Opinions on frame repair

[devlin]

I have a Lemond Zurich 853 frame that is damaged. It has a crack that runs from the non-drive side of the head tube to the down tube, up and over the other side. (see below) Previous owner said it happened when he hit a pot hole, I suspect a smaller crack was already there. I have a few questions.

1) Does anybody know the actual specs for the down tube? It's a 55cm top tube.
2) Do I bother trying to repair it? (Philosophical question probably)
3) Without pre-empting a quote from a frame builder what would be a ball park cost to replace a head tube and down tube like that. No paint.

I am thinking I may just store this one away for 'when' I embark on my TIG phase (after a few lugged frames first. Shit, better finish that first one I started) and use the repair as a learning experience.

Any comments or suggestions welcome.

Thanks guys,
Sean

[steve garro]

If you do anything replace the entire front triangle and charge around $350-$400.00 for labour not including stripping and paint. Sand blast it 1st to find all the other places it's broken before you dive in.
Good Luck, fully do-able in a good day of fabrication.
- Garro.

[jon_norstog]

Man, I don't know. 853 does **not** like to be reheated. If you do a front triangle replacement, watch out for the seat cluster joint.

jn

[steve garro]

Man, I don't know. 853 does **not** like to be reheated. If you do a front triangle replacement, watch out for the seat cluster joint.

jn

Good call!
KKKRRRIIINNNKKKK! POP!
- Garro.

[devlin]

Hmmm, in my interpretation that's a no go then. If 853 doesn't like a 2nd heat cycle then I can't see how you'd get around it. Can you anneal 853 once it has been 'air hardened'? I've done some reading but I didn't see an answer to that question. Sounds like it would be a more expensive than what you would achieve out of it anyway.

Shame. Granted, take the stickers off and it's just another well built 853 frame. I does give me some nice tubes to do some practice with anyway. Need to get the feel of cutting and filing these harders tubes as well, as I have only played with 'normal' tubing so far.

[e-RICHIE]

I would dumpster it atmo.

[Curt Goodrich]

Hmmm, in my interpretation that's a no go then. If 853 doesn't like a 2nd heat cycle then I can't see how you'd get around it. Can you anneal 853 once it has been 'air hardened'? I've done some reading but I didn't see an answer to that question. Sounds like it would be a more expensive than what you would achieve out of it anyway.

Shame. Granted, take the stickers off and it's just another well built 853 frame. I does give me some nice tubes to do some practice with anyway. Need to get the feel of cutting and filing these harders tubes as well, as I have only played with 'normal' tubing so far.

If you do a full front triangle replacement it's very unlikely that the seat tube is 853. Most builders didn't use that tube due to the difficulty of reaming after brazing/welding. I've repaired 853 frames and never experienced this idea of 853 not liking to be reheated.

[Dave Anderson]

I will second Curt on this one. I have repaired quite a few 853 frames (I have a LeMond Zurich with a busted down tube in my shop right now) and have never had a problem. I fillet braze though and so I can't speak for what happens when TIGing them up again.

Unfortunately, I can not tell you what they used for tubes, but you should be able to measure them up as you pull it apart.

Is it worth repairing? IDK...that's up to you and/or the customer, if that's who this is for. I have fixed lots of bikes that probably were not worth the cost of the repair. However, there are lots of folks who place more than monetary value on their bikes. (Not too long ago I repaired a broken Huffy that wasn't worth 20% of the cost of the repair.....and I told them that...they wanted it fixed anyway.)

Dave