Does this look like it's safe to ride
04-24-12, 09:13 PM
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Does this look like it's safe to ride
Picked up this bike a month ago and am wonder whether the "spider cracks" in the paint, near the head tube could be something of a serious issue. (Picture 1) https://www.flickr.com/photos/7749984...n/photostream/
Is the lug cracked? The cracks in the paint appear on the lug sections that lead to the top and down tubes.....
Is the lug cracked? The cracks in the paint appear on the lug sections that lead to the top and down tubes.....
04-24-12, 09:28 PM
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Could be! I'd take it someone who works on frames to check it out. I'd guess the frame is out of alignment too.
04-24-12, 09:29 PM
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Any sign the tubes have any rippling in them? Run your finger underneath the tubes where they enter the lug.
I can't imagine what trauma the lugs would have suffered that wouldn't have damaged the thinner tubing.
I can't imagine what trauma the lugs would have suffered that wouldn't have damaged the thinner tubing.
04-24-12, 09:49 PM
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Is that the original paint ?
Anyway, I personally can't see anything in your photo
that would keep me from riding it if I wanted to.
I've never seen a frame fail in the lug itself, usually they
fail in the tubing......often near the lug.
Anyway, I personally can't see anything in your photo
that would keep me from riding it if I wanted to.
I've never seen a frame fail in the lug itself, usually they
fail in the tubing......often near the lug.
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04-24-12, 10:00 PM
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Looks like the frame had a minor front ender... Someone ran into something. Looks like there was some minor bending but no permanent damage.
I'd have the alignment checked. A properly aligned frame will handle much better.
Chas. verktyg
I'd have the alignment checked. A properly aligned frame will handle much better.
Chas. verktyg
04-24-12, 10:16 PM
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The paint is original and I had the alignment check when I picked it up. The guy at the LBS said the alignment was fine.
Maybe it's from 20 years of stress? It's also a MTB.....
Maybe it's from 20 years of stress? It's also a MTB.....
04-25-12, 06:34 AM
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Put it back together and ride it.
04-25-12, 06:47 AM
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I think you're okay there, it seems from the pictures that everything is good so far as structure is concerned, although I might keep an eye on that rust, both internally and at the seatube lug .
04-25-12, 08:57 AM
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One of the mechanics at the shop in town cracked the lower headlug on his 80's Merckx Corsa. So it does happen. The paint on lower section of the fork crown is rusting like the joint seperated. Could just be something really simple and just age and actually being used for offroad causing the paint to show it's age.
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04-25-12, 11:11 AM
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"Maybe it's from 20 years of stress?"Thats not good any way you slice it!
04-25-12, 11:20 AM
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It wouldn't worry me too much, but it's something to keep an eye on in case you see more evidence of cracking. Nice fork, btw.
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04-25-12, 11:57 AM
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Recently saw a similar feature on the bb shell of my Bottecchia. Sanded off the paint--that was a foolish excercise because the particles of metal I sanded off merely filled in any crack that was there. On the advice of some knowledgeable local comrades, I took the "just ride it" approach. So I painted over the area I sanded and rode it. A few hundred miles later the same feature reappeared. I believe it's a crack.There are so many nice vintage bikes out there for the taking I see no reason to ride a frame that even might be compromised. I've often wondered whether dye penetration testing would be helpful in these cases. I'd think that would have shown the crack even after I inadvertently filled it in with sanded-off metal.
04-25-12, 12:00 PM
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04-25-12, 05:53 PM
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Yea, I may just build it and watch the lug over the summer. It's a '93 bridgestone mb-1, score! Picked it up in MI when I was visiting the gf. Anyways, I was originally thinking of building it into a tourer. But I may just ride it around and see what happens. I'll take some more pics and will post them soon...
04-25-12, 05:55 PM
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04-25-12, 06:43 PM
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I'm surprised you even noticed that. My mountain bike frame has so much dirt on it the tube would have to shear off before I noticed anything. I would ride it. It's hard to imagine that joint completely failing.
04-25-12, 07:06 PM
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Here's a few more pics, including a better one of the downtube-headlug.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7749984...7629512866012/
Also, I checked and didn't notice any rippling in either the toptube or downtube.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7749984...7629512866012/
Also, I checked and didn't notice any rippling in either the toptube or downtube.
