Damaged frame from crash - safe for my child to ride?
04-05-23, 12:01 AM
#1
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Damaged frame from crash - safe for my child to ride?
So I bought a Centurion Ironman Master for $75 late at night. Didn't have a chance to actually check it out til the next day when I saw the telltale signs of a crash - rippled paint on top and down tube just behind the lugs. Doesn't seem bad to me, plus fork is still straight, but I have no experience with crashed frames, so asking the experts here if this is perfectly safe. If so, planning on giving it to my teenager for her 4 years of college starting in the Fall.
Also, on a lesser note, the previous owner somehow broke off the plastic cover on both downtube shifters so need something to protect the parts from the elements. Perhaps plumbers putty, but hoping someone has a better idea that is not butt ugly!
Lastly, what is that plastic piece that fits in the groove of the shifter where the cable goes? Own several bikes with downtube shifters and have never seen that before.
TIA
Also, on a lesser note, the previous owner somehow broke off the plastic cover on both downtube shifters so need something to protect the parts from the elements. Perhaps plumbers putty, but hoping someone has a better idea that is not butt ugly!
Lastly, what is that plastic piece that fits in the groove of the shifter where the cable goes? Own several bikes with downtube shifters and have never seen that before.
TIA
04-05-23, 04:07 AM
#2
Senior Member
I'm a lurker on this sub, rather than a regular contributor, but I wouldn't say that's perfectly safe. It's a bit hard to say from the pics, especially without wheels but personally I'd call that $75 of parts still hanging on a frame, did the previous owner ride it as is?
04-05-23, 06:33 AM
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The frame is fine. I’m not an expert but I had a frame that was crashed harder and than that and then straightened. An expert told me that these frames are overbuilt and don’t worry.
Bikerowave on Venice Blvd might have your missing shifter parts. Or get a “new” pair. The ones you have are not native to the Master IM.
Bikerowave on Venice Blvd might have your missing shifter parts. Or get a “new” pair. The ones you have are not native to the Master IM.
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04-05-23, 06:39 PM
#4
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I'm a lurker on this sub, rather than a regular contributor, but I wouldn't say that's perfectly safe. It's a bit hard to say from the pics, especially without wheels but personally I'd call that $75 of parts still hanging on a frame, did the previous owner ride it as is?
04-05-23, 06:50 PM
#5
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The frame is fine. Im not an expert but I had a frame that was crashed harder and than that and then straightened. An expert told me that these frames are overbuilt and dont worry.
Bikerowave on Venice Blvd might have your missing shifter parts. Or get a new pair. The ones you have are not native to the Master IM.
Bikerowave on Venice Blvd might have your missing shifter parts. Or get a new pair. The ones you have are not native to the Master IM.
I shall check out Bikerowave when I have a chance - seems like an awesome place - thanks!
04-05-23, 07:23 PM
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I don't think you have anything to worry about. Could check or cracks in the steel by flaking off a little more paint in the affected areas, just to put your mind at ease. If you don't see any cracks, you're good to go!
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04-05-23, 08:33 PM
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To my eye, it looks like it took a hit big enough to crack the paint and sprung right back. In other words, it did what steel does. The tubing would show deformation long before it cracked.
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04-05-23, 10:01 PM
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Honestly if you ask the question, you already know the answer. The damage to this one looks like it’s not just a simple crash. It looks like someone ran it into a garage. There’s an ocean of bikes around and you can find better. Why bother with something questionable, especially if the bike isn’t all that special. And especially considering that you aren’t the one who is going to be riding this.
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04-05-23, 10:37 PM
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So what would I do?
1 - Strip the paint off the the front tube and lugs then inspect the Lugs and tubes inside and out.
2 - Double check the fork inside and out.
I suspect the injury is superficial in that its a steel frame but ya really won't know till ya get the paint off to bare metal...
1 - Strip the paint off the the front tube and lugs then inspect the Lugs and tubes inside and out.
2 - Double check the fork inside and out.
I suspect the injury is superficial in that its a steel frame but ya really won't know till ya get the paint off to bare metal...
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04-05-23, 10:58 PM
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Parenting 101: If there is any chance of this resulting in an injury or worse, your answer is obvious. Anticipate the worst case scenario, and then you can only be pleasantly surprised.
However, if you are having second thoughts about college tuition, this might be a great investment.
However, if you are having second thoughts about college tuition, this might be a great investment.
04-05-23, 11:10 PM
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At most schools it's unlikely any bike will last 4 years without being stolen. But as long as she owns it that frame will be fine.
04-06-23, 04:26 AM
#12
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I caused similar frontend damage to a Motobecane. Eventually, the downtube cracked on the underside, right at the lug. But that was about 11.000 miles after I crashed it.
And, being young, dumb and poor, I rode the thing for a few hundred miles after I saw the crack. When it got about 1/3 of the way around the tube, I retired it.
And, being young, dumb and poor, I rode the thing for a few hundred miles after I saw the crack. When it got about 1/3 of the way around the tube, I retired it.
Last edited by gearbasher; 04-06-23 at 04:30 AM.
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04-06-23, 08:16 AM
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I rode a similarly damaged bike and after about a year of regular riding, the tubing developed significant cracks and wasn't safe. I would ride that bike as a commuter and keep an eye out for cracks, but don't think I'd pass it on to someone who wasn't paying close attention to such things. I don't know if that describes your situation or not.
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Last edited by Sedgemop; 04-06-23 at 01:29 PM.
04-06-23, 01:17 PM
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I didn't see where anyone answered this part of the question. The plastic piece in the groove is how Shimano modified the shift lever to work with both 6 and 7 speeds. 6 speed spacers are slightly thicker than 7 speed, so each click needs to pull more cable. If you are using the lever with 7 speeds, you remove the plastic piece. I have never seen one in person, but I have seen it on a parts diagram.
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04-06-23, 04:39 PM
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I'm not an expert, but I don't think it will assplode.
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04-06-23, 05:39 PM
#17
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Took one member's advice to remove paint to check out the damage, and it doesn't look bad. Then when I resprayed the frame, you can't even tell there was ever a problem here - looks great actually (for a backyard spraypaint job!). Good enough that it would make me think twice about ever buying a resprayed bike frame.
I think what I'm going to do is ride it myself for next 4 months and monitor. If issues, will trash - if all OK, I think I'd feel comfortable having my kid ride it on campus when school starts in the Fall, especially since she's a very mellow rider (avg <10 mph) and this will be set up with beach cruiser bars.
I think what I'm going to do is ride it myself for next 4 months and monitor. If issues, will trash - if all OK, I think I'd feel comfortable having my kid ride it on campus when school starts in the Fall, especially since she's a very mellow rider (avg <10 mph) and this will be set up with beach cruiser bars.
Last edited by syckman; 04-06-23 at 05:45 PM.
