forgive them. If all their bikes snap though, that's another issue. But I can't fault their commitment to their customers.

What was the previous warranty claim for?

Plus the bike was beyond awesome for what I needed it for. There's no other bike I'd want over this one TBH.

Looks like £120 at Argos cycles to replace a chainstay and chainstay bridge.

Plus painting?

Unless the frame is worth a lot (to you) I'd try to find the "bodge" repair mentioned above that is likely to be perfectly serviceable (had it done myself) if you have the clearance.

The first one bent during a big ring/big sprocket/too short chain incident. They replaced the frame, and gave me a new fork too because the old one was the wrong colour to match the new frame. I told them about the too short chain so they could have refused a replacement but they didn’t, they felt that the frame should not have bent regardless.

Interesting, did you rip the hanger off? How was the stay too short?

I really feel for you Molgrips. There aren't many options with that sort of geometry now but it does work for certain riders/types of riding.

I would be in a similar dilemma if anything like that happened to my KM Ops.

Hope you get a positive outcome.

How was the stay too short?

The chain was too short? I'd never expect that to bend a frame but then I obviously don't put out the power that molgrips does.

Interesting, did you rip the hanger off? How was the stay too short?

The chain was too short. It jammed, under middling load, I wasn't hammering, and it pulled the rear wheel sideways about an inch.

Flippin 'eck. Took it apart for some pics and the chainsuck damage is WAY worse than I thought. I don't think I can summon up the cheek to ask Salsa for a new one, it's trashed. The gouge top right is really deep. Genuinely no idea how it got that bad - it's not like chainsuck has been a recurring problem on this bike. I've had recurring problems before and not had anywhere near this kind of damage. Maybe because of the tyre clearance there's less room for the chain when it does get sucked.

I think I need to go 1x.

[img] [/img]

Doesnt look too bad 😉

As said Stanton Sherpas are on offer at the moment.

@ Molgrips
If you don't ask...

Repair is the cheapest and best option I reckon.

Anyone got any tips for chainsuck protection?

@ Molgrips
If you don’t ask…

Yeah but.. I'd be taking the piss wouldn't I. Plus it's not like they still make them so how would they replace it?

I guess so, but maybe they can recommend a repair company? I would still discuss it with them. But that is just me.

Anyone got any tips for chainsuck protection?

I'd be looking at prevention first. Is it something to do with the soil type in your area that it happens so much?

A bit of inner tube wrapped around the chain stay (the way you'd wrap handkebars) will offer some protection and is easily/cheaply replaced.

Flippin’ heck! Those of you on here who don’t know the bike, molgrips’ Salsa El Mariachi is/was beautiful! Gorgeous colour, interesting geometry... the sort of bike that, if I could only have one bike ever, I myself would have wanted.

I’m gutted for you, mol.

@Molgrips. If you get it repaired then you could have something like this done to give more chain/tyre clearance.

Chainsuck prevention; stop chain getting hooked up on chainring, so clutch mech best option, keep chain clean or replace chain before too worn and wears drivetrain, replace drivetrwin before too worn. Use chainrings that dont wear too quickly (eg FSA).

Lessen impact; check spacing between chain rings and chainstay so if does happen chain doesnt get so jammed. Protect chainstay with something tough.

Tbh since going to 10 speed clutch mechs I havent experienced it at all.

I’m gutted for you, mol.

Appreciated - and yes, if I could only have one bike that'd be it. If I won the lottery, I'd keep it and just upgrade the components.

Is it something to do with the soil type in your area that it happens so much?

Yeah, there's lots of sandstone so you get thin gritty mud when it's wet enough. Of course I do take precautions, and it hasn't happened a lot - just a few times. But apparently it was enough. I used to have regular issues on other bikes and never had any negative effects.

Can we have pics of a bit more. ?

I'm stunned at that... I'm not sure i could damage one that much with an angle grinder !

Anyone got any tips for chainsuck protection

Get yourself an anti chainsuck plate.
[img] [/img]

Bad luck. Fwiw I enquired with Argos about getting a replacement chainstay on a 635 p7. They wanted to do both sides, and by the time you'd added paint it really wasn't worth it.

It sounds a nice frame, hard to replace and well loved so no brainer to get it repaired.

Is it the swinger dropout frame? That looks like a pretty easy repair to do (hacksaw off the old stay, file off the remains at bb and dropout then braze in a new one). The stay itself is only £15-20. If you were nearer I would have happily helped out for a box of beer (you are South Wales ish?). Unfortunately I'm wrong end of England.

I've done a double stay with twin half inch tubes which gains clearance without crimping but doubt you'd convince someone else to build that 🙂

Edit:
My Ironworks twin stay thing here
https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/missed-bespoked-bristol-heres-the-report/

Anyone got any tips for chainsuck protection?

1x mate.

You can always ask the manufacturer, they can only tell you no.

You could send argos pictures for an estimate.

If I was on a budget I would measure the chainstay and see if Ceeway or similar have a chainstay close. You could then cut out the existing chainstay and profile the new chainstay to fit, you could take it to any weld/fab place with an old hub and get them to weld it up. Getting a frame builder to do it in a jig would be better.

Where are you based?

Personally I would TIG weld it, or get my old man to braze it.