Frame failure via dent?
09-13-08, 07:55 PM
#1
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Frame failure via dent?
I locked my bike up for less than ten minutes to make some copies the other day, and when I came out I found a decent little dent in my seat tube. I tapped the frame around it and I couldn't hear any sort of cracks, but the paint around it cracked a little. I'm wondering if this will eventually be fatal to the frame or not.
The frame is an Ironman from 1986. The tube itself isn't bent as far as I can tell. I'm probably just being paranoid, but it can't hurt to check, right?
The frame is an Ironman from 1986. The tube itself isn't bent as far as I can tell. I'm probably just being paranoid, but it can't hurt to check, right?
09-13-08, 08:00 PM
#2
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It looks kind of bad. I can see the frame possibly buckling there, but I don't think it'll happen with a bang.
I'd ride it, and just keep checking it.
Any idea how it happened?
I'd ride it, and just keep checking it.
Any idea how it happened?
09-13-08, 08:03 PM
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No idea. It looks like whatever hit it left a little bit of white paint behind, though.
09-13-08, 08:04 PM
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Yeah, Id be a bit worried about it at that spot too 
But you know thats the top tube and not the seat tube right? 
Im almost 100% pos you can have that repaired at a frame makers.
But you know thats the top tube and not the seat tube right? Im almost 100% pos you can have that repaired at a frame makers.
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You see, their morals, their code...it's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these...These "civilized" people...they'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve
09-13-08, 08:07 PM
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09-13-08, 08:40 PM
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Do you have any enemies? Cuz somebody messssed your bike up!
That sucks.
That sucks.
Last edited by sneaky viking; 09-13-08 at 09:02 PM. Reason: no mo potty mouf
09-13-08, 10:21 PM
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The top tube is probably the least stressed tube on the bike. There is a very good chance you will wear out before the bike does. Further, being steel, you will see the tube fracturing at that point well in advance of any actual failure, so you probably can ride safely. If it was aluminium i'd be much more worried.
my $ 0.02 anyway.
my $ 0.02 anyway.
09-14-08, 12:03 AM
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I've been riding a dented frame (one dent on ST one dent on the fork blade) for a year and the previous owner'd been riding it for years before that.
It hasn't failed yet. Not that you or I should make an inductive inference based on that evidence alone or anything.
It hasn't failed yet. Not that you or I should make an inductive inference based on that evidence alone or anything.
09-14-08, 09:38 AM
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I wouldn't ride it, but I weigh 190 on an empty stomach without my overloaded bag. An Ironman is certainly worth getting an estimate from your local frame builder.
09-14-08, 10:08 AM
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It's a pretty big ding, but it's probably fine. I would have a shop took at it though.
It's pretty close to the seat tube, so hopefully in the butted section. I would feel safer about it there an in the middle of the tube.
It's pretty close to the seat tube, so hopefully in the butted section. I would feel safer about it there an in the middle of the tube.
09-14-08, 10:11 AM
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Top tube Steel.
I'd just ride it.
I'd just ride it.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
