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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

2688.0. "TREK 1400 FRAME QUESTION" by TROOA::SCHAFFER () Tue Oct 05 1993 19:38

    												
    I have a question concerning a problem with my Trek 1400 road bike.
    It developed hairline cracks around the botom bracket lug and at
    the seat tube lug. It also has corosion (bubling paint around the
    water bottle area). The bike has around 5000 miles on it and has been
    well maintained. At present the store I baut the bike from has said
    they are going to replace the frame for me under warrenty. They are
    also doing the labour for free (great).
    Is their any problems with aluminum frames for riders around 230
    pounds? Should I consider upgrading to another frame material better 
    suited to heavier riders?
    Any comments would be greatly appreciated. thanks Len Schaffer.	
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2688.1Same problems here!SPEZKO::SMITHRecreational pCYCLEpath...Wed Oct 06 1993 01:2510
    I weigh around 200 and have also had my TREK 1400 frame replaced once
    because of hairline cracks in the paint around the seat tube bond.  No
    problems with the new frame, except some paint bubbling ;'(
    
    I have about 10k miles on the frame.   These problems seem to be par
    for the course on bonded aluminum frames.
    
    Cheers,
    
    ...Ed
2688.2It's TREK and has SOME AluminumODIXIE::RRODRIGUEZSign Here X__________Wed Oct 06 1993 11:599
2688.3DELNI::CRITZScott Critz, LKG2/1, Pole V3Wed Oct 06 1993 12:035
    	I have a 1990 TREK 1400. I also weigh about 290 pounds. The
    	only small crack I've noticed is at the top of the seat post.
    	It looks like just the paint has cracked and nothing else.
    
    	Scott
2688.4Beware Paint CracksLHOTSE::DAHLCustomers do not buy architecturesWed Oct 06 1993 12:3416
RE: <<< Note 2688.3 by DELNI::CRITZ "Scott Critz, LKG2/1, Pole V3" >>>

>    	The only small crack I've noticed is at the top of the seat post.
>    	It looks like just the paint has cracked and nothing else.

This reminds me of my frame (a steel Centurion). I noticed a crack in the paint
in the seat-stay caps a year or two ago; didn't give it much thought. About
two months ago one of those "paint" cracks broke clear through the seat-stay;
the stay was detached from the frame (held on by the paired chain-stay). I
looked at the other seat-stay's "paint crack" and by now that crack had almost
penetrated through the stay (but not quite, otherwide I would have been lying
in the road somewhere I suppose).

Perhaps your paint cracks are true cracks in the paint, but you might want to
examine it closely just the same.
						-- Tom
2688.5PHONE::MURRAYTom Murray, Telecom &amp;Nets EIC, Merrimack, 264-3339Wed Oct 06 1993 14:305
	So that's why TREKs work so well for me.  I'm 125 lbs.  I have
	5 years on an 1100 and 3 years on an 8000 MTB, both with no problems.
	Just got a 5200 all carbon and I suspect that will work well
	for me too.  If I weren't such a skinny sh.., I'd be looking at
	Cannondale or Klein  for their welded and torsionally stiff Al frames.
2688.6Try to ditch the AluminumSTRATA::ASMITHWed Oct 06 1993 16:038
         Your problem seems to be at two points which take the most weight
    stress while in use.  Your weight almost surely is a big factor in 
    your frame problem.  I had one of the original Aluminum Treks, it
    ended up with a crack at the headtube/toptube joint - that break was not 
    covered by Treks warranty.  If you can work it out, take a monetary 
    settlement from Trek and buy yourself a good steel frame.
    
         Abe;    
2688.7TREK 1400 HAIRLINE CRACKSTROOA::SCHAFFERWed Oct 06 1993 19:244
    Thanks for the great input. I just recieved a call from my dealer, and
    they are replacing the frame and fork. It will be another color so i 
    suppose it is a newer frame. I will probably use it for a couple of
    years then buy either a good steel frame or maybe titaniam. thanks len.
2688.8SPEZKO::SMITHRecreational pCYCLEpath...Wed Oct 06 1993 20:2310
re: .6

My hairline crack was on the seat tube bond and looked like just cracked paint. 
TREK replaced it under warranty, no questions asked.

Since it's a bonded joint, if the paint is cracked at the joint, you gotta
wonder about the integrity of the joint.  I be worried about suffer'n a frame
'unbonding' while riding down the road. Ouch!

...Ed