Reynolds Metals

Broken bicycle frame (steel): can I have it welded? Details included::?

This is a fairly complicated question for someone with a lot of bicycle experience. I have an old dawes racer. It has a label that it is a Reynolds 5?1 frame. I cannot read the middle digit, but assume it is a 3, that is: a 531 Reynolds frame. It broke on the freewheel side of the frame just before it connected to the rear wheel, Just above the slot for the rear wheel with the threaded hole for the rear derailleur below it, There is a small triangular section, a bit over an inch on each side, that connects this 'part' of the frame to the main frame tubes, and both sides ofthis little triangle broke, again, just after the tubes, well, just past where they stop being tubes and become flat and join this triangle arrangement. Can I have this welded? Maybe the inside of the triangle could be filled in with metal, but would it be strong enough to trust? I have JUST put new drive cogs/chain/freewheel and shifters on the bike, and I would very much prefer not having to start over! Thanks for any help you can offer. Wow! What an extraordinary response! It is difficult to pick a "Best" when so many of the responses have been really helpful and informative, and clearly based on long-term experience. Now I'd like to learn more about MIG (and TIG) welding, not to mention the various brazing techniques. So the responses have also set me off in a new direction. Many many thanks to all!

Public Comments

1. Get a new frame. All your parts can easily be moved. A broken frame is broken. It will never feel the same.
2. Contact a pro bike shop and ask them. They will be able to tell you if it's possible. I would be worried about a warped frame. Aluminum is also harder to weld than steel.
3. yes...you can weld it.. its an old frame so it would be quite high quiltey steel.. i would suggest getting it welded with a 'm.ig;' welder as an 'arc' welder is n ot as clean to weld with..
4. The broken part is called the dropout, and yeah, it's replaceable with no problem. It happens fairly frequently, and in fact, some high-abuse mountain bike frames are designed with replaceable dropouts so that you don't have to go through the trouble of repair and welding (on frames where it's safe/possible to do so). Any framebuilder can put in new dropouts for you...they may recommend doing both of them instead of just one, depending on the situation and availability of a matching part. It'd also be a good time to get any add-ons that you desire (pump peg, chain hanger, water bottle braze-ons, shifter/derailleur mounts, etc). You may be able to snag a used frame for cheaper than what the repair will cost, but you can certainly have it fixed if you want to. Ask around local bike shops to see if there's a framebuilder in your area, or search the web for them. There are lots out there, some flashy and famous, some obscure and unknown but still highly skilled. Good luck! Keep that old Dawes going! :o)
5. Take it to any motor vehicle garage with a 4 pack of beer and a big smile. Try and time it so they're not rushed - so don't pick the week near the end of the month when everyone wants MOT's. Mid day - fairly early in the month should be fine. Garages use MIG welding - which should be ideal for this, although it may need to be dressed with a grinder afterwards, and definately cleaned and spray painted afterwards.
6. that's a "dropout" and can be replaced. generally, do NOT weld bike tubes. the heat will damage or weaken them. they are brazed with silver solder, not welded.
7. Hands is the closest so far, but nobody has gotten it exactly right. The part is the dropout. Campy makes the best, and theirs are not expensive. You do not weld them!! They must be low temperature brazed -- with a brass brazing rod, NOT with silver solder (I think he means silver brazing rod, which is OK but brass is easier to use). I've done this myself and I'm no brazing expert. The tricky part is keeping it properly aligned while brazing without a jig. I did that by putting an old rear wheel firmly in the dropouts to hold it straight while brazing. Your frame is Reynolds 531, an excellent old-school steel frame tubing set. It should be good for many more years if you get this repair done properly. One of the advantages of steel is that it can be successfully repaired by a competent amateur. Good luck.
8. Ben is correct. It is a repair that if done correctly will be totally trustworthy as long as the original metal is in good nick. I have even made dropouts from flat steel plate that have been perfectly good. There are several sites on the web that will provide you with the exact part(s) you need.
9. bring it to a bike shop