Small Crack In Chainstay, Advice Needed

BoredHousewife

Hi, I've just given the old bike a long overdue clean and noticed a small crack in the driveside chainstay, Now I'm a bit worried. Could someone with a bit of knowledge on cracks (no pun intended) have a look at the pics and tell me I won't die next time I go out?

Chainstay
Closer
Photoshopped

This could have been there since '97 for all I know but I just found it. Basically, I love the bike but it desperately needs new bearings (£110) and its obviously only worth buying them if this isn't too serious.

Thanks, I hope

supersonic

Very well spotted! Not my area of expertise, but you may be able to file it out to stop it propagating. I am sure somebody could advise you better though.

Rockhopper

Looks like a few cracks there to be honest. I see one top left (the one you spotted), another bottom right and one going up and down from the hole in the middle.

What frame is it? Most have some kind of lifetime warranty (although often only to the original owner)

Maybe they are just deep scratches?

BoredHousewife

Rockhopper wrote:

Looks like a few cracks there to be honest. I see one top left (the one you spotted), another bottom right and one going up and down from the hole in the middle.
?

'97 LTS-DH, no hope with a warranty unfortunately. I'd spotted the one running through the hole but the other one (bottom right) wasn't a crack. To be honest the hole one never really bothered me although if it meets with the other one i'm screwed. Guess I'm down to scouring the web for a 2nd hand chainstay, might write to Steve Peat.........

Anonymous

erm, I'm not overly familiar with LTSs (I wanted one for years though!) but it looks as though the aluminium has actually crumpled?
Looks like some massively substantial damage! :shock:

Neily03

I'd say its goosed.

BoredHousewife

yeehaamcgee wrote:

erm, I'm not overly familiar with LTSs (I wanted one for years though!) but it looks as though the aluminium has actually crumpled?
:shock:

Hi, no actual 'crumpling', I think what you're reffering to is the weld between the cnc'd bit and the tube, its literally a tiny crack, i really just need to know if I can still ride it and just 'monitor;' the situation or if I need to stay clear. I don't ride too hard so i can't see how I could have done it which by process of elimination must mean I've been riding with it already. So, Is it safe(ish)?

Sir HC

BETD do a lot of LTS spares: https://www.betd.co.uk/product_list.asp?CategoryID=103

Its worth contacting them, see if they've got any other parts.


You could weld the crack, weld another plate over it (on both sides), then heat treat it. It might be ok, but you may end up with a failure in another part of the frame.

BoredHousewife

any idea of the costs involved in the welding suggestion?

nicklouse

call up Argos racing. link in the tech links sticky.

will need heat treating after welding. but they should have that all covered in the cost.

BoredHousewife

I've emailed argos but apparently they don't do aluminium, does anyone have any other suggestions?

4banger

Welding alluminium isn't a cheap hobby. However, my borther has an LTS frame with a cracked top suspension pivot mount bolt mount! Thats on the mainframe of the bike incase you weren't following all that. Rear chain stays are OK as far as I can remeber. I can see if he wants to part with it if you like.
We're off to the alps for a week so don't hold your breathe.
Is it the LTS with the sloped seat tube or the earlier one with the straight seat tube?

BoredHousewife

4banger wrote:

Welding alluminium isn't a cheap hobby. However, my borther has an LTS frame with a cracked top suspension pivot mount bolt mount! Thats on the mainframe of the bike incase you weren't following all that. Rear chain stays are OK as far as I can remeber. I can see if he wants to part with it if you like.
We're off to the alps for a week so don't hold your breathe.
Is it the LTS with the sloped seat tube or the earlier one with the straight seat tube?

That would be amazing if you could, its neither of the LTS's that you've mentioned though, its the LTS-DH from '97 (see pic 'money pit' in sig) I'm really not sure about compatibility but if he's willing to part with it we can take pics/measurements e.t.c.

Thanks

BoredHousewife

Right! Sorry to revive an old thread but the situation is this.....I've found the bit I need....but...i've also filed the chainstay in question and the crack vanished!!!! How much 'crack' can i afford to file away? The diff is £40?

nicklouse

the question now is was it really a crack?

i would get it crack tested.

any engineers shop should be able to do it.

BoredHousewife

right! defo crack for a start, was referring to sonics post about 'able to file it out to stop it propagating'. essentially I found 'the part' and then went at the 'stay with a file (out of curiosity) to see what happened. It appears to be fine now BUT the part I need IS available therefore 'should I buy?'

nicklouse

right new (used) chainstay. get it. then get the old one fixed and Ebay that!

BoredHousewife

I like your attitude! Gotta keep the frame though and therefore the 'old' 'stay. Will maybe use the old 'stay for a day out though. Just glad to have the old girl back.

Why do you advise the sale of the old part though? Surely the new owner would have an idea about these things? And do you think there's life there?

nicklouse

Ok i think i have missed something here. i thought this 40 was for a replacement part?

BoredHousewife

you're right, the £40 is for a new chainstay. Glad to pay it actually...had budgeted for £60ish.

BUT.......the old chainstay. I thought you'd suggested selling it now I'd filed it down. Since I'm not the most tech person in the world (and quite drunk at the mo) I was curious what the implications of losing a mm (or even half) would be on a bit of Aluminium. Maybe I wasn't clear though.

And thanks for the help Nick, always appreciated....although I do wonder how you ended up in Sweden!!!!

nicklouse

Ah i was talking about fixing the old one before selling it on. or keeping as a spare.

Sweden who wants to live in the UK.

BoredHousewife

nicklouse wrote:

Sweden who wants to live in the UK.

Fair enuff, the gf's a GERMan...that was cruel.....I see you're point though (what are my trousers down???)

SORRY FOR THE ABOVE!!!

BoredHousewife

as for fixing it...I wish it was that simple. I think I'll be keeping the old one as a spare, just gotta keep myself from rebuilding 'as is' for safety reasons. Although, I reckon as is would be fine for my riding.

P.S. where's sonic? I'm sure he could tell me exactly what I could take off the GT 'stays

nicklouse

he is normaly around..

he knows too much about GT's.

Rockhopper

The way to stop a crack propagating is to drill a small hole at either end of it.
I would think that just filing across the surface will leave fatigued material that you can't see but will still be there ready to re-appear sometime in the future!

deanvw

se a metal rod and use a metal clamp with bolts each end to hold the chain stay

supersonic

Dunno how much to take off, or even if it will actually work, but nowt to lose as such!

toasty

On a tangent, it's a shame they don't revive old designs like that occationally. I'd have killed for one of those when I was younger

The new I-Drives seem a bit samey, I think it's the fact half the shops on the net try and shove one into your hands at a discounted rate (not that I'd normally complain about this sort of behaviour).

BoredHousewife

there's an 08 biancchi that looks suspiciously like the old LTS actually, horizontally mounted shock though-

This One

supersonic

LTS was good in its day: GT had to abandon in after Spesh purchased the Horst link patent. Very plush to ride, but a little flexy and, erm, prone to parts cracking.

BoredHousewife

But weren't all alu GT's prone to cracking at that time? I know peeps who went through 2 or 3 Zaskars back in the day.

So what do you guys reckon to the Bianchi?