Dead Dekerf...

[Little Bob]

The new project is no more - at least that is my feeling at the moment.


Found this crack under the chainstay once I began stripping down.

The question is: Is it possible/worth getting repaired?

I'm gutted as I was really looking forward to restoring this '94 Mountain/Team back to original - I even managed to source the last full set of period decals from DeKerf which arrived this morning.

The seller seems a decent guy and has offered to either refund in full, and even for me to choose a frame builder of my choice for the repair and he will fund this and a full respray.
I suspect this won't be cheap and in any case what's your view on how this repair would affect both the performance and value of the bike?

All views appreciated.

Hacked off of Haywards Heath.

 

[scant]

you're lucky the seller sounds so cool! how badly do you want it? a repair could make it good as new once resprayed... plus removing all the paint would show up any further potential flaws....

personally i'd ask for a refund.

 

[Anthony]

Argos charge £75 to replace a chainstay, Bob Jackson £70. I would have thought they know their trade well enough to be able to replace the stay with something just about identical, and their work is of a very high standard - you might find you have a fillet-brazed chainstay and the rest of the bike TIG-welded, in which case Bob Jackson would probably say the chainstay was the best part of the bike! With a repaint plus carriage it's going to be c£200 - if the seller will fund that, you'll end up with a better bike than you thought you were buying, won't you, at least paint-wise?

 

[Anthony]

you're lucky the seller sounds so cool! how badly do you want it? a repair could make it good as new once resprayed... plus removing all the paint would show up any further potential flaws....

personally i'd ask for a refund.

Maybe you didn't see the auction - the kit looked as though it was worth as much as he paid for the bike, so the frame came free anyway!

 

[TheGreenRabbit]

Chas Roberts is just up the road and will be worth asking him http://www.robertscycles.com/

 

[scant]

you're lucky the seller sounds so cool! how badly do you want it? a repair could make it good as new once resprayed... plus removing all the paint would show up any further potential flaws....

personally i'd ask for a refund.

Maybe you didn't see the auction - the kit looked as though it was worth as much as he paid for the bike, so the frame came free anyway!

nope, didnt see the auction, barely anything in my watch list these days
..in which case get the seller to pay for the repair..

 

[gump]

:shock:
This is the one I just lost to you..

It wasn't a bad price, but make sure you get a refund for the work before you pay out.
Otherwise I would go for a straight refund - parts were OK, but not worth a fortune. Refund now and you have paypal claim/ebay (if used) to help get your cash.

Theres always another, and if me would end up feeling cheated otherwise. Not as advertised.

 

[Little Bob]

Spoken to Chas Roberts - new chainstay in the region of £80 - £120, plus a further £120 for the re-paint.

That's not far off what I paid for the whole bike.