Workshop aluminium frame repair in London/S.East

[[email protected]]

The gear-hanger and part of the dropout on my old aluminium Specialized
Allez broke off in a distressing incident by Tower Bridge. The
replaceable hanger feature didn't help. As part of the dropout went
with it (vertical type), one of those nasty adapter plates to hang the
derailleur on won't help.

I've unsucccessfully googled for a frame repairer, but can't find one
in London that actually handles alu on the premises. TJ Quick used to
do this in Forest Hill, but sadly he retired some years ago. Everyone
else in town seems to ship your frame off to Leeds or somewhere,
although they prefer not to tell you this.

Can anyone suggest a good work/shop or framebuilder in London or
closeish where I can take my stripped alloy frame? I don't want it sent
off if I can possibly avoid it.

O.

As a P.S. my trusty back-up bike, a very well-travelled '80s 531 Claud
Butler (not real) Majestic, has cracked right round the lug at the top
of the head tube. As it's a just a pseudo-Townsend (head-tube badge is
a transfer), should I just junk the frame? I'm sure I've got another
old 531 frame for 27" wheels in my sister's shed I could transfer the
bits to.

 

[[email protected]]

Oops, forgot, if you have a tip, but can't post, contact me via:
centrepullATgenieDOTcoDOTuk.


[email protected] wrote:
> The gear-hanger and part of the dropout on my old aluminium Specialized
> Allez broke off in a distressing incident by Tower Bridge. The
> replaceable hanger feature didn't help. As part of the dropout went
> with it (vertical type), one of those nasty adapter plates to hang the
> derailleur on won't help.

 

[Rob Morley]

In article <[email protected]>
<[email protected]> wrote:
> The gear-hanger and part of the dropout on my old aluminium Specialized
> Allez broke off in a distressing incident by Tower Bridge. The
> replaceable hanger feature didn't help. As part of the dropout went
> with it (vertical type), one of those nasty adapter plates to hang the
> derailleur on won't help.
>
> I've unsucccessfully googled for a frame repairer, but can't find one
> in London that actually handles alu on the premises. TJ Quick used to
> do this in Forest Hill, but sadly he retired some years ago. Everyone
> else in town seems to ship your frame off to Leeds or somewhere,
> although they prefer not to tell you this.
>
> Can anyone suggest a good work/shop or framebuilder in London or
> closeish where I can take my stripped alloy frame? I don't want it sent
> off if I can possibly avoid it.
>
Why not just find a local fabricator who does alloy TIG welding?
Framebuilders are only glorified plumbers anyway

> As a P.S. my trusty back-up bike, a very well-travelled '80s 531 Claud
> Butler (not real) Majestic, has cracked right round the lug at the top
> of the head tube. As it's a just a pseudo-Townsend (head-tube badge is
> a transfer), should I just junk the frame? I'm sure I've got another
> old 531 frame for 27" wheels in my sister's shed I could transfer the
> bits to.
>
That's probably a fairly easy repair to do in a brazing hearth if you
fancy having a go yourself (if you can get hold of a replacement head
tube).

 

[Peter Cole]

[email protected] wrote:
> The gear-hanger and part of the dropout on my old aluminium Specialized
> Allez broke off in a distressing incident by Tower Bridge. The
> replaceable hanger feature didn't help. As part of the dropout went
> with it (vertical type), one of those nasty adapter plates to hang the
> derailleur on won't help.

Perhaps a long shot, but a friend had a chainstay corrode through on a
several year old steel Allez and Specialized gave him a new frame.


> As a P.S. my trusty back-up bike, a very well-travelled '80s 531 Claud
> Butler (not real) Majestic, has cracked right round the lug at the top
> of the head tube. As it's a just a pseudo-Townsend (head-tube badge is
> a transfer), should I just junk the frame? I'm sure I've got another
> old 531 frame for 27" wheels in my sister's shed I could transfer the
> bits to.
>

This is a typical failure for lugged frames. The cost for repair likely
exceeds the value of the frame. That is probably true for the Allez as well.

 

[Donald Gillies]

Peter Cole <[email protected]> writes:

>> As a P.S. my trusty back-up bike, a very well-travelled '80s 531 Claud
>> Butler (not real) Majestic, has cracked right round the lug at the top
>> of the head tube. As it's a just a pseudo-Townsend (head-tube badge is
>> a transfer), should I just junk the frame? I'm sure I've got another
>> old 531 frame for 27" wheels in my sister's shed I could transfer the
>> bits to.
>>

Top tube replacements are $125 (affordable builder like franklin
frames of ohio) to $175 (expensive builders). Best bet is to find a
local builder. A used 531 frame could be had for about $125 on ebay,
although the quality would probably not be as high as the claud
butler.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

 

[Peter Cole]

Donald Gillies wrote:
> Peter Cole <[email protected]> writes:
>
>>> As a P.S. my trusty back-up bike, a very well-travelled '80s 531 Claud
>>> Butler (not real) Majestic, has cracked right round the lug at the top
>>> of the head tube. As it's a just a pseudo-Townsend (head-tube badge is
>>> a transfer), should I just junk the frame? I'm sure I've got another
>>> old 531 frame for 27" wheels in my sister's shed I could transfer the
>>> bits to.
>>>
>
> Top tube replacements are $125 (affordable builder like franklin
> frames of ohio) to $175 (expensive builders).

Including paint?