Opinion on Dodgy Head Tube Cut
03-07-23, 01:54 PM
#1
Member’s Member
Thread Starter
Opinion on Dodgy Head Tube Cut
This frame on eBay is calling my name. Would that little cut on the head tube be an issue with installing a headset?
03-07-23, 02:28 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 4,398
Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 514 Post(s)
Liked 450 Times
in
338 Posts
I wouldn't touch it. At best it's a weak spot for holding the bearing race in place. At worst it's a potential split or crack, especially if the seating of the race starts to loosen.
Likes For oldbobcat:
03-07-23, 03:46 PM
#3
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,992
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6196 Post(s)
Liked 4,811 Times
in
3,319 Posts
If it's only $20 they want for it, it might be worth getting and seeing if it ever becomes an issue. Otherwise I'd hold out for something a little more pristine.
03-07-23, 04:16 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
If you decide to buy it, you should consider "stop drilling" the end of that notch so that a crack is less likely to propagate. Stresses will concentrate at that sharp corner, making the radius larger will reduce this.
Likes For dsbrantjr:
03-07-23, 04:44 PM
#5
Senior Member
Round out the corners of the cut and weld it. Have a shop face the tube and you have a frame that will probably go for a lot of years. The only issue is the cost of operations, likely could exceed the value of the frame.
03-07-23, 05:11 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times
in
1,433 Posts
If you have access to a head tube mill, you can quickly mill it down to below the cut and have a nice cheap frame.
Of course, assuming the defect isn’t an indication of poor quality throughout.
If I had the components, ie. to transfer from a crashed bike, I'd go for it.
Of course, assuming the defect isn’t an indication of poor quality throughout.
If I had the components, ie. to transfer from a crashed bike, I'd go for it.
03-07-23, 08:38 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,071
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4412 Post(s)
Liked 1,566 Times
in
1,028 Posts
A shop may even do it for less than $40 because it is just aluminum.
I'm assuming that the notch got there because someone wasn't paying attention with a saw or had to cut out a frozen headset - not some sort of crack or defect.
03-07-23, 09:36 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times
in
1,433 Posts
It's only very slightly burnt. And like with toast it's easily saved by scraping off the burnt part.
A few minutes with a head tube facer and it's like new. The frame is $20, add the cost of the milling, and decide if it's worth to you. Hopefully there's a local bike co-op so the expense is nominal.
In fact, with decent hand skill, you can do the job with a hand file, tri-square, and Sharpie. $20 for a frame, and a learning experience. If you fail with the file, you still have the H/T mill as a fallback.
A few minutes with a head tube facer and it's like new. The frame is $20, add the cost of the milling, and decide if it's worth to you. Hopefully there's a local bike co-op so the expense is nominal.
In fact, with decent hand skill, you can do the job with a hand file, tri-square, and Sharpie. $20 for a frame, and a learning experience. If you fail with the file, you still have the H/T mill as a fallback.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Likes For rosefarts:
Likes For tFUnK:
03-08-23, 12:41 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,795
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3514 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,776 Posts
I agree. I can’t imagine where the force would come from to propagate that cut. What if it did turn into a crack? Do people think the frame would eventually split in half lengthwise during a ride? Lots of folks here who are way too skittish.
03-08-23, 12:44 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,447
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4236 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
03-08-23, 01:34 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,795
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3514 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,776 Posts
I would have no problem using it. That aluminum is beefy.
Again, if the crack propagates on a ride, what exactly do you think will happen? What is the progression of events until we get to the unnamed catastrophe that a lot of folks here feel will be the end for this frame? Does it explode? Does the fork fall out? Does the bike split lengthwise, like that car in the old Candid Camera routine?
Again, if the crack propagates on a ride, what exactly do you think will happen? What is the progression of events until we get to the unnamed catastrophe that a lot of folks here feel will be the end for this frame? Does it explode? Does the fork fall out? Does the bike split lengthwise, like that car in the old Candid Camera routine?
03-08-23, 01:49 PM
#17
Member’s Member
Thread Starter
Great answers everybody. Thanks. The seller wants $495 (Colnago dream frame)
03-08-23, 01:55 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,236
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 436 Times
in
335 Posts
The cut wouldn't bother me if the frame was cheap enough, but there's something odd going on with the other side of that head tube, and the tool marks inside it are also puzzling.
03-08-23, 01:57 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,909
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,557 Posts
$495 + facing to below the saw cut. Done. (If that frame is worth that much to you.) My first thought long before I got to FB's post. You now have the chance to get 1/8" more aero with the bars slammed.
03-08-23, 01:59 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,909
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,932 Times
in
2,557 Posts
03-08-23, 02:16 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Elevation 666m Edmonton Canada
Posts: 2,483
Bikes: 2013 Custom SA5w / Rohloff Tourster
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1237 Post(s)
Liked 324 Times
in
249 Posts
Why isn't anybody asking WTH happened to this bike?? I see the whole right side is scratched. What the hell necessitated the guy sawing the cup off??
As is, there would be NO tension on the headset with that gouge. Is anybody really dumb enough to go ride with a loose steerer??
Yah it's possible to take off that 4 mm.
Post pics of the whole bike.
I can't sell brand new stuff, but here I see all kinds of broken frames getting bought. WTF.
As is, there would be NO tension on the headset with that gouge. Is anybody really dumb enough to go ride with a loose steerer??
Yah it's possible to take off that 4 mm.
Post pics of the whole bike.
I can't sell brand new stuff, but here I see all kinds of broken frames getting bought. WTF.
03-08-23, 02:51 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,795
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3514 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,776 Posts
Why isn't anybody asking WTH happened to this bike?? I see the whole right side is scratched. What the hell necessitated the guy sawing the cup off??
As is, there would be NO tension on the headset with that gouge. Is anybody really dumb enough to go ride with a loose steerer??
Yah it's possible to take off that 4 mm.
As is, there would be NO tension on the headset with that gouge. Is anybody really dumb enough to go ride with a loose steerer??
Yah it's possible to take off that 4 mm.
03-08-23, 04:52 PM
#24
Member’s Member
Thread Starter
03-08-23, 06:49 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,795
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3514 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,776 Posts
Likes For smd4: