Aluminium frame repair - who to ask?

[vinnya77]

http://www.tocycle.co.uk

Tel 024 7645 0020

Fax 024 7663 5722

Email [email protected]



I spoke to this company earlier. Of all the people I've spoken to, these have been the most patient, knowledgeable and reasonably priced. Just waiting on an email with a sample of their Ally work. All being well they'll be doing 2 of my frames.

 

[biglev]

Loads of good alu weldera in the uk , aerospace or marine places are also good to try.

You may not find those recomended welding rods in the uk but you can use a castolin tig-tectic 21 or 23 rod that will work well:

nimubus welding guide:
http://www.nimbuscycles.co.uk/Welding_Notes.pdf


If you are unsure fo the weld fatiuge and heat treadment. try searching online. it will probably tell you to put in the oven for 6 hours at 200 then 3 horus at 180 then leave for a week or two to get full crystallation.

Also you could have teh bb it reamed and then sleaved with a bonded steel sleve afterwards as the steal sleve with spread the load. argos cycles do this.

Cheers
Pete

 

[highlandsflyer]

I would hang it up on the wall rather than repair it.

Just my take on it, but if you are happy to spend the money why not?

I have rescued some total wrecks in my time, but usually because there is some emotional attachment.

I always have at least two or three old Jap motorbikes in the pipeline, right now looking at four restorations over winter.

But these are steel framed machines.

I just would not have the same confidence in a repair on an Alu BB, as that is a major concentration of stress.

This is possibly due to my ignorance, as I am sure if a well known repairer suggests it is worth doing it must be possible to do it successfully.

 

[vinnya77]

Mine has a crack in the head tube. I've seen others that have had a collar fitted top and bottom of the headtube and it looked standard.

 

[hot chilli]

im looking for collars for a a frame that i have got. its got a cracked headtube but luckly there is
about 5-7mm of headtube above/below the welds so i could fit collars and maybe get it welded too.

anyone know where i could get collars?
would it be better to get it welded first and fit steel collars (ally frame) or fit ally collars and have them welded too.?

 

[grogee]

Umm, if you're worried about distortion/frame damage during the weld repair, why not leave an old BB in place? It should keep things a bit more rigid, and when you remove it, it will hopefully 'chase' the threads back into shape...