Frame warping?
mr.b-campag
Posts: 320
Hi,
I put my bike in for a service recently. I was happy with the work done, but they noted that the frame alignment was affecting the gears on their check out sheet. When I queried this they said 'Frames warping slightly is just something that happens over time and it’s not something that mechanics can fix I’m afraid.' That's not something I've ever heard of, and a quick internet search doesn't bring back any results - are they just trying to fob me off because they're super busy?
As background I had a rear-mech explode on me a while back (subject of another thread) and the shifting has never been right subsequently, even though other shops have tried to fix it, so I'm assuming that is the more likely cause of the problem. It's not an old bike (about 3.5 years) and as I intend to use it for some time yet should I be asking them to do their job properly (as it was supposed to be covered in the servicing) or is there some specific place anyone knows on here (in London or close by) that would be able to do it properly?
Thanks in advance for any responses.
Mr.B
I put my bike in for a service recently. I was happy with the work done, but they noted that the frame alignment was affecting the gears on their check out sheet. When I queried this they said 'Frames warping slightly is just something that happens over time and it’s not something that mechanics can fix I’m afraid.' That's not something I've ever heard of, and a quick internet search doesn't bring back any results - are they just trying to fob me off because they're super busy?
As background I had a rear-mech explode on me a while back (subject of another thread) and the shifting has never been right subsequently, even though other shops have tried to fix it, so I'm assuming that is the more likely cause of the problem. It's not an old bike (about 3.5 years) and as I intend to use it for some time yet should I be asking them to do their job properly (as it was supposed to be covered in the servicing) or is there some specific place anyone knows on here (in London or close by) that would be able to do it properly?
Thanks in advance for any responses.
Mr.B
0
Posts
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
To "warp" means the material has basically deflected beyond the elastic limit, i.e the point below which even if it bends and twists under load it normally springs back to original shape.
Metal fatigue may eventually lower that limit point at which behaviour becomes plastic rather than elastic, but at a few years old would seem unlikely, especially far enough for you to cause a problem riding it.
Unless you are Robert Forstemann, and ICMFP!
It could be the mechanic was trying to tell you the hanger was bent in some really clumsy manner, but why didn't he just say so. Unfortunately I think some people would rather make something up than confess they can't do whatever needs doing.
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
But you'd imagine that they wouldn't send a customer back out on a "warped frame" anyway, for safety reasons, no?
To be honest sounds to me like they can't be arsed. And if they can't be arsed first time around you might be better to take your custom elsewhere.
You could go to Decathlon and say another shop said they couldn't index the gears properly as the frame is misaligned either due to a manufacturing fault or metal fatigue. As either of these should be covered under a lifetime frame warranty hopefully they will check it out for you. But they'll probably tell you a bike that's only a few years old will not be warped through metal fatigue.
I'm sure the bike is fine and if the gears work well enough not to spoil the pleasure of riding enjoy the bike and keep riding.
Marin Nail Trail
Cotic Solaris
And if the frame is misaligned enough to cause indexing problems it would never have been indexed in the first place.
Don't use this shop again, please. They don't want to fix your bike, or can't. It doesn't matter, really.