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How serious is my top tube damage?

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How serious is my top tube damage?

Old 07-03-11, 08:43 AM
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icyclist 
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How serious is my top tube damage?

OK - the pics:

The dark area in the first photo the lens of my camera, which shows the shape of the dent in the polished aluminum. Note the wavy lines that bend around the edges of the dent.

The second photo shows the little lines - cracks? - that show above the dent. And you can see the general shape of the dent below the lines.



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Last edited by icyclist; 07-03-11 at 09:24 PM. Reason: pics added
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Old 07-03-11, 10:03 AM
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Not a metallurgy expert, but when a shop in my area damaged my boss's aluminum bike (but wouldn't admit it), they did say ANY dent in aluminum is a total basically. They used the example of a soda can: try crushing an empty one with no dents and its rally hard, but poke the side a little and it'll fold right up. Now, does this relate directly to bike frames? I have NO idea... I'd be nervous though.
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Old 07-03-11, 10:06 AM
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I would be very concerned. (we need a hand wringing emoticon)

How about some pictures?
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Old 07-03-11, 10:16 AM
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Probably a good idea to take this to the frame building forum. They won't even talk to you without pictures, though.
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Old 07-03-11, 10:55 AM
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yup - need pics
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Old 07-03-11, 06:05 PM
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Did you ship it with insurance? If so, file a claim with the shipping company. It's probably the more likely culprit anyways, bikes get damaged in transit all the time.
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Old 07-03-11, 09:19 PM
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OK - the pics:

The dark area in the first photo the lens of my camera, which shows the shape of the dent in the polished aluminum. Note the straight lines that bend around the edges of the dent.

The second photo shows the little lines - cracks? - that show above the dent. And you can see the general shape of the dent below the lines.



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Old 07-03-11, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by icyclist
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Old 07-03-11, 09:31 PM
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The first photo to me looks ok. It looks like a little ding. second photo does look like a crack, which I think means failure.
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Old 07-04-11, 03:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Gluteus
+1
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Old 07-04-11, 11:09 AM
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The dent is no big deal. Back when Cannondales were the standard "disposable" track bike, nearly all of them had top tube dents.

The crack is essentially fatal, IMO. It could maybe be welded or patched, but unless the frame is very expensive...
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