Titanium concerns

[u/EmbarrassedResult248]

I got this frame today, but at home i found some concerning spots on the welds.

So most of the frame is covered in either paint or adhesive film, but at one spot its coming of so i found this dark line on/ next to the welds.

The frame is a eddy merckx titane made in Belgium and the tubes are litespeeds.

Good thin: the seller is willing to take it back in the next seven days so please help me!

Don`t mind the broken cable guide and the bad paint condition since i will blast it anyway.

[u/mrbuddymcbuddyface]

It's dead Jim.

[u/Educational-Ear-3136]

I’d just give it back to the seller. That’s the worst spot for a crack resulting in possible injury. It’s just not worth it imo

[u/Daedaluu5]

The shock for me is why someone painted titanium it looks ace in raw metal

[u/AndrewRStewart → u/Daedaluu5]

To differentiate one's frames from all those TI raw ones. Andy.

[u/bacoes → u/Daedaluu5]

Litespeed offered yellow painted ones bitd

[u/EmbarrassedResult248 → u/bacoes]

Teams used to have litespeed frames made for them and putting their own stickers on for the race

[u/SickeningPink → u/EmbarrassedResult248]

I don’t think many teams at all actually rode bikes made by the sponsor until like, Armstrong and the carbon treks.

[u/Trevski → u/EmbarrassedResult248]

A guy I know has a painted litespeed that was a neutral service bike once upon a time

[u/Informal_Mistake7530 → u/bacoes]

Those were the Natchez (I think for the MTB, road bike may have been something else). They were their entry level bike.

[u/Puravida14177]

Litespeed have a reputation of sloppy welding (when it comes to protective gas) and I have seen this issue discussed with mtb frames. They had quite a high output, maybe this lead them to do things a bit quicker than they should have... Let me make clear, though, that this is hearsay, but you can easily follow the trace on Litespeed headtube welds if you are interested. So, in short, didn't surprise me (I was actually actively looking for the line in your post where it says it might be Lightspeed made).

[u/backwoodsmtb → u/Puravida14177]

If the frame was made in Belgium as OP says, Litespeed didn't weld it, just supplied the tubing. Then again, maybe Belgium has soft rules like Italy about what qualifies as being made in the country, ie paint was applied there but the frame was actually made in the Litespeed factory.

[u/walkerpstone → u/Puravida14177]

Litespeed was the titanium bike industry for a long time so I wouldn't be concerned with the quality from a couple of bad frames throughout the years. During the mid 90's when this frame was made, they probably made more titanium frames in one year than Moots or Merlin have combined since then.

[u/fiddlythingsATX]

Def send it back

[u/DeathCabForYeezus]

It's not a great spot for there to be a defect.

If you really like the frame the good news is that you can weld titanium and the weld is as strong or stronger than the base material, so this is easily fixable.

THAT SAID, you need to find yourself someone who can weld titanium (not someone who welds who says they can do it) and you'll have to pay for it.

If you got a good deal on the frame and don't mind going through the extra hassle/cost, I'd do that. If you didn't, sent it back.

[u/Informal_Mistake7530 → u/DeathCabForYeezus]

Correct. Needs to be sonic cleaned to get dirt out of the crack and then argon gas inside and outside the tubes and weld area. I am not an expert in it but these things I know.

[u/EmbarrassedResult248]

I can’t tell if it is a crack. Quick google search said that there could be „stains“ from all kinds of things like a little to much heat while welding.

[u/skark_burmer → u/EmbarrassedResult248]

It’s a crack. The frame will cost more to fix than buying a new ti frame.

[u/Vind-]

That’s a fatigue crack starting at the weld toe. I wouldn’t bother trying to repair it.

[u/GregryC1960]

Send it back.

[u/EmbarrassedResult248]

The guy offered me a discount so can have that frame for 150€. Does it make sense to get it repaired or should I just give it back to him

[u/Superb_Recording_769]

Return it. It’s not worth fucking with.

[u/Prior-Summer1188]

That's not a concern that's a crack

[u/AdFriendly1471]

Grind it out and run another bead over it

[u/MrOwl_3D]

Sure its titanium? Never saw or heard of painted titanium frames

[u/fiddlythingsATX → u/MrOwl_3D]

Painting titanium is a pain and a half, but absolutely doable

[u/MrOwl_3D → u/fiddlythingsATX]

Didn't say it's not doable... Only that nobody is doing it...

[u/gob4522 → u/MrOwl_3D]

I own a painted Stinner. Mosaic paints Ti frames. Speedvagen painted Ti frames. IndyFab paints Ti frames. Lots of builders paint Ti.

[u/Informal_Mistake7530 → u/MrOwl_3D]

Many have. It’s not common as one of the hallmarks of titanium is that it doesn’t corrode but many are painted. Here is a brand I am working on. We use CERAKOTE. Www.kielo.cc we just finished sample frames this week.

[u/QuetzalCoatl-Axolotl → u/MrOwl_3D]

Take a look at the Colnago titanium frames…

[u/Puravida14177 → u/MrOwl_3D]

Yes, quite few brands and sometimes distributors did it - sometimes to enhance the brand, sometimes to hide ugly welds (Raleigh)...