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How-To/Mechanics: Stress Fractures

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    So I'd like to know what you guys think would identify a stress fracture on a steel frame.
    I'm not sure but I suspect I might have a few right around the weld between my top tube and the head tube.
    I tried to take pictures but my camera just can't seem to get that close.
    They almost look like little clean cracks in the paint about an inch long each. There's 3 of them. They don't fully follow the curve of the joint but go in that general direction.
    Really obvious cracks in a frame and ripples from collisions I know to look for but I've honestly never had a stress fracture before and I can't find shit online right now.
    I'm gonna bring it into the LBS tomorrow where I know one dude in there builds frames but you guys are usually really knowledgeable about this stuff so I thought it wouldn't hurt to try here too.
    Man I'm gonna be bummed if that's what this is and not just a crack in the paint but I think I'd be more bummed about this shit if I found out mid-ride.
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeMay 29th 2009
     
    I am not sure if I can help but if it is a lugged frame and you love it that much you can always have the tubes replaced. You could always take off the paint and check it.
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    It isn't lugged (pretty welds though) and I definitely don't love it enough to go that far with it. It's just a really smooth ride and fits me just so. I'd hate to go through looking for another frame again. Luckily the dude who sold it to me said if it was a fracture he'd hook up the refund. Only paid $400 for it.
    Kinda thinking I could just take that $400 and put it into one of those Alien frames. They look pretty solid and I've heard good things.
    • CommentAuthorjam guy
    • CommentTimeMay 29th 2009
     
    Posted By: iron jaidenIt isn't lugged (pretty welds though) and I definitely don't love it enough to go that far with it. It's just a really smooth ride and fits me just so. I'd hate to go through looking for another frame again. Luckily the dude who sold it to me said if it was a fracture he'd hook up the refund. Only paid $400 for it.
    Kinda thinking I could just take that $400 and put it into one of those Alien frames. They look pretty solid and I've heard good things.


    really nice frames.
    • CommentAuthorRuffinit
    • CommentTimeJun 9th 2009 edited
     
    What'd you find out about your frame? You just broke your Corky too didn't you? You're gonna be out of bikes you keep this up...
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    Posted By: RuffinitWhat'd you find out about your frame? You just broke your Corky too didn't you? You're gonna be out of bikes you keep this up...


    Haha the Corky was the one with the fracture. And that is what it turned out to be. Luckily the dude who sold it to me was pretty awesome and gave me a refund on the frame. Just got my Alien today. All built up. So so nice. I'll get some pics up when the sun comes out.
    • CommentAuthorLyKqiD
    • CommentTimeJun 10th 2009
     
    Alien was definitely the way to go.
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    Pity. (bit late on this)

    I've had two steel frames crack. One a hand built TiG welded fuquay on the chainstay, and the other lugged road Concorde (head tube).

    The former was repaired and went again. I sold it.
    The later is sitting collecting rust outside, not cost effective.

    In short, they need to be repaired by someone who knows what they're doing, or the adjacent area will become brittle and crack. So can be costly.

    Chris
  10.  
    Yeah the repair on a cracked frame really can be more a pain in the ass than it's worth. In this case it was easier just to get a new frame. Got the Alien, sold the Alien (geometry was off, too twitchy, and the ends weren't parallel with the ground which is the sign of a sloppy build), bought a GTB, ride the piss outta that thing.
    Now I've got a carbon fork so I get to be overly paranoid about that shattering on me every time I hit a gnarly bump or take a turn really fast :)
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    That's exactly what happened to me when I started riding carbon. I ride it like an old woman on anything but smooooooth.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeAug 29th 2009
     
    Posted By: suicide_doorsI ride it like an old woman


    its none of my business how you get your rocks off, but gross.
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    You have to be very, very careful with them. Delicate. Dainty.
    • CommentAuthorStreetcore
    • CommentTimeAug 30th 2009 edited
     
    Posted By: iron jaidenYeah the repair on a cracked frame really can be more a pain in the ass than it's worth. In this case it was easier just to get a new frame. Got the Alien, sold the Alien (geometry was off, too twitchy, and the ends weren't parallel with the ground which is the sign of a sloppy build), bought a GTB, ride the piss outta that thing.
    Now I've got a carbon fork so I get to be overly paranoid about that shattering on me every time I hit a gnarly bump or take a turn really fast :)


    You should be safe on that fork. Carbon has 10 times the tensile strength of steel, although it is very brittle. I wouldn't worry about the fork unless you hit something straight on or something with a small surface space hits the fork, that's when it will shatter.
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    Posted By: Streetcore
    Posted By: iron jaidenYeah the repair on a cracked frame really can be more a pain in the ass than it's worth. In this case it was easier just to get a new frame. Got the Alien, sold the Alien (geometry was off, too twitchy, and the ends weren't parallel with the ground which is the sign of a sloppy build), bought a GTB, ride the piss outta that thing.
    Now I've got a carbon fork so I get to be overly paranoid about that shattering on me every time I hit a gnarly bump or take a turn really fast :)


    You should be safe on that fork. Carbon has 10 times the tensile strength of steel, although it is very brittle. I wouldn't worry about the fork unless you hit something straight on or something with a small surface space hits the fork, that's when it will shatter.


    For sure. I know in my mind that the fork is strong and isn't going to just crumble on me, but there's always that little tinge of fear when you've got a nice 25mph pace going and you end up having to damn near bunny hop a pothole you didn't see coming. You just imagine the fork saying "oh come on now dude fuck this, I'm outta here" :)
  16.  
    Ha. My feeling exactly. I had a pair of Shimano 540 wheels for a while that made me feel the same way. Shits had like six spokes.

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