Welding Problems

[Skipper]

Has anyone had the bottom bracket snap completely away from the rest of the bike? I was giving it some wellie and all of a sudden the weld around the crank/bottom bracket gave way. It was starting to feel like a bolt was coming loose, then the bike snapped in two, and the seat tube is no longer connected! It's a Claude Butler Urban 500, only a year old, and the weld joint has separated. END OF BIKE. :-( Is this common?

 

[Keith Oates]

It's the first time I've heard of that, did you get hurt when it happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Skipper]

Not hurt. Feet off the pedals and the bike swerved all over the road, but fortunately the car behind was a little way back, otherwise serious trouble! Looking at a Giant Roam now, any advice?

 

[upsidedown]

Never heard of that before, but it's a definite refund job under the sale of goods act.

 

[gambatte]

Off the CB website:
"R I G I D F R AME A N D F O R K S – L I F E T IME
A l l r i g i d f r a m e s a n d f o r k s ( w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f
s u s p e n s i o n f o r k s , s u s p e n s i o n f r ame s , re a r s h o c k s a n d
c a r b o n f i b re f r a m e a n d f o r k s ) - l i f e t i m e w a r r a n t y."

 

[fossyant]

Back to shop for warranty !!

 

[Herzog]

It happened to a Dawes Galaxy of mine when going up a rather steep hill in Flanders. At the time it was fully loaded as I was on my way to Switzerland. It's very uncommon failure, but that's of no comfort if it happens to you with about 1000km to go on your journey.

 

[mickle]

Yup, warranty.

 

[wintonbina]

+1.
If it was older/not under warranty then you could re-weld it. It probally wasn't stress relieved properly (like me). Glad you weren't hurt though!

 

[mickle]

+1.
If it was older/not under warranty then you could re-weld it.

Not a good idea. The yield has come about due to a failure in one or more of the frame assembly processes. Probably an over-heat during welding. I wouldn't trust the tubing in that area ever again.

 

[fossyant]

I would wouldn't trust the tubing in that area ever again.

Fixed it for you

 

[mickle]

Ta!

 

[Clydesdale]

Has anyone had the bottom bracket snap completely away from the rest of the bike? I was giving it some wellie and all of a sudden the weld around the crank/bottom bracket gave way. It was starting to feel like a bolt was coming loose, then the bike snapped in two, and the seat tube is no longer connected! It's a Claude Butler Urban 500, only a year old, and the weld joint has separated. END OF BIKE. :-( Is this common?

The only time I heard of that happening was when I received a recall notice from Cannondale for my 1988/89 Mountain Bike for a weld issue at the seat post.

 

[wintonbina]

Not a good idea. The yield has come about due to a failure in one or more of the frame assembly processes. Probably an over-heat during welding. I wouldn't trust the tubing in that area ever again.
It all depends on your(or bike shop's) expertise. It was part of my job many years ago. If it was the weld that went(so to speak) it could be just that, not the tubing.

 

[subaqua]

only on a cheap chinese BMX lookylikey as a kid. welded the BB back on stripped it down regreased the bearings and it ran for years. on a bike of your age its back to the shop for warranty exchange.