Alloy frame headtube dent-any material scientists out there?
Bought a bargain frame today - or at least I thought it was a bargain until I saw a tiny dint in the very top of the headtube. It's very slightly deformed the inside but the integrated bearing still goes in okay. The inside surface is not split
Pain is that I know the place I got it from doesn't have another.
Frame is made out of 7005. Will it survive? Or will it split?
Do I take it back or just build it, ride it and see?
Example image:

More images: http://headtube-dint.fotopic.net/c1648836.html
Pain is that I know the place I got it from doesn't have another.
Frame is made out of 7005. Will it survive? Or will it split?
Do I take it back or just build it, ride it and see?
Example image:

More images: http://headtube-dint.fotopic.net/c1648836.html
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Comments
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I'd say its fine.
It doesn't look like a high stress area.All the stresses will go higher up the bearing cup.
Even if it does crack I'm sure 7000 series alloy can be welded as its not heat treated ( I stand to be corrected on this though)0 -
Wappygixer wrote:I'd say its fine.
It doesn't look like a high stress area.All the stresses will go higher up the bearing cup.
Even if it does crack I'm sure 7000 series alloy can be welded as its not heat treated ( I stand to be corrected on this though)
7000 series are normally heat treated. They are welded first and then can be heat treated to lower the damage in the HAZ.
They are often treated using the T6 method.0 -
Looks ok to me, aluminium alloy is quite resilient so I don’t think it would be a problem. Most stuff that is sold for the road is over engineered to allow for miss treatment. I used to work in a garage and they had a TIG welder and the main mechanic did all sorts of repairs on alloy components that were damaged; I don’t remember having any fail.0
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That's a pretty thick part and as others have said won't be under a lot of stress so it will be fine.
I wouldn't even think about welding it - the heat will transfer and weaken the thinner tubes of the top tube which is a bigger issue.I'm left handed, if that matters.0 -
ok the bearing fits, but does it seat properly on the bottom?
It could be ok.
if the bearings fit and seat ok then i would not worry.
I have seen worse dents "sorted" on standard headset fittings."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
Looks okay to me - if the headset goes in it should be fine. that area is unlikely to be highly loaded in normal use on the bike too0
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nice picturePegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo0 -
cool
I'll just stick it together and ride the thing then
thanks all0 -
you could always put a load of dints in it, so it looks like a design feature..Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer0