Enduro bike frame issue
- Thread starter ebikeFan1234
- Start date
I would try to dissassemble it enough to see the other side of that. It may be only a visual damage on paint,
but i wouldn't call it safe to ride w/o better inspection of what is actually going on there under the paint.
Looks like corrosion, at minimum; could be the weld was never cleaned of flux before painting, then that corrosion expanded the paint and flaked it off.
But..it could be that either the corrosion created a thin spot and/or the weld was incomplete or burned thru the frame in spots leaving it weak, and the leverage of the shock against the upper mount has repeatedly pivoted the upper part forward, and pulled on the lower part where the flaked paint is. That could mean there's actual crack damage to the frame there, or it could just be being bent back and forth repeatedly so far and not yet failed.
The pics don't show how the frame is designed there under the seat, but if it's an "open" frame rather than a closed box at that top rear edge, then that sort of mount is practically asking for failure from repeated bending loads on every bump.
But..it could be that either the corrosion created a thin spot and/or the weld was incomplete or burned thru the frame in spots leaving it weak, and the leverage of the shock against the upper mount has repeatedly pivoted the upper part forward, and pulled on the lower part where the flaked paint is. That could mean there's actual crack damage to the frame there, or it could just be being bent back and forth repeatedly so far and not yet failed.
The pics don't show how the frame is designed there under the seat, but if it's an "open" frame rather than a closed box at that top rear edge, then that sort of mount is practically asking for failure from repeated bending loads on every bump.
Could be a poor job de-greasing the weld prior to painting, but i would strip back down and sand off the surrounding paint and spray with some crack finding dye.. Google Search
(sorry for the long link, edit tools are unavailable to embed under text atm?)
(sorry for the long link, edit tools are unavailable to embed under text atm?)
marty
10 MW
Remove paint around crack. Chip off with hammer and screwdriver or cold chisel. Clean it up with wire brush, dremel tool or what ever you got. Find the fattest heaviest person. Look at donut shops. Have him/her sit on seat and bounce up and down. Inspect crack with flashlight and strong magnifying glass. Eat more donuts.
ebikeFan1234
100 mW
Here’s a video -
Btw this bike is about 3 months old, the paint was spotless when it was new. I just noticed it yesterday after going over a hole in the road at 40 mph (saw the hole too late to avoid it). Left side of the weld looks fine. Right and bottom right half has this paint chip or crack, don’t know what it is
Btw this bike is about 3 months old, the paint was spotless when it was new. I just noticed it yesterday after going over a hole in the road at 40 mph (saw the hole too late to avoid it). Left side of the weld looks fine. Right and bottom right half has this paint chip or crack, don’t know what it is
Id spend the $10 or so on some crack revealing dye spray as linked to above. Its a cheap and reliable visual indicator.
If cracked?? it could be just a dodgy weld but i would also consider asking if its a sufficient design considering the use it gets..
If cracked?? it could be just a dodgy weld but i would also consider asking if its a sufficient design considering the use it gets..
marty
10 MW
This is like taking your clothing off so the doctor can examine the patient.
Disregard what I wrote above. I was in stupid mode. Remove shock so you can get in there. Remove paint around crack. I got die grinders and wire wheels. See pictures. Not my tools. Just pictures stole from the internet.
I want to see the welds like a doctor who wants to look at naked humans.
If welds are good and the only problem was bad preparation before painting. Clean real good and repaint. If you don't have any paint? Nail polish works.
marty
10 MW
Got no experience with this crack finding dye. Before you buy. Examine like I said. "Inspect crack with flashlight and strong magnifying glass." If you see crack. No need to buy nothing. If crack is not visible? DO buy some crack finding dye.
I guess if it were my bike, I wouldn’t be dicking around trying to determine the degree of shoddy work that was performed, but just clean/grind off all the paint around the whole bracket, inspect, and reweld it before throwing my leg over the saddle again.
