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A repair with stipulations. Chainstays broke on my Salsa a few years back and I had them fixed at Argos and I didn't like the results as I lost loads of tyre clearance. The original stays were heavily crimped, but Argos weren't interested in fabricating similar. So I'm considering having them done again - and a proper paintjob applied.
Anyone know anyone who can do that kind of specific stuff?
Hammer and a bit of wood should serve you well.
Just a thought - did the original chainstays fail because of the heavy crimping? Is that why Argos did not use such heavily crimped chainstays? If you get it rebuilt with the same crimped stays will it fail again?
Instead of a crimp could they not braze in a new yoke? Not sure who to ask, Armour Customs may well do it but he's in Edinburgh.
Just a thought – did the original chainstays fail because of the heavy crimping?
There's some suggestion that the frame is weak in that spot because of it, but in my case it was because I'd fitted the BB incorrectly, got bad chainsuck, and it had buggered the stays. There was a thread at the time. Argos used 853 because that's what they do, problem is it's too hard to shape. They promised me it'd be fine and I only found out all this after the fix was done. This is why I want to talk to a framebuilder who knows what they are doing and what can be done.
Not sure who to ask, Armour Customs may well do it but he’s in Edinburgh.
I'm expecting to have to post it cos I'm being picky here.
Andy from armour customs is a great guy. An acquaintance of mine and I would trust him to be honest and do a good job. I've seen bikes he has built.
If you find somebody happy to make a plate chainstay yoke then the 853 stays can remain in situ and just cut out a section where they join the bb. Saves heating up the dropouts two more times to remove and refit. Also saves at least £50 of 853 chainstays and maybe prevents a full repaint.
Good point Mick.
Needs a full repaint anyway as it only has my homemade one on it.
What about Ted James? He has the capability to fabricate most things. He is in Stroud so not far.
What about Ben Cooper at Kinetics?
I think I saw an old thread ages ago where he replaced a broken down tube on a forum users bike (Somafunk maybe?). looked like he did a great job even with the to tube detached from the head tube as well.
https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/category/frame-repairs/
Yes Ben repaired Somafunk's bike. Good call.
I'd also imagine Ted James isn't afraid of making these kind of parts.
You really need to send it with the chainset and bb you want to use, plus very clear tyre instructions (or send the actual wheel and max tyre). A cardboard tyre cross section template to fit X distance from the bb would do.
To be honest, using the existing (almost new very good quality steel) chainstays makes it quite an easy job for anyone that isn't scared of non-traditional stuff. I'd happily do my own, but not doing it for a "customer" 🙂
I'd avoid any new chainstay mega crimping ideas. Lots of Salsas broke at the crimps. And a Stooge on here did the same. And a batch of OnOnes.
I’m sure someone suggested a plate yoke on the original thread.
I’m watching this with interest as I also have an El Mar that I’d get repaired if it broke…
Can you get Salsa decals aftermarket if it needs a repaint/re-powder coat?
I had Rourke in Choke on Stench repair and repaint our steel tandem a year or so ago. Proper old school LBS. They do all sorts of weirdness in steel.
Kevin Winter, Ferryhill, Co Durham. Have his email. He is local to me and just fixed my Croix de fer when I finally snapped the gear hanger off. Reshaped the dropout and did a really nice respray with perfect colour match. Fair number of good testimonials scattered through the internet and he makes lovely frames from scratch.
He works from a shed in his garden. Brilliant craftsman.
Good advice thanks - whilst I am ok to post it would be easier to go to Stroud and drop off.
You really need to send it with the chainset and bb you want to use, plus very clear tyre instructions (or send the actual wheel and max tyre). A cardboard tyre cross section template to fit X distance from the bb would do.
Yeah it's built up and like I say I have the original parts for dimensions. I think it would require less crimping now anyway as the original bike was 3x compatible, but I don't think I would ever go back so I think stipulating 1x only would give a fair bit more space down there.
Might be worth asking if they can give a bit more clearance though? Mine was built up with 2x but I now have 1x and the max chainring is a 32 - while I've hardly legs of steel a 34 would be nice.
If can braze, could I obtain or even make my own and do it myself? Some guy is on YouTube with drawings of a yoke he's done specifically to be doable at home with an angle grinder etc. Or I could buy one from a framebuilding supplies place?
In theory yes.
You'll ideally need to make some kind of wood or metal jig that you set up to BB and axle positions before you cut - it will possibly spring out of alignment.
Mild steel from BandQ won't be thick or strong enough. Needs to be slightly higher grade and at least 7mm ish thick. Bending will need a good vice and hammer.
I could take measurements off the old one, create my new one in Fusion 360, 3D print it then use that to compare the piece to as I hammer it into shape. Bit of finishing and polishing it could look ok.