Cycling UK Forum

Hi,
I'm refurbishing an old moulton f - frame i have inherited. It will need some frame repairs where cracks in the steel frame have been poorly welded sometime in its history.
Was browsing google to see places that do bike frame repairs near me (Derby/Burton on Trent area). I've found Mercian cycles that have a workshop and do such work, but no other bike places that state they do frame repairs.

(have had a recommendation on facebook of someone in Redditch but that's a bit of a trek)

Does anyone have any other recommendations in my area?

Thanks

In true forum style of recommending something that hasn't been asked...

On a specialist job like that I'd usually just accept that it'll need to be sent somewhere and the chances of finding someone local are fairly slim. Mercian have a good reputation and (not that far away) is Vernon Barker in Sheffield https://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/re ... rames.html

(I have zero personal experience of either although I've heard positive things about both)

However quite honestly I'd just pack it up and courier it to Argos Racing Cycles in Bristol - I've had a couple of jobs done there in the past on both steel and aluminium and they were superb so that "I've used them before" thing is a worth a lot to me.
https://argoscycles.com/resprays-refurb/

Longstaff (Rourke) Cycles in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

https://longstaffcycles.com/

https://rourke.biz/

I suspect that repairing a Moulton is quite a specialised business in that somebody who knows what's involved can quickly tell you what's what where a "lightweight" builder might have to do a bit of time-consuming investigation.

A bit of googling brought up an organisation offering the service it sounds as though you need, although not local to you.

https://www.moultonbuzz.com/preservation/

You might attract more specialist advice by editing your thread title to something including "Moulton F frame repairs."

I'm renovating an F frame Moulton along with 3 friends. We have 1 each. One has a cracked rear fork but the other 2 appear sound. Pics of your problems could assist us in our quest.

Couple of links which may help you.
https://moultoneer.wordpress.com/2021/1 ... a-moulton/
https://www.bicyclehub.co.uk/moulton

Why haven't you gone to Mercian? They've long had a good reputation.

soapbox wrote: ↑18 Jul 2023, 2:52pm Why haven't you gone to Mercian? They've long had a good reputation.

That's where I'd first take it for an assessment, though partly because their shed is a ten minute walk from home. They do have a bit of a reputation for saying things can't be done, when for whatever reason they don't want the job, maybe they're just more cautious than some others. I know of several repairs that Mercian have rejected, which Vernon Barker* went on to do successfully.
OTOH, it quite possible they'll both tell you it can't be done, depending on where the poorly repaired section is and just how poor.

*Easy to get to from Derby by train and bus, the Wayfarer ticket gets you at least as far as Sheffield. If travelling from Burton, Rourke's might be easier, I only know them by reputation.

soapbox wrote: ↑18 Jul 2023, 2:52pm Why haven't you gone to Mercian? They've long had a good reputation.

a) i've just identified i may need the assistance of a frame builder.
b) I don't have any knowledge of local frame builders or their reputations -other than what a quick google has told me.
c) I thought the good* people of this forum may have some experience and recommendations that are of greater value than a brief search on google.


*possibly some of the bad ones too

Could you post a photo of the cracked area?

I assumed from your OP that you were looking for a welded repair, which is one of the reasons that I suggested Rourke's. Rourke and Longstaff are one and the same nowadays and under the ownership of Jason Rourke. They build both conventional lugged and fillet brazed steel frames but Jason Rourke is an acknowledged expert in tig welding. I've no personal experience of his welding skills, although I do have a couple of Longstaff frames that predate his involvement in the company.

Not posted images before - so lets see if this works!

Historic bad weld fixes on underside of rear forks and base of seat tube (this is a moulton F frame so odd geometry)

I'd suggest that as a next step you email pictures to a couple of frame builders to see if they're willing to take it on, and if so a rough idea of costs. If the price proves prohibitive, removing the paint and carefully grinding back the existing welds will give you a better idea of the damage. A local welder may then be a more economical way forward.

Norman H wrote: ↑20 Jul 2023, 7:48am If the price proves prohibitive, removing the paint and carefully grinding back the existing welds will give you a better idea of the damage. A local welder may then be a more economical way forward.

Unless you wreck the frame by grinding it...

Personally I would not be touching that, I (and I would guess tha majority of people) don't have the skill or experience to be grinding around an already bodged frame.

Second the comment about sending the pics to various frame builders/repairers and seeing what they say. Definitely give Argos a shout, the specialise in the unusual - tandems, retro bikes, folding bikes etc.

The rear forks in particular look like they have a crack propogating on them. This need a specialist repair and beefing up to ensure they are serviceable. The links I posted up thread can help you. The seat tube weld needs attention too, possibly grind the welds back and then I'm guessing possibly tig weld.
As you say it's been bodged up not very successfully.

Chuck it. Get a better frame. They are not difficult to find, and cheap in pre-restored condition.

I would only save a Moulton in that condition if it was an "S" model.

I agree.
It's not worth repairing unless you can get someone to do it cheaply ....... which I doubt.