Marin rift zone crack question.

fred2003

Hi all any chance any of you guys n girls can help me with a little info please.

I have recently had my old 1999 marin rift zone frame returned to me after a long time of being missing in action in my dads garage since retiring it in 2002.

I got it back for a little project as my XSL's are now finished, problem is while i was stripping the old and nasty orange paint from the rear end i have noticed a crack on the swing arm near the pivot bearing (see pics)





My questions are:
a. can this be repaired
b. if it can could you recommend anyone to do the job
c. if it cannot, where would i find a replacement swing arm

My dad seems to think that when he originally bought me the Rift that it had a lifetime warranty on the frame and bearings but im not so sure, even if it did have a lifetime warranty we dont have any paperwork for the original purchase so i doubt Marin helping me out.

Any idea's or help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Neil.

supersonic

Maybe my eyes are old, but can you point out the crack? Or get an even closer image of it?

fred2003

sorry dont think i explained it too well, the crack also runs dont the inner part but camera doesnt pic it.
Cheers.

supersonic

Ah, thought it might have been that bit.

My advice would be to contact Cannondale UK or the importers for advice. I don't think the frames had lifetime warranties, but you never know, they may just have something for you!

If that brings no joy you could try a aluminium fabricator/welder. I would say the frame has had it, and needs repairing or throwing. It may not be repairable though.

fred2003

Thanks for the info m8, ive been trying to find contact details for Marin but cant seem to find anything.
Am i right in thinking Cannondale is the same company or something along those lines?
Thanks again,
Neil.

EarlofBarnet

Think Mr.Sonic meant contact Marin and see if they can help. ATB Sales are the UK importer: 01424 753566.

Looking at the owners manual on the Marin site (albeit for a 2k model) they say go to a dealer for help: http://www.marin.co.uk/downloads/Year%2 ... 202000.pdf

Page 42 has warranty details.

supersonic

Ooops, god knows why I said Cannondale! Must be because I am used th them breaking ;-)

Timma

If you registred the bike with marin when you bought it then you get the lifetime warranty.
I had an 2004 rift zone with crack on swing arm like yourself but lost reciept.
Took it back to shop i bought it from and they contacted marin for me. Ended up they sent me brand new 2010 frame in a couple of days
So try the shop you bought it from if there still about , not sure since you've stripped the paint if it might affect it but worth a go

fred2003

Just spent the last 20mins looking for cannondale warranty info for marins lol.

Cheers Earl, seems im going to have to write to ATB sales to see if they can help as i cant find an email address for them and im useless on the phone!

Hopefully they will have a swingarm floating around somewhere for me as im not really looking for a new frame, more something to build up in my spare time.

Thanks for the help guys, i'll keep you posted with how i get on, if i get anywhere at all that is.

Thanks again,
Neil.

fred2003

Problem i have is that my dad bought the bike for me as a xmas gift all that time ago so no paperwork is available for it and he bought the bike when he was down south working (was a delivery driver for heinz at the time) so i have no idea of the shops name or location.

Im not to fussed if i don't get anywhere with this but would be nice to ride it again.

fred2003

If i hadn't stripped the paint i would never have found the crack as it didnt show through the paint.

To me that is a manufacture problem but im no specialist in these things.

If the guys from ATB/Marin tell me its safe to ride as it is then i will carry on where i left off

Until then i guess im stuck in my tracks.

As for Marin dealers near me, i think the closest is still around 20 miles away and without transport other than my bikes i dont fancy making the journey to find out i have wasted my time.

Either way i have emailed ATB and will post back if they get back to me.

Thanks,
Neil.

nicklouse

if it was not visable through the paint I would questioning that it is a crack.

find some loacl engineers and see if they can do a crack test on it before doing anything else.

it involves dyes and stuff and is not damaging.

fred2003

Not sure where to go to get it tested but im almost 100% sure it is a crack, it is more visable on the weld inside the opening but my cam wont pic it up to well, i'll have another try of getting a decent quality pic of both sides.
Thanks,
Neil.