Repairing a fastback seat stay. Possible?

[jtakeda]

Is repairing a fastback seat stay possible?

I just bought a bike that I was absolutely ecstatic about.

Noticed a crack in the seat stay when I was cleaning it up right now.

Seller said hed take the bike back which is what I'm probably gonna do.

The question is how hard is it for a builder to replace this.

It's a very special frame.

Thanks

[oliver1850]

PM Dave Wages. He said he would replace the DT on my Colorado III, so he might tackle your repair.

[parris]

Can you post a photo of it? Just about anything CAN be repaired it's just a question of is the cost and such worth it in each case...

[Peter P.]

I've seen a photo of a seatstay being replaced. The damaged seatstay was cut above and below the brake bridge, then heated up and removed in 3 pieces. One end of the brake bridge was left floating in space. The builder fabricated a copy of the seatstay then brazed it in place.

If you love the frame that much, you might want to negotiate a partial refund due to the damage or pending an evaluation by a framebuilder. The seller might be willing to work with you on this as it might be a win-win situation for both parties.

[jtakeda]

Photos coming when I get back to my home computer.

Contacted ed litton and left a message. Really bummed, hoping to make a deal with the seller to keep the bike and get it repaired.

[jtakeda]

Late night photos.

Heard back from Litton, sent him pics and am awaiting an answer.

Here are the pics I sent him

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/11373224085_90cd5cb8f1_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57329557@N05/11373224085/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/11373281844_34ab4b8240_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57329557@N05/11373281844/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/11373371343_4e53b40fe9_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57329557@N05/11373371343/)

Needless to say, this frame is a holy grail to me or else I wouldn't even consider a repair and respray

Also, dont ask me how I didn't notice it. I was really really excited when I checked the bike out and ended up talking to the seller for nearly an hour.

[zetroc]

That bike is sick and totally worth repairing. What size is it anyway? If the ad had listed details I might have jumped on it.

[jtakeda]

That bike is sick and totally worth repairing. What size is it anyway? If the ad had listed details I might have jumped on it.

SHHHHHH you don't know what bike it is!!! 56cm btw

I made a very conscious effort to not share this with the forum until it looked proper. When I installed my brooks on it I noticed the crack, hence lessening the need to share it.

[zetroc]

No worries, I won't spill the beans!

Ed Litton will take good care of it. I'm not convinced it's a crack in the tube - would be interested in seeing pics of that section in bare metal. Hard to tell without seeing it in person.

[jtakeda]

No worries, I won't spill the beans!

Ed Litton will take good care of it. I'm not convinced it's a crack in the tube - would be interested in seeing pics of that section in bare metal. Hard to tell without seeing it in person.

To be honest, Im not willing to absorb the cost of the bike AND the repair, I'm going to talk to the seller about a partial refund. Also its FOR SURE a crack

[David Kirk]

Yeah it's cracked - I think there should be little doubt on that.

It looks like the builder used plugs that slip into the top of the stays and that one of the plugs has come loose. It's not rocket surgery to repair this and done well it should be a lasting repair.

The kicker is of course paint. The cost of the metal work would seem to be pretty low but paint isn't cheap and the paint will be wasted on the seat cluster.

I hope you can work it out.


dave

[jtakeda]

The builder I asked to repair it is very familiar with the original builders work (hint if you can figure out the bike).

I'd get it repainted the same color which I hope is possible.

[jtakeda]

Yeah it's cracked - I think there should be little doubt on that.

It looks like the builder used plugs that slip into the top of the stays and that one of the plugs has come loose. It's not rocket surgery to repair this and done well it should be a lasting repair.

The kicker is of course paint. The cost of the metal work would seem to be pretty low but paint isn't cheap and the paint will be wasted on the seat cluster.

I hope you can work it out.


dave
That's really good to know. Although I don't know what "cost to repair should be very little" means in the repair world.

Is very little 100-200, 200-600 or 600-1000?

Best case scenario I was hoping fix and repaint cost around 5-600

[charliedid]

The builder I asked to repair it is very familiar with the original builders work (hint if you can figure out the bike).

I'd get it repainted the same color which I hope is possible.

It it a BG?

[John H.]

So it's an Eisentraut huh?
Litton can fix it and repaint it and he does great work- not exactly quick though.
I remember having to repo a frame from him because he kept missing deadlines on a repaint.

[jtakeda]

So it's an Eisentrout huh?
Litton can fix it and repaint it and he does great work- not exactly quick though.
I remember having to repo a frame from him because he kept missing deadlines on a repaint.

Cat is outta the bag.

Pics if I can work a deal to keep it and when it's fixed.

[John H.]

Not yours yet?

[jtakeda]

It is mine. But the seat stay is cracked when i got it.

Didn't notice it at time of sale and called the seller the next day and he said I could bring it back.

I'm not willing to absorb cost of bike and the repair so if I can't get the bike for cheaper it won't be mine much longer.

[John H.]

That the one that was just on SF craigslist?
Wanted a lot for it- hope you talked him down.
Gotta be pretty old as well?

[jtakeda]

That the one that was just on SF craigslist?
Wanted a lot for it- hope you talked him down.
Gotta be pretty old as well?

Yes
Yes
And yes.

[zetroc]

Chunk of change, but worth it. An Eisentraut A-frame in your size (also, coincidentally, my size :banana: ) is a rare bird these days and worth hanging onto. I'm lucky enough to have two and they're amazing bikes, even decades after they were made.

[jtakeda]

Chunk of change, but worth it. An Eisentraut A-frame in your size (also, coincidentally, my size :banana: ) is a rare bird these days and worth hanging onto. I'm lucky enough to have two and they're amazing bikes, even decades after they were made.

Trade? Of course not for the broken one.