ph5172 Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 I have a crack in the head tube of my mountain bike. I marked it and it hasn't got worse in 20 or so miles. Alloy framed Its not from a fall so must be some form of stress crack its not an expensive bike and a few years old mainly used for road cycling the question is..... will it be worth trying some quick steel putty or is it a scrapper? Apparently alloy welding wouldn't be worth it i would rather keep my teeth!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 Stop drill it and monitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 Perhaps a jubilee clip round may help relieve stress - not pretty but cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted May 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Yellow Bear said: Perhaps a jubilee clip round may help relieve stress - not pretty but cheap. Great minds..... the only ones I had were a little thick because of the frame it slipped off or scraped so they stopped the forks turning properly Edited May 18, 2018 by ph5172 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 Like this ?? https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/1245675/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Fasteners_And_Fixings-_-Clips|Hose_And_Jubilee_Clips-_-PRODUCT+GROUP&matchtype=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIne_b4K-P2wIVzrXtCh1eqQ7-EAYYBiABEgK00_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted May 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 Problem is there is only about 3mm clearance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriBsa Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 The way that crack has propogated, it may have been caused by a poorly machined (too tight) bearing housing and been started by the forcing in of the bearing race at manufacture. Welding might be an answer, but then the bearing housing would need reaming for the correct fit of the bearing as it would most likely be distorted by the heat. If you are going to go the jubilee clip route, it would be worthwhile filing back the weld at the bottom of the gusseting so that you can get a greater surface area for the clip to sit on. Best answer is probably to find a secondhand frame and transfer all your bits across. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 (edited) You could try welding it yourself with "Lumiweld". https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lumiweld-5-Rod-Kit-Low-Temp-Aluminuim-Repair/260531563568?hash=item3ca8e42c30:g:3~oAAOxyJX1TCfx3 This is low temperature welding that you can do yourself, ideally with a MAPP-gas torch, although you can use propane. I have used this very successfully on the motor-bikes, repairing castings and even brakes. I would drill the end of the crack first to stop it spreading, file a groove in it to give the Lumiweld some area to adhere to then pull the crack together with a stainless Jubilee clip and weld up to the clip - the Lumiweld will not stick to the stainless - remove the clip then finish off welding the un-welded bit. As Tribsa wrote above, it will almost certainly need some fettling to allow the bearing to fit Total cost probably less than £30 Edited May 18, 2018 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 I bet Ditchman could sort it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted May 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 thanks for the ideas. I may well pop it down to a local engineering company to see if they can zap it quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 (edited) I am with TriBsa on this look for a second hand frame and swap the bits across. Edited May 18, 2018 by wisdom Spelling error Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewluke Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 the frame is scrap,don't risk your life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 stop drill the crack and get someone to machine up a collar similar to a wedding ring / plumbers olive and push fit over to tighten everything up again and you should be all good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deker Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 The frame is done, Is it a hardtail or full sus? if it's a hardtail used good frames can be picked up for £100 up over and a good full sus for £500 up over so not worth messing about with a temporary fix. Look at Pinkbike for frames Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 Bin it, when it goes and you end up harris over tit and hurt yourself the saving by not buying another bike wont be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 I agree you could fix it but i wouldn't, if that goes your gonna end up under a bus, pick up another bike or frame from a car boot or eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted May 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 (edited) Thanks for all the ideas. It's just a 'normal' mountain bike I bought a few years ago (and haven't ridden that much to be fair) for the sake of £300 or so as much as it pains me I'm going to consign it to the scrap heap - I don't have the technical knowledge to move all the components over, and to be honest I don't think the value would warrant the time. I will strip off as much as I can before I clearly mangle and dent the frame and the scrap man takes her Thanks for saving me from a broken shoulder or a new set of teeth ! Edited May 19, 2018 by ph5172 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 16 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: I bet Ditchman could sort it out! im with amateur......another is "laser brand".....use MAPP gas.........ive used it several times on outboard motors and castings.....it only works on aluminuim...if its an alloy you might have a problem...tried it on a "alloy" casting of a sthil chainsaw................DIsASTER........... if yor guggle laser brand you will see a video... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 I once snapped a head set on a BMX off a table top jump when a youngster, i went right over the front, it wasnt pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaymo Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 5 hours ago, figgy said: I once snapped a head set on a BMX off a table top jump when a youngster, i went right over the front, it wasnt pretty. You had been watching BMX Bandits like the rest of us!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 Could be worse than new teeth. A kid I went to school with had his frame snap as he was riding along and it rammed a testicle into his body. He had to have surgery to put it back in it's proper place. Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricko Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 Mate of mine snapped the forks on his Raleigh Bomber going down a kerb, broken nose and two front teeth lost, nasty business. Get another frame and rebuild would be my advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpringDon Posted May 19, 2018 Report Share Posted May 19, 2018 As the sensible said, scrap it or weld it. If anyone was actually serious with the jubilee clip and epoxy “solutions”, they need to take a good look at themselves in the mirror. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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