My bent Meta frame - HELP

passout

Chaps

Bent my Commencal Meta 55.2 (2008) frame around the dropout, a while back. LBS bent it back into shape but the drop out works it way loose after a ride - needs tightening fairly often. Now the gap where the replaceable dropout goes is too big basically. This was due to a minor incident with a rock on a climb - not even an 'off'!

3 questions:
1) Does my 1 year warantee cover this in any way?
2) What are options in terms of fixing it - assuming I don't want to tighten it once a ride?
3) Would going to an Alfine type hub gear system stop the above problems?

Thanks for your help / opinions.

nicklouse

warrenty does not cover damage.

pic of the problem?

you could just get a replacement part.

passout

I should clarify - I replaced the dropout, the frame itself is bent where it receives the replacement dropout ...a couple of mm. play. Probably wouldn't show up much on a photo to be honest.

nicklouse

yes and the meta 55 is a fully?

The Northern Monkey

nicklouse wrote:

yes and the meta 55 is a fully?

ie - replace the swing arm!

Northwind

Instead of asking us if the warranty will cover it, ask commencal. They'll be under no obligation to replace a part that was damaged in this way, but if you explain the circumstances they might be able to help. You'd be surprised how often companies will exceed their own warranty requirements, though of course they may not. It can't hurt.

Grimy

Hi Passout, If you dont have any luck with commencal, there may be a way of effecting a resonable repair with metal epoxy putty. The way I understand the problem, is that the hanger bolts up tightly enough, but as the reciving shape of the dropout is slightly over size, the hanger can rotate slightly, which then causes the screw to come loose.

Metal epoxy putty does set literally as hard as metal. Ive used it in the past to repair a worn keyway on an engine crank for a timing gear and its fantastic stuff. You can mold it to any shape and it sticks exceptionaly well to most surfaces, providing there clean of course.

If you fasten the hanger in position on your dropout, then mix a little of the putty and pack out the gaps where the frame is worn and leave it to set, it shoud do the job nicely! The hanger should still come off again if you ever really needed to aswell, leaving the putty set in place on the dropout.

I've had a look online for you and Halfords sell it click here!

passout

Grimy wrote:

Hi Passout, If you dont have any luck with commencal, there may be a way of effecting a resonable repair with metal epoxy putty. The way I understand the problem, is that the hanger bolts up tightly enough, but as the reciving shape of the dropout is slightly over size, the hanger can rotate slightly, which then causes the screw to come loose.

Metal epoxy putty does set literally as hard as metal. Ive used it in the past to repair a worn keyway on an engine crank for a timing gear and its fantastic stuff. You can mold it to any shape and it sticks exceptionaly well to most surfaces, providing there clean of course.

If you fasten the hanger in position on your dropout, then mix a little of the putty and pack out the gaps where the frame is worn and leave it to set, it shoud do the job nicely! The hanger should still come off again if you ever really needed to aswell, leaving the putty set in place on the dropout.


I've had a look online for you and Halfords sell it click here!

That's useful - thank you. I'll get some - useful stuff to have around.

I will ask Commencal after approaching LBS.

As for replacing the swingarm, yes I 'could' if all else fails. I'll price it up but I suspect it will be a costly option.

Nobody had this problem in the past then?

blister pus

No, but I do think depending on how you word it, a letter / email / call to Commencal explaining the build up to the problem and the position as things stand today. Because as has been stated, while they probably aren't liable for damage on the warranty cover you could easily make the case that the goods weren't up to doing the advertised job of being a rugged mountain bike - with all that that entails, a relatively innocuous knock shouldn't be causing this much grief. You probably should have dropped them a line at the time and nudged them then rather than getting the lbs to patch things for you. But as Northwind says, contacting them and a polite stating of the facts and letting them know you're not exactly ecstatic with how things have panned out after paying a grand+ on a reputable brand mtb you'll probably find them willing to go the extra mile in the PR stakes and wanting to uphold their rep.

nicklouse

interesting advise on a as yet unseen problem.

blister pus

This was due to a minor incident with a rock on a climb - not even an 'off'!

Not really interesting or otherwise, more common sense, if what he says is accurate then he could well have grounds for complaint and should discuss it with the retailer and manufacturer. Assuming things are as he stated.

passout

Thanks

Things are as stated. It was a tough single track climb and hit a rock on the on the derailleur. The replaceable drop out came away as you'd expect but ever so slightly bent the frame. It shouldn't have happened in these cirumstances.

I'll see if it comes out on a photo.