Repairing cracks in steel chain stays

Hey all,

I am new to the Chicagoland area and am bringing a bike problem with me: I was given an old steel road bike and have been trying to restore it, and after stripping the components and starting to sand the paint off I noticed that one chain stay has a 1 cm crack in it and the other has a 1 cm crack with a small hole the size of a pencil eraser (it looks like someone forcibly removed a brazed on kickstand). I don't want to keep working on it only to find out later that it is unsafe. Does anyone know if, once repaired, it is still safe to ride? And, any ideas who does these kinds of repairs in the area? I have contacted a few local bikes shops in the Arlington Heights/Schaumburg/Mt. Prospect area and none know of any framebuilders or welders that could take a look at it. Any advice?

Thanks!

Tom

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on September 13, 2011 at 5:06pm

Owen at Blue City Cycles. He's here on the Chainlink:

http://www.thechainlink.org/profile/olloyd1?xg_source=profiles_memb...

I don't know that it's worth repairing, but I'm going to go out on a limb here, and say that it is unsafe in its current state.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 14, 2011 at 1:21am

Looks like somebody seriously over-tightened the kickstand plate.

The local frame builders are Owen Llyod and Humble Frameworks.

I'm going to guess that'd be a +$300 repair.

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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on September 14, 2011 at 1:22am

I had Owen repair a cracked rear drop out on my bike last year and he does really nice work. It might be worth your time to have look at it and give you his opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 14, 2011 at 2:31am

It is not safe as is.

Depending on the frame it may not be worth the cost of the repair. You are looking at having both chain-stays replaced, I am not expert in frame repair but I bet you are looking at close to 300 dollars before the parts costs.

I also recommend Owen Lloyd or Humble.

It is pretty sad that bike ships less then 20 miles away don't know of people doing frame work in their own area...