Should I be worried about this? It's obvious the paint is cracking, but is that an indication of a bigger problem?

Should I be worried about this? It's obvious the paint is cracking, but is that an indication of a bigger problem?
I just had a similar problem and upon inquiry with the mfgr I was told that the frame should be repaired or replaced and I was given the choice of a replacement frame (newer model was more than 2x the cost of mine), full refund or "we'll work something out". I had no idea what the warranty policy was when I made the inquiry and yet I was pleasantly surprised at the sincere desire to "make things right". You gotta like dealing with guys like that!

Bryan

Should I be worried about this? It's obvious the paint is cracking, but is that an indication of a bigger problem?

You may have a problem but the only way you will know is removing the paint and inspecting the lug itself. However, before you do you may want to contact the frame manufacturer that is, if there is any possibility of warranty.

had a similar crack across the head lug of an old Trek, and could see that it was not just the paint after removing the fork as the crack went through the head tube as well and could be seen from the inside. FWIW I'd kept the reciept and Trek ended up replacing the lug and tube and giving the frame a factory paint job.


Should I be worried about this? It's obvious the paint is cracking, but is that an indication of a bigger problem?

Should I be worried about this? It's obvious the paint is cracking, but is that an indication of a bigger problem?

I would unquestioningly find a local builder to just flow some brass or silver brazing/solder into the cracks, even if they're not too big. Doing this will "reset" the entire tube/lug intersection, and everything should be fine. (Even if it's just fine right now, you ought to stay on the safe side.) What kind of frame is it?

Thanks for all the responses. It's strangely comforting to hear that I'm not the only one with the problem. I'm currently waiting for a reply from the mfgr, but I'm not holding my breath (as it's a fairly old frame). In the meantime, I've assumed the worst, and am considering all other options in repairing the frame.

SDizzle:
I'm really keen on the idea of filling in the cracks, but will that prevent further crack propagation? Would having it welded work too?

I'll start looking for builders in NYC, but as always, welcome any and all suggestions. Thanks.

btw: The frame is a bianchi constucted of unknown steel tubing.

You should start with a careful inspection. You likely know an experienced rider (or know of one) or bike shop person who could look at this for you and give an opinion. You have to ask whether this frame is worth the expense to repair (assuming it needs repair), since in addition to the brazing, you would need some sort of paint repair. From your picture, it is not possible to tell whether this is a frame problem or just paint failure, but it is an unusual place for paint to crack like that. Someone who knows bikes needs to look at it "in the flesh" rather than trying to diagnose based on a picture.

SDizzle:
I'm really keen on the idea of filling in the cracks, but will that prevent further crack propagation? Would having it welded work too?

Probably not, but only insofar as it's not worth the trouble. Lugged construction is just as strong (or stronger, in some cases) as any comparably built TIG welded frame. Anyone with a TIG welder would have to lay a really fat bead down over the damaged part (again - ONLY if it is deemed necessary or repairable), and then probably around the whole lug. If nothing else, imagine how ugly this would be... Anyone with a TIG rig can braze that intersection back to health, and sand off all the extra so that, after a new coat of paint, it looks as good as new again. (Lugged frames are brazed to begin with, not welded.)

Again, all off this is just speculation. As the others have said, you'll need to have it looked at by somone who knows what they're doing, and they'll probably want to remove the paint just to examine it thoroughly. Good luck - S