I know you guys all have your favourite places for bike repairs, my frame fucking snapped apart at the joints yesterday. I'm guessing it needs to be re-welded but where to go?? I really don't want to get ripped off and I expect most shops aren't prepared to do that kind of job. Also, do you guys have any idea how much such a job should cost? is this just the start of a total system failure in my bike?
Will (et al): It's an old Reynolds 531 Steel frame. The joints came apart at the top, where the seat tube meats the seat stays. I really like the bike, it's a lovely frame.
Breakingaway, this truly happened. I immediately pulled over to investigate when I felt a sudden bouncy shift in my saddle, after hearing suspicious creaking sounds.
Caspar, I already put the email in to Jim. btw, we've now got matching hair cuts. So inspired was I! :D How much do frames go for over there?
Argos of brizzle rebuilt graham greene for me after an amusing altercation involving myself, pretty boy and the back of a bus in the snow some years back which crimped my frame, mind you, the frame was a lovely old 653 track iron and I considered (much to my peers derision) that over £450 was a price worth paying. I could've picked up a new frame from mr Bob Jackson for less than that. In the end they replaced most of the tubes and so the only original parts of my frame are the lugs, forks and seat stays(!) as much corrosion was evident on dismantling the frame, this is probably why they took so bloody long to do the job, about 16 weeks. Mind you the results were absulutely gorgeous and arrived just in time for Londons ECMC. I am no longer a messenger and graham has survived the rigours of London and is now retired to the rollers. If you're really serious about undertaking this sort of thing, ask at Bicycle workshop in west Londre, and be prepared to spend a LOT of money. they'll tell you that you're mad as well. IMHO 531 is still fairly commonly available in second-hand frames (try e-bay or a bike jumble or Jan's shop, or jos- if he's still doing the do). You're likely better off getting a proper custom job for the money you'd spend on a rebuild. I hear Mercian make some nice frames if thats your cup of tea.
If it is only one weld gone, have a go yourself. get a blow torch and a bit of brazing wire. 531 is almost impossible to destroy while brazing. DONT use an Arc Welder. tried it, and watched with dismay as the tubing melted. get some hammerite to paint over where you've welded. If you don't know how to do it, get on a course. Its cheaper to learn how to weld than it is to get someone to do it for you. best bit of dole blagging i ever did.
I've recently done the framebuilding course with Dave Yates and the man is bloody impressive - tubes mitred to hairline tolerances bewilderingly fast. I know he does repair/refurb too. Probably worth looking at if you're absolutely sure you want to revive the frame (also a good bet if you want a new custom job to replace it).
I phoned up a lot of places today and most either don't do frame repairs or their guy (bike Fix) isn't in till next week. Seb wrote some interesting stuff but it is worth reminding that I didn't crash the bike or anything it's just a couple of braze points that have come unstuck, probably due to the vigorous tinkering I had done to it to get the old seatpost unstuck. But I'm looking to spend no more than £20 on a fix. I found a guy called Max on the LFGSS (GF, whatever) forum but he can't do it till next week either.
I considered a new frame, since I saw on Evans cycles that they were selling some old (only 2006!) Bianchi frame for like £400 - way over my price range but the 2008 version, with groupset and ting, on the bianchi website goes for like $1,600 But I have no money.
I do, but I don't have any brazing equipment I'm afraid. Also I have built a total of one frame (still in the process of being turned into a working bicycle) under very close supervision, so I'm by no means any sort of expert. I know http://www.KiwiCycles.com keep a stock of inexpensive previously-loved steel frames, BTW - a colleague of mine was there the other week.
Silver soldering shouldn't be necessary - brass brazing is the standard construction for 531. Welding is indeed out. You'd need an oxyacetylene torch, some brass brazing rod and a pot of flux. Dave Yates uses a torch with a gas fluxer so that the flame carries some additional flux of its own, but I don't think that's actually strictly required.
(Bit late but) Whitcomb (new cross rd by deptford high st), lugged and replaced my headtube for £100. Exactly same handling as before. Redrum got the whole rear triangle of his KHS replaced for £200 odd. They've been around around a long time...