Reynolds 853...repairable?

[The Gnome]

+1

to the OP make sure your repaired frame never gets back into circulation. I had a friend who had a similar repair done, loaned the frame to a friend for his windtrainer and eventually,it got sold. My friend tried to track it down but was unable to get it back. He found out it changed hands several times and got repainted by an unscrupulous individual who misrepresented the bike when he sold it to an unsuspecting customer.

nah, no worries there...after I got the weld done I had to take it out for a last road ride so went out for a 40 miler...what the hell and say goodbye ect..it was a kick and felt good when I thought it dead which it sorta is...but it is retired to the trainer and all pulled apart...I certainly could never sell it on in good conscience or any sorta conscience really...don't want to kill myself, let alone some other person...no way at all...I don't sell stuff on anyhow, just collect and hoard it too much...it's a curse...must be something from childhood...

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

...picked up a used lugged Serotta Colorado lt frame that is in great condition for a good price (450 bucks)...perfect fit and it's in great shape...

Very nice replacement Gnome! Bolded is the key no matter the name, but really hard to go wrong with a Serotta. Class ride, enjoy!!!

 

[The Gnome]

Very nice replacement Gnome! Bolded is the key no matter the name, but really hard to go wrong with a Serotta. Class ride, enjoy!!!

Thanks GM...it does fit perfectly...looks perfect as a fit tho have not built it up yet but the numbers are spot on...as well inside for a 92 frame via rust...even scoped it with the help of my airplane buddy who has those scope view cameras for planes or into your intestine...she is as clean as a nun's orifice...very excited, happy and abit calm now...again thanks for all the advice folks...will try to post a pic when built...it's a gorgeous black and green frame...old, but good I hope for the long run...

only worry: this was to replace my lemond which I used in all weather...rain...no matter what...don't want to baby this thing and not ride as I already baby the merckx leader so I want to ride this thing at all times even when it is cloudy...if you know what I mean...want a backup real rider...gonna do my best...

 

[The Gnome]

last follow up...well, have certainly retired the bike to the trainer and it will stay that way...but interestingly, heard back from Reynolds and they assure me that they believe the crack can be tig welded with a few specifications like which rod property to use ect and be fine...as I say, I am going to err on side of caution and not ride it but it is odd Reynolds thinks that when not only here, but on other frame building forums ect plenty of folks with experience say that 853 really can't be tigged and is an accident waiting to happen...

 

[Fiemme]

last follow up...well, have certainly retired the bike to the trainer and it will stay that way...but interestingly, heard back from Reynolds and they assure me that they believe the crack can be tig welded with a few specifications like which rod property to use ect and be fine...as I say, I am going to err on side of caution and not ride it but it is odd Reynolds thinks that when not only here, but on other frame building forums ect plenty of folks with experience say that 853 really can't be tigged and is an accident waiting to happen...

Re-welding a crack is achievable, however as Reynold's probably pointed out a specific filler rod is required and possibly a heat treatment of the frame to normalise the material after it has been welded. This is not a really an economically feasible solution for a Bicycle frame.

You must keep in mind that Reynolds tubing is used to manufacture a whole range of other products and re-welding a crack maybe a feasible option lets say for example an Ultra Light Plane, Race Car Roll Cage, Race Car Chassis or even a Motor Bike Frame. All of which would cost far more than a bicycle frame.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I am going to err on side of caution and not ride it but it is odd Reynolds thinks that when not only here, but on other frame building forums ect plenty of folks with experience say that 853 really can't be tigged and is an accident waiting to happen...

This is a tricky question.

#1: I doubt a frame builder wants to assume the liability even if the shop is an experienced Reynolds shop.

#2 Even if the shop welds to Reynold's spec setup. the cost of blowing the joint is high. Now, I'm sure I've offended a dozen welders out there, but they know non-pretty welds happen.

#3 If the welder is just any old welder, I'm sure they could blow it pretty easily given how special the material is. That's where some of the "no way" opinions are coming from.

I'd do it and leave it on the trainer. But, like another post said, there's no way it's "set and forget" road worthy.

 

[ElChingon]

Thanks to this thread I am re-assured in my carbon frame purchases, many thanks

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Thanks to this thread I am re-assured in my carbon frame purchases, many thanks

I wouldn't be so sure Chingy. Carbon still has a much worse fail rate in the last few years than the previous 20 of any steel, alu, or ti. Walk into any bike shop that's been around a while that has been through all the materials and ask them. From 1999-2001 my workspace was shadowed by 10 foot tall piles of failed carbon forks, no joke! Never was like that in 3 years with any metal anything.

 

[ElChingon]

You must be buying knock off brands. I've had my carbon frames from 1999, 2004 and 2009 all still rolling just fine, sure some paint chips especially on the 1999 and 2004 (sold it unfortunately ) but they still ride as fine as the day they were made and the 1999 and 2004 have seen some pavement as well, granted nothing severe but still I still ride them down 40 mph descents with reckless abandon and just smile as they hit 55 mph on some of those but granted new wheels help get to those speeds and eating an extra burger before those rides

I'll donate my allocation of steel to the dept. of defense who actually needs it, you can continue to hoard it all you want. Now I know why some LBS's go under.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

You must be buying knock off brands. I've had my carbon frames from 1999, 2004 and 2009 all still rolling just fine, sure some paint chips especially on the 1999 and 2004 (sold it unfortunately ) but they still ride as fine as the day they were made and the 1999 and 2004 have seen some pavement as well, granted nothing severe but still I still ride them down 40 mph descents with reckless abandon and just smile as they hit 55 mph on some of those but granted new wheels help get to those speeds and eating an extra burger before those rides

I'll donate my allocation of steel to the dept. of defense who actually needs it, you can continue to hoard it all you want. Now I know why some LBS's go under.

You've had 3 personal carbon bikes in the last three years, your newest one being 4 years old, and this is what you base your expertise on carbon manufacturing and warranties? C'mon dude! In this time frame I've owned no less than a dozen carbon bikes, and for work I've handled THOUSANDS of carbon warranties from just about every manufacturer under the sun working for one of the largest distributors on the planet and 6 different shops, this is only describing about half my time in the bike industry. What do you do for a living agian?

 

[ElChingon]

Do you read numbers? Re-read. I've seen carbon since 1990 in labs where it was tested for its basic properties in different shapes and yes carbon layups and curing processes. Just because you sell inferior products doesn't mean everyone does. There also countless stories on bad steel as well if you truely have been selling for as long as you say you have or you are just forgetting the past

Ever see see any of the guys at Interbike st the last carbon materials conference? Doubt it.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Do you read numbers? Re-read. I've seen carbon since 1990 in labs where it was tested for its basic properties in different shapes and yes carbon layups and curing processes. Just because you sell inferior products doesn't mean everyone does. There also countless stories on bad steel as well if you truely have been selling for as long as you say you have or you are just forgetting the past.

Well Chingy, since your so confident that you know so much about the inferior products that I'm selling, why don't you let people know what that means? I'm really curious myself because the only carbon I deal with for my business is ENVE. So, please, enlighten us.

 

[The Gnome]

This is a tricky question.

#1: I doubt a frame builder wants to assume the liability even if the shop is an experienced Reynolds shop.

#2 Even if the shop welds to Reynold's spec setup. the cost of blowing the joint is high. Now, I'm sure I've offended a dozen welders out there, but they know non-pretty welds happen.

#3 If the welder is just any old welder, I'm sure they could blow it pretty easily given how special the material is. That's where some of the "no way" opinions are coming from.

I'd do it and leave it on the trainer. But, like another post said, there's no way it's "set and forget" road worthy.

That's exactly what I did...a friend of mine is a welder who does plane stuff...he is no bike guy but works on all sorts of stuff up to FAA spec ect...and he has handled 853 alot...figured why not as it was an easy fix and only cost the beer...he had the proper rod filler as well (m80 if anyone is still following) so it was easy enough and no hassle...so it has a nice scar and I threw some semi similar paint on that and parked it on the trainer...at least this way I have a permanent trainer setup and get to ride a bike I still like and am partial to...turned out better than I thought considering the intro...

nice to see tho the thread was able to get the old steel vs carbon debate going again... there's never enough of that ...not sure why the carbon guys all get so touchy about the "superiority" of their frames...must have something to do with a certain digit's size, or lack of ect...

 

[ElChingon]

Well Chingy, since your so confident that you know so much about the inferior products that I'm selling, why don't you let people know what that means? I'm really curious myself because the only carbon I deal with for my business is ENVE. So, please, enlighten us.

Re-read the numbers, don't spin.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Re-read the numbers, don't spin.

Not spinning anything Chingy. This is another one of your forays into a part of the forum were you don't belong. I remember you've pulled this crap in the past on some of the several threads we've had on carbon vs. steel with the same results. We've already figured you have absolutely zero to add to this thread from your first post.

 

[ElChingon]

Not spinning anything Chingy. This is another one of your forays into a part of the forum were you don't belong. I remember you've pulled this crap in the past on some of the several threads we've had on carbon vs. steel with the same results. We've already figured you have absolutely zero to add to this thread from your first post.

You write just like a certain recent ex-racer talks or is it tweets, maybe you should consider retirement?

Maybe a new account so you can throw more people of the trail?

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

You write just like a certain recent ex-racer talks or is it tweets, maybe you should consider retirement?

Maybe a new account so you can throw more people of the trail?

Welcome to my ignore list, you are completely worthless.

 

[ElChingon]

Nice. Everyone else don't fall for his constant used car salesman pitch to try to get you to buy his and only his stuff, if its not on his stock he'll trash it to no end.

 

[rph1960]

Nice. Everyone else don't fall for his constant used car salesman pitch to try to get you to buy his and only his stuff, if its not on his stock he'll trash it to no end.

In RDV defense, he has built me several wheelsets and quite the opposite of your self described "car salesman". I can call/text him anytime and he is more than willing to listen/help me with anything!!! This is what customer service is all about!!

Where's your support on this forum??????????

 

[ElChingon]

In RDV defense, he has built me several wheelsets and quite the opposite of your self described "car salesman". I can call/text him anytime and he is more than willing to listen/help me with anything!!! This is what customer service is all about!!

Where's your support on this forum??????????

Thank you for your proof of the forum rules being broken.

 

[The Gnome]

Thank you for your proof of the forum rules being broken.

ah Jeez...you know, you wander into a thread about advice for a certain sort of steel repair and turn it into a rant as to why you love carbon...I never knew that there were carbon trolls but apparently there are...why don't you give it a G.D. rest...

 

[ElChingon]

ah Jeez...you know, you wander into a thread about advice for a certain sort of steel repair and turn it into a rant as to why you love carbon...I never knew that there were carbon trolls but apparently there are...why don't you give it a G.D. rest...

Life is complex, much like the molecules that make up a steel frame or a carbon frame, not everyone understands it either. Many will also eventually find a port at the back of their neck when they wake up.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Stay on topic. Further off topic posts will entail a suspension.

Thank you.

Susan