Can a Ti frame be repaired?

Glenn S

My Ti mtb hardtail has cracked on a weld between the seatstay and dropout.
Can they be welded with no further strength issues?
Or is it as I suspect the beginning of the end?
Your thoughts please.

dave_hill

Make and model? I'd have thought that a titanium frame would have a lifetime warranty.

Welding titanium is a pretty specialist process, hence the expense of the frame because there aren't many welders who are coded to do it. Unless you can find someone who does aerospace and/or motorsport welding you might be struggling.

I'd check that warranty first though...

JasonRwmb

I managed to crack my Titanium Inbred frame. A 20mm hair line crack developed on the top tube/seat tube junction. By the time the crack appeared I was the third owner of the frame and it was about 6 or 7 years old, so wasn't covered by any warranty.

I had the frame repaired by Vernon Barker http://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/other%20services.htm (for some reason that site doesn't work in Firefox) I emailed him some pictures to start with and he was happy to do a repair. His price was pretty reasonable, and the weld quality seemed good.

LardLover

I bought a 2nd hand Moots Rigor Mootis earlier this year. And then a split appeared in the headtube

As I wasn't the original owner I wasn't covered by warranty. I contacted Moots and they said they would have look and see if it was repairable (new headtube). So I sent it back to them as I didn't want to loose all that money and would rather pay a premium to have it repaired by the manufacturor.

Here's what I ended up paying:

frame shipped back to US: £75

repair "estimate" from Moots: $800!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:
(that was labour time/frame refinishing/new decals and return shipping - not included was the price of the Ti headtube!)

And then, because there was a cock up with the customs forms, another £150 import tax and duty. Tried to dispute it but have you tried dealing with Her Majesty's Customs and Revenues?? Tw@ts.

So, not cheap considering the price I paid to buy it isn't included in there.

Needless to say, I'm not a fan of Ti, I've gone back to good old steel. CHEAP to repair

Is it a "quality" frame? will you keep it? Whatever you decide, you're going to have to pay (whether in repairs or loosing your investment).

Good luck.

JasonRwmb

In comparison my Tinbred cost about £40 to repair. Like you I have gone back to steel now too.

snotty badger

When welding titanium it neds to be in a purge tank really- we've got one at work but theres noway it could fit a bike frame in.

Back purging (filling the frame with Argon) the frame should/might do the trick though.

Look up titanium welders and ask them.