Boston area carbon frame repair? *Updated pics*

[eippo1]

New pics on the last page. Also more built pics here:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=1610869&postcount=9

So I took a close look at the "dent" where the front derailleur goes on my Bianchi 928 and am pretty sure it's a crack. Been riding it like this for a while and have detected no issues and isn't big, but just threw on a new Chorus FD clamp and just feel weird about building up the frame with new parts if I know it has an issue.

I think it's fine and it seems a bit deformed on the clearcoat etc with no other issues, but thought I'd research getting a repair in case I decide to go down that road (instead of going down on the road).

Does anyone know if Parlee does any carbon repair work? I'm reluctant to send my frame all the way to Calfee with Parlee just up the road. I think another option is a place in NH called Drummond Custom cycles. Anyone familiar?
http://drummondcycles.com/our-services/carbon-repair/

I love the bike and would rather repair it rather than trash it.

[sitzmark]

Last time I checked Parlee only repaired Parlee product.

Roy Cervantes at Grace (Holliston) has worked with a few customers on carbon repairs - think shop used was in the Carolina's. I had a frame needing repair, but repairs and paint @ $1,200 (Calfee) led me to new frame. Maybe later for sentimental reasons, but frame wasn't worth the investment from monetary perspective.

Might want to call Roy.

[DRZRM]

Bruce K had something fixed recently, though I'm not sure if it was local. He'll probably chime in later, but PM him if he doesn't see this thread.

[Bob Ross]

also might want to check out Brokencarbon.com, Carbonframerepair.com, and Kirkleebicycles.com/carbon-frame-repair

[Cameron]

Not local to you, but if you do decide to ship it out somewhere Ruckus Composites should be able to fix it: http://www.ruckuscomp.com/services/repair/.

I've not used their services myself, but all the reviews of their work I've seen have been good.

[pdmtong]

I had a frame needing repair, but repairs and paint @ $1,200 (Calfee) led me to new frame.

The cost of the repair itself is reasonable, but what drives the price up is paint, decal match and shipping both ways.

I live near calfee so had them do the work. Nice job but left it unpainted and no decal match. Its my CX / rain so I left it and only recently put a Sachs CFRS sticker over it.

[sitzmark]

The cost of the repair itself is reasonable, but what drives the price up is paint, decal match and shipping both ways.

I live near calfee so had them do the work. Nice job but left it unpainted and no decal match. Its my CX / rain so I left it and only recently put a Sachs CFRS sticker over it.

Yep ... $400/crack x 2 (TT and DT). Paint/decals added the rest.

[eippo1]

The bike and area are naked carbon with a clearcoat, so it shouldn't be to bad with no paint. I hope. Thanks for the recommendations all

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[shovelhd]

My teammate just had his Orbea repaired by Calfee. Had paint restored but not matched. Looks great.

[Johnnyg]

I used Calfee for my seat stay repair on my Stock. Very happy with there work. Good luck

[Bruce K]

Parlee only repairs their own

Here's my take on carbon repair:

Broken carbon - structurally sound but aesthetically not great

Calfee - excellent work but pricey (I think even clear coat is extra)

I used Ruckus Composites (Oregon) and got fast service, an almost invisible repair, and an amazing repaint of the repair, all at a reasonable price

I've heard some folks had success with Frame Doctor in FL

There was also a guy in Texas that had good reviews

There is a guy on the North Shore I can track down for you if you want to keep it local. Good structural work. Fair esthetics. No paint work. Not sure in pricing. He's related to one of the guys in our group.

BK

[eippo1]

Hmm, paint won't have to be matched as it is just naked carbon and clearcoat for the entire seattube. I'll take a pic and send a pic to Ruckus. I'll post it here too. Thanks for the recommendations.


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[eippo1]

Thanks all for your comments and suggestion. I have sent the pics off to Ruckus. I posted them here for you all to witness my idiocy as well:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/eippo1/pic3_zpsbfe40817.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/eippo1/media/pic3_zpsbfe40817.jpg.html)

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/eippo1/pic2_zpse903f624.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/eippo1/media/pic2_zpse903f624.jpg.html)

[merlinmurph]

Hot Tubes out in Shirley did repairs. Two people I know used them.

[DRZRM]

Hot Tubes out in Shirley did repairs. Two people I know used them.

Didn't know Toby fixed carbon. He painted a frame for me, highly recommended!

[kramnnim]

Interested to hear if it's actually a crack, or just deformed clearcoat... Will the repair increase the diameter of where the FD clamp will be? Seems like it would...

[eippo1]

Both guys I sent the pics to think it's a crack and if you run your finger along it, you can feel the alternating woven edges. I have decided to send it somewhat locally to the guys in NH, Drummond. They will be fixing it by partially wrapping over it and so the diameter will slightly increase. I'm sending my front derailleur as well so that they can work with it.

Ruckus machines the section out and then rebuilds it, matches it etc. That would be great if it was the downtube or toptube, but I'm not really concerned if the carbon looks a bit different underneath the FD clamp. I'll post results of the repair.

[metrotuned]

How'd the repair go? Interesting that it's in the woven material. Did you tap the carbon and was there a tone difference near the crack in the clearcoat area?

[eippo1]

How'd the repair go? Interesting that it's in the woven material. Did you tap the carbon and was there a tone difference near the crack in the clearcoat area?

Didn't hear much because the area is so small. I also haven't sent it in yet because I wan't able to get it ready to ship before I took a vacation. I'm back now and will most likely send it in tomorrow.

[MrCannonCam]

I've used BrokenCarbon on my Superfly mtb and it was cheap, as mentioned though not very asthetically pleasing.

[eippo1]

So I've actually had the bike for a while and have put more than a few miles on it since and of course it feels great w/ no sloppy front shifting being fixed and all that :p

Drummond Cycles in NH did a great job. Yes, you can see where it was done, but IMO they did a fantastic job and it looks pretty cool. They had quick turnaround, good communication and were very reasonable. Here are some pics of it fixed up.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/eippo1/bikes/fixed2_zpsa92081ae.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/eippo1/media/bikes/fixed2_zpsa92081ae.jpg.html)

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/eippo1/bikes/fixed1_zps654ea04d.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/eippo1/media/bikes/fixed1_zps654ea04d.jpg.html)

Once built up, it is hardly noticeable.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/eippo1/bikes/mainfix_zps6561bdff.jpg (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/eippo1/media/bikes/mainfix_zps6561bdff.jpg.html)

[shovelhd]

Dummond or Drummond?

[eippo1]

Dummond or Drummond?

Whoops, thanks.

[Peter P.]

Did the repair have any impact on remounting the front derailleur i.e., did it change the diameter significantly?

[kramnnim]

How much did it cost?

[eippo1]

Did the repair have any impact on remounting the front derailleur i.e., did it change the diameter significantly?

Not a bit of diameter change. The FD clamp had no issues and was a bit worried given where the repair occurred. I am happy as a clam.

I'll send a PM re: the price. They were considerably lower priced than another estimate; and once they had the bike, we talked about repairing some other areas of clearcoat that had been damaged by pings, riding chips etc. for a bit more.

[nicrump]

delete as i didnt read the entire thread before posting

[eippo1]

delete as i didnt read the entire thread before posting

But now I'm curious to hear what the master would say :p. Know that if down the road I end up with a Crumption, I would send it back to you if I ever managed to crack it.

[MattTuck]

Drummond is my local shop. They're good people. you should have come up to the area to ride :)

[nicrump]

But now I'm curious to hear what the master would say :p. Know that if down the road I end up with a Crumption, I would send it back to you if I ever managed to crack it.

i was gonna suggest that he/OP/you get confirmation from whomever doing the repair that it would still be round and the correct OD. most repairs to carbon tubes add some OD/shape.