The Chainlink

Can I weld my frame?

The cold this week succeeded in cracking my seat tube clean off from the part of the frame housing the bottom bracket. This is a lugged steel frame. Anyone know if there's any reason I can't have it welded back on? Can anyone suggest someone to do the work? Anyone know the price range of something like this?

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Permalink Reply by DanaW on January 15, 2009 at 7:52pm


1. It broke off
2. @ the BB
3. Hope you can see in this photo. I offset the tube to the right a bit to show the break more clearly.

M.A.R.K. said:
I think im a little confused here..

1. Did the seat sube crack or break off?
2. Where did it break off, @ the bottom bracket?
3. can you post a pic?
Permalink Reply by DanaW on January 15, 2009 at 9:04pm
It was a Motobecane. Good workhorse. What I need to replace it is a 58cm frame that will take a 68mm BB.

M.A.R.K. said:
Eeeek, I wouldnt try to reweld it, get a eframe..

Whats the frame?

What size are you? I may have a frame sitting around..
Permalink Reply by DanaW on January 18, 2009 at 4:41pm
The story ends like this: since my backup bike is a piece of crap, unsafe at any speed, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a 59cm Pake frame on the internet. The time is now to get my track bike rolling again, so it's also time to graduate from the vintage steel frames.
Permalink Reply by Homebuilt on January 19, 2009 at 12:08pm
Oh, and BTW, the cold did not do that. The temp would have to be lower than we see on earth to make steel or aluminum brittle. So, unless you're spraying freon on your frame while you ride, that shouldn't be a concern.
Permalink Reply by Danielle on January 19, 2009 at 6:45pm
It is possible to weld steel frames, HOWEVER, with that spot being the fracture point, and seeing how extensive the damage is, I wouldn't. That spot by the BB is a major stress point, and welding that would be a weak point in the frame. Most likely, it would crack again. Small cracks, depending on where they are and how bad they are can be repaired by experienced frame welders for sure, but only with steel.
Permalink Reply by DanaW on January 19, 2009 at 6:51pm
Well, to get specific I'm sure it was a combination of the cold, moisture and a 30-year old frame with pores and hairline fractures at a stress point. But, a brand new frame is in the mail, hopefully on it's way to my house.

Homebuilt said:
Oh, and BTW, the cold did not do that. The temp would have to be lower than we see on earth to make steel or aluminum brittle. So, unless you're spraying freon on your frame while you ride, that shouldn't be a concern.
Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on January 19, 2009 at 7:37pm
this is the best pic I could find online in a hurry, but I've got a bent steel frame I've been meaning to turn into one of these:

I think there's a rocker on the bottom of the one in this photo, but the stools I've seen just use the rear triangle and seat. I'd be a great place to sit while you build up that new bike.

And this was a wall sconce I designed last year:

sure would look good with a motobecene downtube.
Permalink Reply by DanaW on January 19, 2009 at 8:19pm
I'd love to donate the frame somewhere, but don't know where. What is this RP Garage of which you speak? I was planning to toss it over the fence at the steel salvage lot at Armitage and Elston while humming taps, but if I can do something more worthwhile, let me know the who/how/where. Thanks for the tip!


M.A.R.K. said:
looks like rust may have been a big contributor(sp)by your pic.. And please donate your bike to perhaps a RP garage or something vs. just tossing it, that steel cold make another bike come to fruition vs. more of an ever growing garbage pile. Such a shame to see a motobecane end up like that for sure. Sometimes you gotta frame save that shit for sure..

idk about the 30 yr old deal but im sure theres some logic to it.. I have a tallbike built from a very early World frame(72)with stress damage and a jacked up fork that has yet to collapse on me.. Bite my tongue, hard.. steel is real my friend, no dount about it.

FBC Chicago said:
Well, to get specific I'm sure it was a combination of the cold, moisture and a 30-year old frame with pores and hairline fractures at a stress point. But, a brand new frame is in the mail, hopefully on it's way to my house.

Homebuilt said:
Oh, and BTW, the cold did not do that. The temp would have to be lower than we see on earth to make steel or aluminum brittle. So, unless you're spraying freon on your frame while you ride, that shouldn't be a concern.
Permalink Reply by roofis lee king on January 20, 2009 at 7:42pm
i can weld it if you want. let me know if your interested. That way you can still ride it. i bet you i can do a damn good job. you wont be dissapointed
Permalink Reply by DanaW on January 21, 2009 at 9:42am
I think I paid around $50 for the frame to begin with, plus-my new frame is on the way. Though I'm sure you could weld the shit out of it roofis, it really sounds like it won't be worth it. If you or anyone else out there wants it for a project, let me know and it's yours

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