A query for those who've had titanium frame repairs

[Takingabreak]

Delving back into parts of my brain last used at college, the crack will very likely continue to grow. Fixing cracks involves something like drilling a hole at the end of each crack which removes the stress raising point and then welding. However, On a section of tubing that thin ? I don't know, a tube replacement sounds the safest thing.

 

[d8mok]

The fact you ask if it’s safe means you truly know the answer

Enigma are good. If Danson does Ti his work is great.

I had a cracked Ti frame and looked briefly into repairs and there isn’t many options in the UK.

The bit I learned was that Vernon Barker really really couldnt weld Ti in a pretty way but he’s not an option any longer.

 

[Woz]

The crack appears to have propagated a fair bit. About what, 20% of the underside circumference left?

Best not ride it, it's close to tearing all the way. Down-tubes actually have a fair bit of stress on them.

Can't help with anything regarding this type of repair. The only repairs I've had done were cracks in welds.

 

[nicklej]

I took it for a short ride just about half a mile to assess the safety of it and I must have been quite lucky to get to work without it failing entirely! From my short ride it opened up a lot more so thanks for advising caution! Anyway, that's toast for now

 

[d8mok]

Be careful that you don’t/haven’t damage the top tube by riding it

 

[nicklej]

Be careful that you don’t/haven’t damage the top tube by riding it

I'm just going to replace the frame now. I don't trust it at the moment especially as this originally came out of nowhere. It is funny in hindsight that the small click i could hear when pedalling hard out of the saddle must have been the crack beginning. I'm not riding this anymore.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

That's fcuked.

 

[Takingabreak]

An opporunity for a shiny new frame

 

[Woz]

I took it for a short ride just about half a mile to assess the safety of it and I must have been quite lucky to get to work without it failing entirely! From my short ride it opened up a lot more so thanks for advising caution! Anyway, that's toast for now

...so you didn't read my post about 1 hr before you posted this. There's a fair few posts and images over the web about down-tubes failing on road bikes at either the down-tube gear lever boss or bottle cage boss. The speed of failure and loss of bike control can be absolutely catastrophic with a handful of minutes to react. You had about 5% left there! It's worth keeping for a wall hanger!

Think you should be grateful and pleased with yourself nothing nasty happened TBH. Bikes can be replaced easily enough.

 

[klunkrider]

Why has the fact the crack has gotten worse put you off having the tube replaced?

Tube replacement is generally the only way to effect a long last repair on any kind of crack.