CAAD9 Frame Damaged. Please Help!

El Diego
El Diego Posts: 440
edited June 2010 in Workshop
I have damaged the downtube of my CAAD9. The damage appears to be superficial/cosmetic, although the scratches have gone right through the paint revealing the exposed metal beneath.

I spoke to Bob Jackson frame builders in Leeds who rather alarmingly told me that they wouldn't work on it as the structual integrity of the tube may be compromised, he said the tube wall in this area is exremely thin. His assessment was based on my description and I feel he may have over estimated the extent of the damage.

I have spoken to another frame builder who assured me that this shouldn't be a problem and now I'm not sure who to believe!

I have included pictures of the damage and would appreciate your assessment of the damage and whether this can be repaired/retouched. The worst damage is above the 'O' of Cannondale and has caused a little raised bit of aluminium.

photo.jpg

Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Looks trivial to me. I'd either learn to live with it or ink in the shiny bits with a marker pen.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    looks trivial, keep riding it and see if it fails.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • andyrm
    andyrm Posts: 550
    Absolutely nothing to worry about there!!
  • Pork Sword
    Pork Sword Posts: 213
    I wouldn't worry about it mate... at least black's easy to touch up... failing that just stick a sticker over it. That's why I went for titanium... scratches just buff out with a bit of wire wool.
    let all your saddles be comfy and all your rides less bumpy....
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    The aluminum used is butted so that area is thin, but even with chips and scratches extremely strong. I bet you'll still be worried over nothing in 10 years and 20,000 miles later.

    FWIW my alu MTB is chipped and scratched to hell, there's dents and paint dings all over and I've been worried about for the last 5 years because it cost a fortune :wink:
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    daub some 'satin' black paint on there and you wont see it. i wouldnt do any sanding the finish looks peeled. just paint some blobs on the marks.
  • El Diego
    El Diego Posts: 440
    Ok thanks that's very reassuring. I didn't think it seemed too bad but Bob Jackson Cycles had me worried. To be fair to them I probably over exagerrated the extent of the damage.

    Do you think I could achieve a good finish myself or is it worth paying an auto spray shop or specialist frame sprayer to do the work. I don't mind paying extra providing they get a nice finish. I just don't want to pay someone for a job I can do equally well.
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    is it worth paying an auto spray shop

    You've clearly had few dealings with such places. I run a site for classic cars and am often asked / told about such places. Most of them will charge you a fortune, keep you waiting for weeks and leave you unhappy with their work. Some are good, wish I knew of one!

    Get a model makers paint brush and slowly drop paint into the scratch. Build up layers slowly and let it dry between each one. Don't paint around the hole or you'll make it look more obvious. Put in too much at once and you'll get a bubble effect above it. Airfix model paint (Humbrol?) enamel is fine. Take the bike into a model shop and ask them for the closest colour they have.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • El Diego
    El Diego Posts: 440
    unixnerd wrote:
    is it worth paying an auto spray shop

    You've clearly had few dealings with such places. I run a site for classic cars and am often asked / told about such places. Most of them will charge you a fortune, keep you waiting for weeks and leave you unhappy with their work. Some are good, wish I knew of one!

    Get a model makers paint brush and slowly drop paint into the scratch. Build up layers slowly and let it dry between each one. Don't paint around the hole or you'll make it look more obvious. Put in too much at once and you'll get a bubble effect above it. Airfix model paint (Humbrol?) enamel is fine. Take the bike into a model shop and ask them for the closest colour they have.

    I think I will take your advice and do it myself, no one is going to be as careful and patient as the owner after all.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    just a scratch if you ask me, will be fine I'm sure .....
  • ratsbeyfus
    ratsbeyfus Posts: 2,841
    That looks like a right off! I'll take it off yoir hands for, errrr, lets say a fiver! OK? 8)

    I had one of them red bikes but I don't any more. Sad face.

    @ratsbey
  • El Diego
    El Diego Posts: 440
    ratsbeyfus wrote:
    That looks like a right off! I'll take it off yoir hands for, errrr, lets say a fiver! OK? 8)

    Cheers for the offer but I'm going to go with the repair option :wink:

    I bought a car scratch repair kit and primed the scratches last night. I'm going put a layer of paint on tonight. Will post photo's when I'm done.

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