Braze-on front derailleur rivets coming loose

jimm

Anyone have this happen? Any way to repair it, or will I have to install a clamp-on FD? It's a carbon framed Focus Cayo 2009.


There are 3 rivets fixing the braze-on mount to the frame, which recently have decided to work themselves loose, causing approx 1mm of play. I have the mount secured with zip ties fastened as tightly as possible which has eliminated the play. I know it's not a great solution and was wondering if anyone has had a re-riveting job done on a similar problem.


I emailed Wiggle (original retailer) who replied that Focus only offer a 1 year warranty on the frame.


Thanks. j

SetOverSet

I used to work as a metal fabricator. The solution is to drill the old rivets out using a drill bit the same diameter as the existing rivets and replace them with new rivets. If you unsure of the rivet/hole diameter, take it slow - start smaller and work up. I remember reading somewhere that carbon isn't totally inert and in some instances can corrode aluminium.

Seaneh

If you're in Dublin, bring the bike into Cycleways on Parnell street. They recently removed and replaced a rivet for me for something like €20 or €25, perfect job and done in a few hours.

cdaly_

SetOverSet wrote: »

I used to work as a metal fabricator. The solution is to drill the old rivets out using a drill bit the same diameter as the existing rivets and replace them with new rivets. If you unsure of the rivet/hole diameter, take it slow - start smaller and work up. I remember reading somewhere that carbon isn't totally inert and in some instances can corrode aluminium.

Is it likely that there's a plate behind the carbon that would drop if all three rivets were removed at once? In that case, the thing to do would be to drill out and replace each rivet in turn.

mirv

I had a similar problem with an aluminium frame. My braze-on adapter is an L-plate held on by two countersunk bolts, and the female threading on the frame was starting to strip, causing play when the front derailleur had no tension on the cable.

I ended up using some two part epoxy to:

1) glue the bolts into the seat tube
2) glue the braze-on adapter to the flattened section of the seat tube which the adapter sits

If for some reason my braze-on adapter L-plate cracks from a crash I'll be in a bit of a trouble as things are epoxied together, but it's perfectly solid now and functions perfectly.

jimm

Seaneh wrote: »

If you're in Dublin, bring the bike into Cycleways on Parnell street. They recently removed and replaced a rivet for me for something like €20 or €25, perfect job and done in a few hours.

I'm in Dublin yes. Was it on a carbon fibre frame? What component was it? I would imagine there is enormous stress on the rivets on an FD when shifting up.

Seaneh

jimm wrote: »

I'm in Dublin yes. Was it on a carbon fibre frame? What component was it? I would imagine there is enormous stress on the rivets on an FD when shifting up.

Ah, alu frame, and was on the drive side seat stay.

Phone cycleways and tell them the problem, they will tell you if they can fix it or not.

mirv

I reckon they'll probably just epoxy it back together if it was a carbon seat tube.