Cannondale, frame bent?

[pienaaradriaanj@gmail.com]

I've got this old Cannondale frame that I want to restore.  The rear seat stay to the left appears to be 'bent' (see photo).  There is no visual damage.  Was it like that from the factory?

 

[BaGearA]

Likely yes, many frames have A asymmetrical designs(I think that's the right word)

 

Check if the holes for the qr and mounting points for the brakes all lineup then I'd say the frame is fine and that curve is just part of the design

[pienaaradriaanj@gmail.com]

Thanks!

[David Marshall]

You can also fit the wheels, wet the tyres and push over a concrete surface.  Rear wheel should track over the front one.

[NeverNotRolling]

Nah just scrap it. I'll take it off you and make sure it gets disposed of correctly.

[GraemeS]

Fasten a piece of string from one dropout around the head tube to the other dropout. Measure each side of the seat tube to the string. Distance equal means rear triangle aligned. Distance not equal means rear triangle bent.

 

If it's an old frame good chance it's supposed to be symmetrical.

[BaGearA]

You can also fit the wheels, wet the tyres and push over a concrete surface. Rear wheel should track over the front one.

Wow what simple yet genius way to test it

[TNT1]

I've got this old Cannondale frame that I want to restore.  The rear seat stay to the left appears to be 'bent' (see photo).  There is no visual damage.  Was it like that from the factory?

What model frame/year? A google of similar frame will tell you right sharp if it's meant to look like that or not.

[ChunkyMonkey]

I've got this old Cannondale frame that I want to restore.  The rear seat stay to the left appears to be 'bent' (see photo).  There is no visual damage.  Was it like that from the factory?

No worries! THE FRAME WAS MADE LIKE THIS!

the drive side Chainstay is longer than the no-drive side, because there is a special disc brake dropout on the no drive side ( see pic), to accommodate the same geometry on top below the T- bone, the geometry at the drop out needed to change.

this was done by making the left and right chain-stays different from one another.

THAT FRAME IS GOOD TO GO! 

Enjoy!!!

[droo]

Fasten a piece of string from one dropout around the head tube to the other dropout. Measure each side of the seat tube to the string. Distance equal means rear triangle aligned. Distance not equal means rear triangle bent.

 

If it's an old frame good chance it's supposed to be symmetrical.

 

Can confirm, Dave Mercer taught me this trick.