Cracked GT Frame

[pjlarge]

Bad Times!

The MBUK Zaskar is somewhat out of service. I'd not been riding it much anyway of late as I've got back in to road riding, and had thought about maybe selling up. I took it outside for a proper wash this morning to make a decision as to whether to keep it or not, and as I was drying it I noticed a small-ish crack at the back of the seat tube, just below the welds are where the seat stays intersect the seat tube.

How long it's been like this is anyone's guess, I do use the bike but it's not had any mega abuse, just the usual trail centres and a bit of gentle local off-road.

I'm guessing the warranty will be non-existent since it was a competition prize, and in any case I don't even know if the frames are still available. It seems a shame to strip it for parts, but it would seem that other than buying a 'proper' retro Zaskar and swapping the parts over (or as many of them as would fit) it's now an ornament.

Any ideas folks? Anyone want to buy it as a project??!!

I'll post a picture as soon as I can locate my camera...

Phil

 

[Rampage]

Might be worth contacting GT and mentioning that your beloved competition prize best bike you've ever ridden is broken.

Or try mentioning it on bikeradar.

 

[drystonepaul]

Bad times indeed.
Have you thought about contacting MBUK to see whether they have any warranty advice as they would have purchased it in the first place?
It'd be interesting to see the crack. It's an unusual place to fail, which sounds as though it could be a manufacturing defect rather than a failure due to any abuse.

 

[pjlarge]

Hmmm I've only found the crack this morning, so I'm casting around for some advice

Photos are in here:

http://gallery.me.com/pjlarge#100058



It's not like I'm a heavy rider, nor have I given the bike any serious abuse. I'll give the distributor a call in the morning and see what they say.

 

[Rampage]

Out of interest, how close would the end of the seatpost be to where the crack is?

 

[pjlarge]

Out of interest, how close would the end of the seatpost be to where the crack is?

The end of the seatpost would be in the exact same position as the crack - it's not like a Klein I looked at that had its seatpost too high and had caused the seat tube to do something similar (although that was much higher up) - there's *plenty* of post in the frame as I don't have the seat that high and I always use carbon prep on the post. Diameter of the post is spot on, it's not too tight and not too loose.

 

[EarlofBarnet]

Very strange that, and such a shame. You'd think it would go on the front of the tube, as your weight is usually pushing the saddle back towards the back of the bike. Hope MBUK/GT can help you out.

 

[Rampage]

I didn't mean to suggest it was your fault as I could see from the pictures that the post would have been inserted far enough.

I remember seeing that bike in possibly the only issue of MBUK I've bought in 10 years. Amazing spec. Such a shame.

I would think that GT, distributor or MBUK would want to keep you happy though.

 

[Easy_Rider]

That is very strange indeed, you wouldn't expect a crack like that normally and suspicions point towards the seatpost causing that one way or another :?
Definitely contact MBUK and GT, it cannot harm to try.

Just noticed your in Chester too! Where do you ride? You should come on a North West and North Wales meet some time

 

[sic_nick]

Very strange that, and such a shame. You'd think it would go on the front of the tube, as your weight is usually pushing the saddle back towards the back of the bike. Hope MBUK/GT can help you out.

Yeah that seems such an odd place to have that happen, not sure how that might have happened.