Yes, it is! (was: Or maybe not (was: My Vendetta is a survivor (was: My Vendetta V1.0 is dying)))

[Tor Hovland]

My old Vendetta has lived an eventful life, but now I fear the time has come to put it to rest

Although, hopefully not. Just today, I discovered this crack in the chainstay clamps:





I have so many questions!

First of all: Can this be repaired by a skilled welder?

Does anybody have a spare chain stay assembly that will fit a V1.0?

Do Cruzbike have any replacement parts that will fit? @Robert Holler, I would love to hear from you!

Is it time to retire the bike? If so, I certainly need a new Cruzbike frameset. Disappointingly, the V20 is sold out. I wonder if I should try an S40? I don't get to race the Vendetta anyway, I use it mainly to be efficient and comfortable on long rides. The S40 should be at least as comfortable, and only slightly slower. Plus, there is hardly anywhere that's flat around here, and the S40 may be even better than the Vendetta in the hills.

I was planning a long ride next weekend. Of course, now I'm not sure if it is safe to attempt it on this bike. What would happen if and when the clamp snaps? The bike would start to creak like crazy, but it shouldn't fall apart, right?

I desperately need a Cruzbike in August, when I'll be doing the 1001 Miglia, covering, yes, 1001 miles and 54.000 feet of climbing. There is no way I'm doing that on a DF! Or on the Bacchetta.

What do you think? What should I do?

 

[Tor Hovland]

Hmm, there is an S30 available to buy here in Norway. Is that the perfect blend between a V20 and an S40? I mean, better uphill than the V20, while faster overall than the S40?

 

[Frito Bandito]

I think it would probably get you through the ride, but to be safe, it could be repaired by a skilled welder.

 

[LarryOz]

Hmm, there is an S30 available to buy here in Norway. Is that the perfect blend between a V20 and an S40? I mean, better uphill than the V20, while faster overall than the S40?

Hi Tor,
Wow - yes it looks like the clamp could fail any second!
Please measure your chainstay so Robert (or others) can look around for a replacement for you. There were several sizes available.
If you are retiring the Vendetta, the S30 you mentioned would be an excellent choice!
Larry

p.s Please post a couple full pics of your Vendetta for my pictorial History project - Thanks

 

[Tor Hovland]

The chainstay seems to be 498 mm center-to-center. I'll happily buy one! @Robert Holler, have you got any of these?

I've got some tips about skilled local welders that I will follow up on tomorrow.

This is not looking good:

 

[Andrew Wilson]

I'm a pretty good welder, more MIG than TIG ( which is what will be required) and I wouldnt risk it. Thats pretty thin and any repair would just move the failure point elsewhere.
That said, ask what your welder thinks of laying a lot of material on the outside and reinforce that way.
Also think about the other side. It probably is weakened too, even if cracks are not apparent.

 

[Tor Hovland]

I'm a pretty good welder, more MIG than TIG ( which is what will be required) and I wouldnt risk it. Thats pretty thin and any repair would just move the failure point elsewhere.
That said, ask what your welder thinks of laying a lot of material on the outside and reinforce that way.
Also think about the other side. It probably is weakened too, even if cracks are not apparent.

Thanks for the expert's opinion! I suppose I should try to get a replacement chainstay assembly either way. But it would be nice to have a quick fix that could hold together until I get it.

 

[Andrew Wilson]

Thanks for the expert's opinion! I suppose I should try to get a replacement chainstay assembly either way. But it would be nice to have a quick fix that could hold together until I get it.

Good Plan

 

[jond]

Thanks for the expert's opinion! I suppose I should try to get a replacement chainstay assembly either way. But it would be nice to have a quick fix that could hold together until I get it.

stainless steel zip ties 450 lbs tensile strength. Need to file some welds but your stay is toast seemingly anyway. Fatigue. Tor power. Bummer.

or fabricate new clamps and reweld/ attach. Doesn’t have to be aluminium. Or same format. Repaint section.

 

[ed72]

Bummer. Aluminum fatigues. Especially under the power of TOR. I hope you can get a replacement!

I feel your pain, I have a beloved magnesium upright frame with a crack, but at least I cannot ride an upright anymore.

 

[Frito Bandito]

That looks a LOT worse from the bottom.

stainless steel zip ties 450 lbs tensile strength. Need to file some welds but your stay is toast seemingly anyway. Fatigue. Tor power. Bummer.

or fabricate new clamps and reweld/ attach. Doesn’t have to be aluminium. Or same format. Repaint section.

+1

 

[Andrew Wilson]

stainless steel zip ties 450 lbs tensile strength. Need to file some welds but your stay is toast seemingly anyway.

thats not a bad idea That or SS hose clamps.

 

[ak-tux]

The chainstay seems to be 498 mm center-to-center. I'll happily buy one! @Robert Holler, have you got any of these?

I've got some tips about skilled local welders that I will follow up on tomorrow.

This is not looking good:

View attachment 11644

I once saw a Silvio 2.0 with a Vendetta front triangle in this forum. I wonder whether a current generation fork , BB and boom from an S40 or v20 can be fitted to the old Vendetta 1.0 main frame? If that is possible then you will only need a new black front triangle.

 

[Tor Hovland]

Great news today! Larry discovered he's got the part I need laying around. He's going to send it to me. That should breathe new life into my bike for many new adventures!

 

[Frito Bandito]

Thats good to hear Tor. Keep the sunny side up and looking forward to some more videos from ya.

 

[Andrew Wilson]

Outstanding !!! Larry to the rescue....as usual

 

[Tor Hovland]

There really is no tribe like the Cruzbike tribe! Just amazing how you jumped on the chance to help sorting this problem out. By advising how to repair it, by finding used bikes for sale, and by thinking about other ways to get the bike operational again.

Larry even went as far as suggesting to send me one of his own bikes (!), until he discovered he's got the exact part I need, which he promptly packaged and shipped!

You really are the best!

While I wait for the new chainstay, my emergency fix is coming along nicely. I've taken the advice from jond and Andrew, and bought stainless steel hose clamps. I first tried without any filing, but that didn't work. So for the first time in my life I decided I really needed a Dremel, so I got one of those as well. And wow, how easy it makes grinding away some aluminium. Now the clamp seems to stay firmly in place, and there is enough room to fit the crank as well.

Hopefully this will work throughout the long ride on Sunday.

 

[Gary123]

There really is no tribe like the Cruzbike tribe! Just amazing how you jumped on the chance to help sorting this problem out. By advising how to repair it, by finding used bikes for sale, and by thinking about other ways to get the bike operational again.

Larry even went as far as suggesting to send me one of his own bikes (!), until he discovered he's got the exact part I need, which he promptly packaged and shipped!

You really are the best!

While I wait for the new chainstay, my emergency fix is coming along nicely. I've taken the advice from jond and Andrew, and bought stainless steel hose clamps. I first tried without any filing, but that didn't work. So for the first time in my life I decided I really needed a Dremel, so I got one of those as well. And wow, how easy it makes grinding away some aluminium. Now the clamp seems to stay firmly in place, and there is enough room to fit the crank as well.

Hopefully this will work throughout the long ride on Sunday.

View attachment 11665

That might hold but there are much stronger clamps available

 

[Tor Hovland]

Yes, OK, but maybe not as easily available where I live. And I wonder if it would fit, because with this one there's not much room to go on before it touches the crank. Anyway, I was able to tighten this one pretty well. I have a good feeling about it (wishful thinking, perhaps)

 

[Andrew Wilson]

Looks like it will keep you till the new one arrives. Retighten it after every ride till it all seats in.
You might consider looping some safety wire, or something stronger than a zip tie, through the clamp and around the derailleur post to keep it from slipping into your crank...just incase.