olddurace82

Hello all. On my 2009 Trek 2.3 I noticed this crack where the carbon seat stay is inserted into the aluminum frame. Bike has served me well over many miles.
Trek warranty states the frame has a lifetime warranty. Unfortunately I can't find the receipt.
Is this repairable?
Thanks!
Dave G

Iride01 

Sure it's repairable. But if you don't have the ability and skill to do it all yourself, then it's probably going to be uneconomical to have someone else do it for you. You can always just contact a place that repairs carbon fiber bike frames and get an estimate. Like getting estimates on many other things, get several.

However do you need your receipt? Take it to a Trek dealer and find out.

I don't see the crack. Or is that the gray blurry line in the white? The other issue just looks like clear coat coming off between the white areas. But certainly you should get the opinion of your Trek dealer or another bike shop you trust that can see it with their own eyes from different angles and lighting.

dedhed

Crack is circumferential at the joint

Iride01 

Doesn't change my advice. OP still needs to get it checked out by someone that can see it in person live and get all touchy feely and be one with the crack or whatever it turns out to really be! <grin>

freeranger

Did you register the bike when it was purchased? If yes, then perhaps Trek will have the registration showing you as the original owner. Worth checking.

olddurace82

Thanks for the response. Yes the gray line which leads into the black, then at the point where the carbon and aluminum meet, Off to the Trek dealer to have a professional look.

pdlamb

If you're near the shop where you bought the bike, take it back to them. They should have records and be able to help with the warranty.

Otherwise, take it to your nearest Trek dealer and ask for help.

FWIW, I've broken two frames with lifetime warranties. REI had me bring it to their nearest store and replaced at no charge, after they looked it up (only three years old; that was 14 years ago). They even double-checked the wheels, as I was starting a tour when it broke. 4,400 loaded miles across the country with one minor touch-up around 3,000 miles.

The other one was a Fuji, bought through the mail. The local (at the time) Fuji dealer asked where I bought it, handled the warranty with the manufacturer, and, since they didn't sell me the bike originally, asked for about $75 to strip the frame and rebuild the parts on the new frame. I agreed; hey, it saved $800 over the cost of a new bike!

biker128pedal

He can try. I did a warranty claim on a 2006 Madone 5.0. I had registered it when new. Still needed the receipt.

Also Trek may be able to repair it.

cpach

There's no chance anyone is going to repair that. Carbon can be repaired, but the aluminum section would need a whole new tube welded in and the frame being baked in an oven to heat treat the metal, and then it would have to be repainted. And the carbon sections would have to be debonded and rebonded... Ask the original shop if they can provide you with the receipt. Trek will probably send you a frame replacement (a newer frame of similarish MSRP), though it'll be your responsibility to swap the components (or pay someone to do so).

WizardOfBoz

I think that this is a good idea, but would insist (if I were you) that the dealer take pics and get the word from the mother ship. I suspect that 1) it is repairable in the sense that you can make it work and have a reliably strong frame but that 2) Trek may want to replace that frame.