guigs84

Hi all,

I recently got a Peugeot Competition 300 - from the 90s' I'd say - that I am planning to refurbish.

After a good cleaning, I realized that the frame (Columbus Cromor) has a rust hole under the chain stay tube - nothing huge, just 3 x 2 mm - but I'm not sure it would be safe to ride or worth fixing... and if so how.

Any opinion?

Many thanks!

billytwosheds 

I would wonder about other parts of the frame, and if there is rust that might make the bike unsafe.

A friend of mine did a century on a Columbus SLX frame (marque undisclosed) and not more than a month later discovered that there was rust eating through the chainstay. A this point, he won't ride the bike.

What condition are the components in?

randyjawa 

100% on the money!

T-Mar

It's not just the size of the hole. Due to the nature of rust, the area adjacent to hole will also have had it's thickness eaten way. Furthermore, rust holes in chain stays typically occur at the at the highly stressed bottom bracket end, so there's potential for a catastrophic failure. It sounds like a wall hanger.

avhed

I have 2 smaller holes 1 x 3mm on the inside of my fork blade. they look like the paint was chipped and the previous owner left it to rust.
What is the best filler for this? Car bondo or what?

evwxxx

Got a beautiful Franklin Frame, Columbus SL, from local lbs recently (traded for 76 Raleigh Comp). Had “paint bubbles” on chain stays near BB, figured it was surface or “outer” rust. When I removed axle flakes of rust literally poured out of bb. Sanding of the paint bubbles revealed actual perforations on both sides, along with the rust in bottom of BB itself. Talking to Franklin Frames, replacement of the stays and BB would run close to 300, plus shipping back and forth, plus repaint stays/BB area, so decided to return bike to lbs (he is a friend of mine) and canceled the trade. I “suppose” it would have been cost effective to do that, but who knows what other problems would have cropped up,

viperocco

Could you provide some pics please..

easyupbug 

I believe I have seen Competition 300 back in the day and thought they were aluminum frames, but I have been wrong too often.

As T-Mar said another way, your risk is likelihood times consequence. Short of having the tube non-destructively tested for metal thickness you do not know the likelihood of failure on your next ride and the consequence of a failure might be high unless you just slowly cruise your block.

guigs84

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your replies and sorry for the late answer... I finally managed to post 10 times so I can post pictures!

A cycle repair shop told me it should be fine if I get it welded and that steel should hold fairly well, and that people get a bit nervous regarding rust in frame. But your opinion would be very important to me too!

Cheers!

viperocco

Sweet !

guy153

Nice bike. It can be repaired but check the rest of the bike. Maybe water just got trapped in that particular section.

Interesting how the framebuilder ended up with the chainstay dimples in the wrong place where they are providing no extra tyre clearance whatsoever!

guigs84

Thanks! Not much more visible damages but the bottom bracket, the seat post and the stem are frozen... I am putting some penetrating oil every day and wait... I'd like to see how it looks inside and likely treat the inside of the frame with phosphoric acid to remove current rust and prevent it to worsen.

I'll keep you updated!