Repair a Titanium frame?

[WarChild007]

Hi,

I've got a titanium XC frame, which is about 15years old. I had it from new and built it myself but about four years ago, the section of tube where the front mech attaches, cracked It's a 1" split running the direction of the tube. Due to this I stopped using it and stripped it down.

I tried to contact the manufacturer but they had closed down, so no chance of a lifetime warrantee.

I then bought a Trek Liquid 65 full suspension and am now finding it a little heavy, so was wondering about having the XC bike repaired.

Anyone know if this is possible, and if so, where I could get it repaired? Would any good welder be able to sort it or is it just a wall hanging?

[uncinqsix]

It should be repairable by a specialist welder with the right kit. These guys might be worth talking to: http://www.carrswelding.co.uk/cycling.html

[MadDad]

I believe Enigma repair Ti frames, worth giving them a call they are very nice down there and very helpful.

http://www.enigmabikes.com/technical-frame-repairs...

[WarChild007]

uncinqsix said:

It should be repairable by a specialist welder with the right kit. These guys might be worth talking to: http://www.carrswelding.co.uk/cycling.html

Thanks for the link, I'll give them a call.
Would be nice to get it up and running again.

[WarChild007]

MadDad said:

I believe Enigma repair Ti frames, worth giving them a call they are very nice down there and very helpful.

http://www.enigmabikes.com/technical-frame-repairs...

Thanks for that, they were around this morning so just gave them a call. He said they could weld it but being where it is on the frame the chances are it would go again and as its the tube the seat post goes into you can't really replace the tube without essentially rebuilding the frame

[DrMekon]

Few people of YACF have used this guy - http://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/

Thread here - https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=69772.0

There are other threads on there about it (YACF is audax central, and lots of audaxers ride ti). Short version is that if the weld site wasn't purged of oxygen initially, chances are there is ti-oxide in the tube now, and it'll be brittle whatever. Seems like lots of ti-manufacturers are affected, not just the cheap XACD frames.

[WarChild007]

DrMekon said:

Few people of YACF have used this guy - http://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/

Thread here - https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=69772.0

There are other threads on there about it (YACF is audax central, and lots of audaxers ride ti). Short version is that if the weld site wasn't purged of oxygen initially, chances are there is ti-oxide in the tube now, and it'll be brittle whatever. Seems like lots of ti-manufacturers are affected, not just the cheap XACD frames.

Thanks for the links, interesting reading. Suppose there isn't really anyway to tell without opening up the tube?

Just thought it was odd that the guy I spoke to said it would probably go again, as I always thought a weld was stronger as it was essentially reinforced.

The problem could be that the clamp on the front mech wont fit onto the tube again due to the weld.