Have had traumatic incident with my beloved Turner Sultan frame.. Hanger on rear swing arm was ripped off and broke small piece of frame at same time! Turner don't have any spare parts as no longer made and advised me to find a mechanic that could do it.
*Can anyone recommend an experienced aluminium welder that could try fixing it or correct it some how?
Any weld-repair will result in changes in the metallurgical structure that if not heat treated after could result in premature failure. Find someone who knows what they are doing, not just anyone with a welder.
The process of properly heat treating/annealling will be stupidly expensive on a single item. The advise I had when I approached somewhere to do it was "just replace it, or bin it...the repair would cost more than a new frame". I guess if it wasnt load bearing it could be an option...
You can fix anything if you have enough money. It may however be more economic to find a spare or secondhand swingarm.
It maybe cheaper to just cut your losses and move on. Nothing lasts for ever, especially bicycles.
So, given the request was recommendations for an experienced aluminium frame welder, does anyone have a welder they could recommend?
My son's Lapierre Zesty has developed a crack on the shock mount on the down tube, so I'd also be interested.
I've heard of lots of folk getting aluminium repaired without heat treating without problem.
All the stuff about heat treatment is classic armchair engineer stuff in this instance, it's not like welding a crack on a down tube.
Had the chainstay on my Scandal welded by Vernon Barker in Dronfield (nr Sheffield).
I was advised that further heat treating wasn't required.
It's still going 5 years later.
APF
What spec and temper is the Alu at the moment? I have repaired a few in the past (whyte,Marin,santacruz, etc.) all without further heat treatment and as far as I know they are all still going.
With Alu frame repairs it is down to the location of the crack/break. If it is more towards the front in a critical position I would bin the frame. Towards the rear and less critical is always worth a go if the frame you believe the frame is worth it.
