The story of my broken Yo eddy - with a happy ending :-)

yoeddynz

Devout Dirtbag
Edited 26/5/16 in order to fix broken photo links and add some more photos..


Hello all,
I'm new here and its a shame for this to be my first post! I cracked my faithful old Yo last week.
Its done ten years and died last week- after a long day of very hard trails. I love this bike.. almost as much as my 1990 Yo. It has seen me through some awesome fun riding and has had a good hard life. From happier days....



bliss. copy.jpg

Useful old workhorse too...

leaving nynny for 10 months.jpg

I kept hearing a cracking sound every so often starting from first rooty downhill through the forest down a very steep technical track to Wainui hut, Abel Tasman park here in NZ. I thought it was the cranks but when we finished the ride it cracked one more time as I dismounted coming up to our parked van in Takaka. I looked at cranks and then looked around bike. I then discovered a massive crack on down tube near the head tube. Starting on one side it runs right round under the tube and finishes with about 20mm holding tube together. So all those cracks I heard were it slowly pinging apart. Its amazing that it didn't just fail in one go!!! My trusty old stead got me to the very end of the ride.

I think the crack started near the pointy tip of the gusset- a stress riser. Many times since the early 90's I have read various about gusset design and that usually they shouldn't be welded right around. Hmmm- that's why.



Can this be repaired? I have another Yo eddy- my original 1990 which is a S/S right now and will be pulled back into duty for now...

Both bikes I have ridden in many countries and I'm very fond of the way they ride. I'm looking at other bikes (steel hardtails) right now- suited more to 80/100mm forks as my 97 yoeddy was only designed around 60/70mm forks. But I love this bike. If I can get it repaired at least i can keep it going. (the formula for working out the number of bikes one should own is N+1...N being the number of bikes you already own)

I love the colour of this bike and it would be cool to keep it going especially as I have fitted a rear disc mount onto it. Its a very very nice usable classic!!!! :cool: I need to find a local builder with good access to quality tubes. I think I should get slightly beefier downtube put in. And a better Bonty style gusset if the tube needs it.

Any advice much appreciated!
alex
 
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thats a real bummer man, looks brutal- have you posted up on fat cogs, lots of specialist knowledge indeed a few of the ex fat city employees might help you out- does not look terminal just expensive.
 
LeeDevelopment":1ugp962z said:
Will it cost you too much to send to Rody at Groovy Cycles to get fixed and re-painted?

Rody is not taking on any more work 'cept bikes. 2 year waiting list on bikes!

Keep it local I reckon what about having a chat with these?

http://www.kiwibikes.co.nz/
 
just had a browse there.

Keeping on track..........

On their first page..is it just me or does the fella in this picture look really really small or the wheels look like 32"?

Anyway- yeah I would like to keep it local. Searching. :)
 
Pretty sure it can be fixed. Probably worst case scenario is they replace the down tube (but if that's something you want to do anyway then I guess that wouldn't be worse case scenario)
 
That is probably the worst place to crack a frame. You might need a whole new front end.

if it can be fixed, I'd contact Chris over at Igleheart. He replaced the seat tube on my Yo years ago after it rusted out. he'll also let you know if its possible.

http://iglebike.com/index2.html

or find your local frame builder and show up w/ a bunch of beer and see what happens.
 
Chris Igletheart I know would do a fine job- I stayed over at his place on way through to NZ in 2001 after he made me some Yo forks. Bloody nice guy and great bikes. But price is a consideration right now as I'm building not earning. I should ask him anyway.

I'm excited about keeping this bike going :D
 
It can be repaired (anything can), but its just not worth the expense to do so.

I'd hang it on the wall and buy a new frame.
 
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