Hey all, picked up this sweet 1998 Trek 730 Multitrack today on FB Marketplace for $30, but didn't realize til I got home that one of the bosses seems to have completely snapped off. From what I can find this is basically a death sentence to a fork this cheap, but it really feels like a waste to toss this out. Is there any option I have for mounting front brakes? The things I've thought of so far are
- taking it to a frame builder and having them remove and rebraze new ones on. This seems like an expensive option, and will likely ruin the paint. I am in Seattle though so I'm sure there are a few decent frame builders here who could do it
- I noticed that there's actually quite a bit of threading left (see 4th pic), so maybe I could just use a longer screw when mounting the cantalever? Sounds super sketch though and I'd rather my brakes not catastrophically fail on me.
- I could try to mount some side pull caliper brakes, but I don't think the bolt on hole is large enough and I'm not sure if drilling it wider is a good idea.
Finding a new fork with the right geometry and a good color match is gonna be a royal pain in the ass so if anyone has any suggestions as to how to save this one I'd love to hear it
by kiiiiiwiiiii
5 Comments
I bet local bike shop would have one or could get one.
Unscrew the rest out. There might be some Loctite in it. You can heat it for easier removal.
That boss is removable, i think its usually like a 10mm box end wrench? Theyre usually loctited in really hard, but its doable, but if it rounds off youre basically screwed, and your lbs might have them, call ahead ofc.
Yup
You can buy them for frame building
How to do it.
Carefully measure it’s exact location and scribe the piece and note its location on paper.
Remove the old welds (typically I use a triangle file) and the surrounding paint.
Remark the location and tack the part into place
Weld the new part on, clean up the area then prime, paint and clearcoat the part.
They should run you maybe $1.50 each from a bike shop that sells parts for frame building. At least that’s how much one of the companies I regularly deal when building frames with charges me lol I’m in Canada so the direct link may not be much use but I’ll still provide it so you know what to look for.
[https://www.clcycle.ca/en/online-store/steel-for-framebuilders/](https://www.clcycle.ca/en/online-store/steel-for-framebuilders/) – general steel parts for frame building
[https://www.clcycle.ca/en/pivot-pour-canti-boss-steel-acier-single.html](https://www.clcycle.ca/en/pivot-pour-canti-boss-steel-acier-single.html) – specific part
It might be possible to repair without damaging the paint by cutting off flush to the spring plate, then drilling out and tapping the remains of the old welded boss to take a screw in type boss, I’ve had this done myself in the past successfully, but it entirely depends on if there is enough metal left in that existing boss to safely take a new, larger thread.
You really need to speak to a frame builder to see if it can be done and if the cost is palatable to you.