Decent size crack in the seat tube clamp. Is there anyway to repair this or is it pretty much donezo?
Also this is not my doing, this is the condition it was in when I bought this as a donor parts bike for $60
Not sure if there’s any feasible way to repair it but I do have a friend that can weld.
by joshy2local
12 Comments
For me, yes. I know that people talk about getting welding done. You could check with your local bike shop to see if they can or know someone who can weld it.
Yup
You can fix that specific issue easily by cutting it off and using a collar style seat post clamp. But look for other signs of rust elsewhere. Those frames are generally pretty bombproof. It’s possible it was overtightened or the wrong size seat post was used and the frame is still fine. I own many similar frames.
Can try grinding the clamp off and using a couple hose clamps instead? You don’t have much to work with above the crossbar, but if you can get one there and below it might hold the seatpost well enough. You could also grind a small line out of the seattube in the frame so that the clamps can deform the metal enough to hold the seatpost.
It’s a gamble, and clearly less safe than a new frame, but – what’s the worst case scenario, not having a saddle while you finish a ride? It’s also a suggestion that may mean you can’t change seatposts all the time as it’s just not going to be robust enough or convenient enough. No one does this since droppers were invented so ya maybe just hack it and send it.
Beware the “friend who can weld”, often that’s a cheap stick arc or wirefeed buzzbox.
If you just want to make it functional, easiest fix may be to grind off those tabs and use an external seat clamp
Toastiest toast that was ever toasted.. Anyone saying you could weld it is crazy. If it’s rusted this badly here it’s likely rusted elsewhere as well. Some bikes should be let go of, so many people here seem to think every frame is worth saving.
Pretty much. Seat tube isn’t long enough to cut the old clamp off and use a separate collar.
Well, yes, toasted so far but it easily fixable. In my country we usually go to car repair shop to fix such things. There are usually skilled people to work with thin metal and they have TIG welders.
I wouldnt say its toast. You could lay a bead over that with a TIG or braze it with bronze. It wont look as pretty but will most likely be fine.
Dont let anybody with a stick welder or mig welder touch it though.
That’s very easily weldable. Find some decent TIG welder,buy him a beer and he can weld it for you.
Bigger question is -why it broke in the first place. Modern collars are really cheap,strong and good looking so if that was my bike I’d look into cutting this off,making repair with welding,polishing it nice,paint and new collar clamp. Again, I’d suggest finding decent welder to do this because you kinda need specialized tools.
Yeah. Maybe it could be welded as a repair but:
– It will break again
– it’s not worth the time or money. You can get an equivalent frame for less most likely
Repairable until proven otherwise. It’s steel. It’ll weld. Let your mate have a go.