Opinion on top tube crack?
10-13-19, 11:45 AM
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DLifer
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Opinion on top tube crack?
Hi, thanks in advance for any advice. I noticed this crack in my top tube today after having it on the bike stand for cleaning. Not sure if it's new or not because I've used the same stand for cleaning several times over the last 6 months or so. The frame is aluminium, the bike is a 2009 Trek 2.1, estimated 20k miles on it.
Took the picture thinking I could monitor, see if it gets any bigger after the next ride(s).
What do you think? Could be too dangerous to ride now? Don't need it to collapse during a fast ride.
top tube crack, circled in red
Thanks,
Eric
Took the picture thinking I could monitor, see if it gets any bigger after the next ride(s).
What do you think? Could be too dangerous to ride now? Don't need it to collapse during a fast ride.
top tube crack, circled in red
Thanks,
Eric
10-13-19, 12:25 PM
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Doesn't look like a crack. More like a scuff in the clear coat. See if it buff out with polishing compound.
10-13-19, 12:49 PM
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Are the cushions on the clamp deteriorated, especially the top one? If that is where it was clamped, it looks like that is cause of a scrape.
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10-13-19, 01:47 PM
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you would have to really clamp the heck out of it to get it to crack in that mode. and more likely the tube would deform first (out of round)
HAVING SAID THAT, you're clamping the tube in the thinnest area ! Don't do that. Best practice is to clamp the seat post in your stand, not the seat tube.tube.
Or, clamp the seat tube near the top.
like those above, I'd be surprised if you have a crack there.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
HAVING SAID THAT, you're clamping the tube in the thinnest area ! Don't do that. Best practice is to clamp the seat post in your stand, not the seat tube.tube.
Or, clamp the seat tube near the top.
like those above, I'd be surprised if you have a crack there.
Mark Petry
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
10-13-19, 01:56 PM
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What is that dark vertical line running up to the black strip (midway on the marked area)?
Ben
Ben
10-13-19, 08:51 PM
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DLifer
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you would have to really clamp the heck out of it to get it to crack in that mode. and more likely the tube would deform first (out of round)
HAVING SAID THAT, you're clamping the tube in the thinnest area ! Don't do that. Best practice is to clamp the seat post in your stand, not the seat tube.tube.
Or, clamp the seat tube near the top.
like those above, I'd be surprised if you have a crack there.
HAVING SAID THAT, you're clamping the tube in the thinnest area ! Don't do that. Best practice is to clamp the seat post in your stand, not the seat tube.tube.
Or, clamp the seat tube near the top.
like those above, I'd be surprised if you have a crack there.
10-15-19, 11:41 AM
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I am generally very cautious concerning potentially failed frames.
That mark does not look like a crack to me. Kinda hard to tell from the one picture, though.
Also, don't clamp your bike by the frame tubes.
That mark does not look like a crack to me. Kinda hard to tell from the one picture, though.
Also, don't clamp your bike by the frame tubes.
10-16-19, 09:25 AM
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Yeah, you sure that's a crack and not a scuff/scratch? Aluminum bike I would imagine scratch over crack at that location.
10-16-19, 09:34 AM
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Flexing the paint might also cause a paint crack without causing a tubing crack.
10-16-19, 03:45 PM
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10-17-19, 10:21 AM
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DLifer
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Turns out that it was just a scratch. Thanks for all of your input and advice. Clamping on the seat post from now on.
Great community here!
Great community here!
