Crack in head tube :(

There's a tiny crack in my head tube. Structural?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67072486@N07/7210385624/

May not be abl to see from the photo :( cry cry cry

Another Fort headcase here.

Life sucks.

I know, I know is it unrideable?

I'd speak to Fort.

That *shouldn't * affect the strength of the frame due to it not being on one of the stress areas. Best thing to do, push down on your frame in different places to see if it opens up. If it doesn't take it to the nearest auto bodyshop or mechanic and throw them a few £££ on their lunch-break to weld it, then just blow it in with a spray can.

James

pull the front bake while siting on the bike, rock back and forwards and see if it opens.
if so.........bin it.

That *shouldn't *affect the strength of the frame due to it not being on one of the stress areas. Best thing to do, push down on your frame in different places to see if it opens up. If it doesn't take it to the nearest auto bodyshop or mechanic and throw them a few £££ on their lunch-break to weld it, then just blow it in with a spray can.

James

Then you have to get it repainted (£s), ream and face the head tube (£s) and hope that there is no residual stress from welding that will cause a crack to re-appear somewhere else (more £s).

If you leave it the crack will propagate, guaranteed. You might get some warning before the whole fron end falls off when under braking or bump stress. You might not. Your choice. I am a skip hunting, fixer up kind of guy but I would deffo drop that frame back in the skip if I found it. Sorry. I have a hanky....

thanks.......
I emailed fort and the guy offered me a new one at team prices, so i dunno.. cry cry
might take it to someone who can have a look.
Does any one know anyone who does aluminium bike shit?

I'd read that recent Colnago Dream thread.

How old is this Fort frame? Is it the original HS?

I'd bin it personally

on the bright side, you get to buy a new frame

I know i know, but it's an awesome frame :( fuck it, buying new from now on >:~(

Then you have to get it repainted (£s), ream and face the head tube (£s) and hope that there is no residual stress from welding that will cause a crack to re-appear somewhere else (more £s).

If you leave it the crack will propagate, guaranteed. You might get some warning before the whole fron end falls off when under braking or bump stress. You might not. Your choice. I am a skip hunting, fixer up kind of guy but I would deffo drop that frame back in the skip if I found it. Sorry. I have a hanky....

OP said is it rideable, not how much will it cost haha.

Usually I would say yes , skip the frame, but that part of the headtube is not under a serious amount of stress.

OP said is it rideable, not how much will it cost haha.

Usually I would say yes , skip the frame, but that part of the headtube is not under a serious amount of stress.

So just how much stress is it under then?

Besides that, the crack will act as a stress raiser and cause the crack to propagate by fatigue, which is dependent on cycles of stress and not just the magnitude of the stress. In time, the front of the bike will fall off - period. The only thing we can't say is how long.

Also, I would expect the fit of the head set top race to be loosened which could cause it to move around under bump stresses and adding additional leverage to the cracked area.

We take risks every time we throw a leg over a bicycle. We just have to choose which risks are acceptable to us. I can't predict what some prick in a car/bus/lorry is going to do to me but I will mitigate the risks I can control, such as wearing a helmet, high viz and having my bikes in first rate condition.

I've read about plenty of cracks that haven't gotten worse even after 20 years of daily 50 mile commutes over rough as hell terrain.

Strangely though it's always been on eBay that I've read this.

In real life every frame I've seen crack, has eventually broken.

I've seen people walk away unharmed from broken chainstays and even down tubes but when that headtube goes, you'll be in need of a good dentist.

I've read about plenty of cracks that haven't gotten worse even after 20 years of daily 50 mile commutes over rough as hell terrain.

This is with steel frames though no?

I'm toying with the idea of racing my damaged Fort (see post #2) as I now have suitable spare wheels for it.

The moment the cracks grow it'll get binned.

This is with steel frames though no?

My point was the stories of cracks that don't grow are usually coming from people who are selling cracked frames.

I'm toying with the idea of racing my damaged Fort (see post #2) as I now have suitable spare wheels for it.

The moment the cracks grow it'll get binned.

That presumes the crack will grow but the frame will not fail. The moment the crack grows it might bin you onto the tarmac, at high speed or under a truck.

Is that at all likely with such tiny cracks (this one is about 5mm and caused by headset fitting)?

There aren't many trucks, or much Tarmac in a cyclocross race but I see your point.

Is that at all likely with such tiny cracks (this one is about 5mm and caused by headset fitting)?

Not sure really, paging Tester???

There aren't many trucks, or much Tarmac in a cyclocross race but I see your point.

My bad for not reading things properly and thinking it was for road use. Still, I'd imagine a headtube failure could result in some serious dental/facial damage wherever it happens.

Unless the whole headtube manages to tear itself off in one sweep it's unlikely to cause death in the face. More likely to cause the user to shit themselves, which is quite embarrassing.

tbh i don't wanna take any risks.
When i made the thread i had just got the frame, so i'm getting my monies back from the seller (he's not a c*** luckily).
thanks for the advice chaps

My point was the stories of cracks that don't grow are usually coming from people who are selling cracked frames.

That presumes the crack will grow but the frame will not fail. The moment the crack grows it might bin you onto the tarmac, at high speed or under a truck.

+1 Funny