If you ever need a TIG Welder

[NicoBoshoff]

I recently purchased a second-hand GT Fury and upon receipt discovered that a small hairline crack had developed at the one shock mount gusset.  Apparently this is a common problem for the Fury's due to down-tube material being a bit on the thin side.

 

Anyways, I have no reason to believe the seller knew about it and I really like the frame so after chatting to friends and NIgel Hicks about it decided to have it repaired rather than return and ask for a refund (especially given the seller's good faith throughout the ordeal).

 

I was referred to "Gerrie" who does after-hours work from his home and is one of the only people I could find that was willing to work on my bike (engineering firms said the jobs too small for them).

 

Gerrie apparently has a history in the cycling/BMX scene and knows a thing or two about welding aluminium.

 

Long story short, 20 minutes and R80 (yes eighty rondts!!!) later the crack was opened and TIG welded closed with a proper seam, which *touch wood* will now hold.

 

My friends rate Gerrie as a bit of a genius when it comes to working with aluminium, and judging from the work done I agree.

 

Photo's attached from crack to repainted (I did the repainting so that explains why it is so off-colour, but a sticker will sort that out  ):

 

[dirtypot]

It was looking good until the painting... 

[Hairy]

Lekker Nico!

[Wil6]

Your a brave man for not taking some of the parts of. The heat generated by die welder can cause damage to your rear shock seals and who knows what else.

 

But nice work on the welding

[Grebel]

Nicely done 

[Odinson]

If you look up "eye sore" in the dictionary, you'll find that little white patch you painted.

[Ed-Zulu]

Nice Nico, it now needs a funky new spray job ala Bogus!

[NicoBoshoff]

I asked him about removing the parts, and we just removed all the hosing from the downtube.

 

And yes, I am no painter.  I know it's awful.  It's a DH bike and a sticker will do just fine.  My concern was the fix.  Real men aren't pretty

[popcorn_skollie]

Brilliant, Good to know this guy is in the cape too.

Could you PM his details to me for future reference?

I recently acquired a frame that has a reputation for cracking at the seat tube/top tube weld.

No problems yet but just in case.

[G00SE]

Will be interesting to see if it holds up without heat treating.

Keep us updated on how it goes.

[NicoBoshoff]

Will be interesting to see if it holds up without heat treating.

Keep us updated on how it goes.

Asked him about it and he said two things:

 

The area he welded is so small, it shouldn't matter, especially since it's 6061 Alu (5 series you must heat treat no matter what); and

 

He seriously doubts that mass-produced frames are properly heat-treated to start with.

 

I'm a layman, so I don't know.  Will have to see if it holds.  Otherwise I'll have to start a new conversation with the seller.

[G00SE]

Asked him about it and he said two things:

 

The area he welded is so small, it shouldn't matter, especially since it's 6061 Alu (5 series you must heat treat no matter what); and

 

He seriously doubts that mass-produced frames are properly heat-treated to start with.

 

I'm a layman, so I don't know.  Will have to see if it holds.  Otherwise I'll have to start a new conversation with the seller.

 

I hope he is right, as I have a remedy frame that has a crack on the chainstay which might be going his way if yours works out.

 

You should know pretty quickly if its gonna hold, as when I had the remedy welded it cracked again on the first ride out. Although I don't think he used the correct alloy when doing the weld

[NicoBoshoff]

I hope he is right, as I have a remedy frame that has a crack on the chainstay which might be going his way if yours works out.

 

You should know pretty quickly if its gonna hold, as when I had the remedy welded it cracked again on the first ride out. Although I don't think he used the correct alloy when doing the weld

 

Ja look, the guy's been doing it for 30 years and I believe he was involved in some form or another in the Salvo BMX set-up.

 

Also, I think the chainstay is a difficult bugger to fix once broken.  My issue was a fatigue fracture from the shock's diagonal force onto the downtube.  So it wasn't a single impact result, but rather less than optimal design which then resulted in fatigue setting in over time. 

 

Will go ride today and hopefully no issues, but I reckon it'sll hold since the weld is a much stronger spot now and for a new fracture to appear it will have to re-fatgue in a new spot.

 

Again, all my layman's understanding of something way above my paygrade.

[G00SE]

Ja look, the guy's been doing it for 30 years and I believe he was involved in some form or another in the Salvo BMX set-up.

 

Also, I think the chainstay is a difficult bugger to fix once broken.  My issue was a fatigue fracture from the shock's diagonal force onto the downtube.  So it wasn't a single impact result, but rather less than optimal design which then resulted in fatigue setting in over time. 

 

Will go ride today and hopefully no issues, but I reckon it'sll hold since the weld is a much stronger spot now and for a new fracture to appear it will have to re-fatgue in a new spot.

 

Again, all my layman's understanding of something way above my paygrade.

 

I think the chainstay issue on the Treks s also a fairly common one, also more stress than impact related. Anyway, if yours holds I will get your guys details and send him a few pics first.

[nigelhicks]

yoh thats a decent weld... that is not gonna budge now. 

 

Dude ... that respray ...       hahahaha

[NicoBoshoff]

yoh thats a decent weld... that is not gonna budge now. 

 

Dude ... that respray ...       hahahaha