Had a bit of a disaster this afternoon

[DaveyA]

I bought a 531 frame a while back with a view building it up and riding it in the summer or converting it to single speed.
I was just refitting the back wheel, which being a modern wheel is slightly wider than the dropouts, when I heard a bit of a ping. I couldn't see straight away what had happened but, eventually I discovered what looks like a small crack where the chainstay bridge is attached to the chainstay. I can only see a crack in the paint but if I flex the frame by easing the dropouts apart it looks like it is opening up and closing where the paint is cracked. I wasn't being overly rough when refitting the wheel back and I believe 531 frames can handle slightly wider axles. So this has brought things to an abrupt halt until I decide what to do about it. I am not really sure whether it will be worth the expense of having it repaired which will probably mean a paint job as well. I have found some framebuilders online that can do repairs, but I don't know if it would be possible just to braze around the crack/joint or if it would mean a new bridge is needed.
Apart from that it does rather leave me wondering that if it has cracked so easily just putting the wheel in what else might be trusted.

 

[dan_bo]

I did that on the old Viking. Repaired it myself with an oxy-mapp torch and (obviously) braize. Still going strong.

 

[raleighnut]

Had the frame already been 'Coldset' from 120<126mm.

 

[biggs682]

@DaveyA ooh dear

if you wanted it repaired, i just had a new brake bridge and powder coat done by Lee Cooper cost aprox £120

 

[DaveyA]

Doesn't seem as if it's been coldset. I measured the dropout and it is still 120mm. Sometimes they are surprisingly difficult to spring apart and drop the wheel in at the same time, looks like I might have had an Incredible Hulk moment.
I have just remembered that someone in our club used to build frames a while back. I will ask him if he still dabbles in that kind of thing. If not it might be worth me having it done and painted as it took me quite a while to find a frame in the size that I wanted. I didn't really want to touch the paint as it's ok but not perfect and I would like to have kept it original but, if it has to be done it will make a nice job of it. I will have a look on the net for Lee Cooper, where is he based?

 

[raleighnut]

Doesn't seem as if it's been coldset. I measured the dropout and it is still 120mm. Sometimes they are surprisingly difficult to spring apart and drop the wheel in at the same time, looks like I might have had an Incredible Hulk moment.
I have just remembered that someone in our club used to build frames a while back. I will ask him if he still dabbles in that kind of thing. If not it might be worth me having it done and painted as it took me quite a while to find a frame in the size that I wanted. I didn't really want to touch the paint as it's ok but not perfect and I would like to have kept it original but, if it has to be done it will make a nice job of it. I will have a look on the net for Lee Cooper, where is he based?

You can push 126mm out to 130 (I've done it to 2 of mine) but 120mm

 

[DaveyA]

I'll double check but I'm sure it was 120. Going to scrape the paint off around where I think it's cracked and have a good look.