** UNIDENTIFIED TI FRAME**

[Easy_Rider]

Have to agree with rekiborter there, look very much like a Parkpre to me. With that sort and location of crack the only thing I would be happy with it a complete tube replacement. It looks like it's cracked on the thinnest part of the tube, which if it's a Parkpre Team925 would be 0.5mm

The crack does look very neat though which is a bit odd. Does the tube still ping when flicked?

 

[suburbanreuben]

Since you're in London, take it down to Chas Roberts in Croydon. He'll be able to tell you the possibilities. A new tube could possible be fillet brazed on, and since it doesn't need painting, should cost less than £100. Worth it? Up to you...
If you do get it fixed, no-one will do a better job.

 

[Owen]

It is highly unusual to see a crack of that length in a high stress area of the frame that hasn't opened. The fatigue period to reach that length would take years, and obviously it hasn't hit fast-fracture as again it hasn't opened. It looks as if the frame is plated (I would assume Nickel) and therefore it is feasable that the crack is confined to the plating. To me that would explain what I'm seeing in the photo.

Good news as if it is only the plating that has cracked, the frame will most likey be structurally sound.

Unfortunately determining if this is the case may not be too easy. You would either need to strip the plating which I think would require an aggressive chemical stripping process. The other option would be to X-Ray the frame. Do you have any contacts in the engineering industry you can call in a favour off?

If you have any better quality images of the crack post them up or if they are too large PM me and I'll give you my email address.

 

[tee-one]

yeah to me that just looks strange... more like a fracture in the coating as said..

steel tube usually goes near where its been heated (welds or braze ons) and will usually travel in a straight line... If you could find out exactly what frame it is you could find the likely way it would fracture as cold rolled steel will fracture different to forged and so on..... if its rolled like most common steel it would be straight down the tube rather than spiralling

 

[REKIBorter]

Could be a crack in the plating. The frames are Ti plated which is where the confusion with it being a Ti frame may have come from. The plating can flake off if chipped and the lacquer coating is scratched. I would have thought if the frame was cracked as bad as this it would have folded in half when ridden. Is it worth saving? Up to you. They are fantastic frames to ride and if it turns out to be just a plating crack it is most definately worth saving.

 

[chuftonic]

I have to say you guy's ROCK!!. I will try and get some more pics up but I think the damage is a bit deeper that the coating, as the frame developed quite an unpleasent sound while riding.
I think the fatigue is from the bolt hole that would secure the water bottle as that is where it starts.

REKIborter - I think you are correct about the confusion as a few people commented on it being TI but I was never convinced.

Once I get the frame swapped over I will consider wether it is worth reparing cost etc, as I have had many years of good riding on it but it's all about the green.

By the way does any one know a good mechanic in north london who could do it for me, got a quote from Evans and they wanted 120 quid just for the labour which I thought was a bit steep.

Once again many thanks.

 

[pete_mcc]

The frames are Ti plated which is where the confusion with it being a Ti frame may have come from.

You mean nickle plating, Ti plating would be impressive as I think it's next to impossible (except in PVD or nitrate formate!)

 

[Easy_Rider]

Quite likely it is a Parkpre then. It would have had a sticker like this or similar originally. And if a frame builder asks what tubing it is then it's Tange Ultimate Ultralight with 0.9-0.5mm butts.

 

[chuftonic]

That was the whole problem, the frame has been debadged and no way of knowing who made it. How much would a frame like this go for then? ie would it be worth reparing.

 

[Easy_Rider]

That labour quote would be about the top value of the frame had it not been cracked and be in pretty good shape. It's all down to whether you want it repaired so you can ride it again, as rekiborter said, they do ride wonderfully