Thread: Turner 5-Spot Help

I just picked up a used turner 5-spot. The older horst-link version. The bike is in good shape...apart from a crack along the uppermost weld on the seattube. This weld is to a structural gusset, and is starting to creep around the entire tube. It looks like someone was running it with a post that was not fully inserted.
I didn't know about the crack when I bought the bike, and I don't think the seller (a well established mag) knew either.
So, if I run a long enough seatpost that has better insertion, say all the way down to the seat-tube/top tube intersection, do the Turner afficionados and engineers think this will be ok? The bike is for my brother, who is a very big guy (300lbs), but probably isn't going to ride this too hard.

Uh.......no.

if you do this, please, please, for the love of god, take video.

aka, you. are. fucked.

sticking your brother in a trashcan balanced on a skateboard and sending it down a steep hill would be less sketchy.

Damn, what I suspected, but not what I had hoped. Thanks guys.

Whoever sold you that frame should deal with turner.

You shouldn't have to deal with them.

Just to be clear, you're asking if it's a good idea for your 300lb brother to ride a 5+ year old used aluminum mountain bike with a structural crack on the seat tube a few inches from his taint? That's the question?

I don't see a problem.

yeah, definitely do not ride a cracked frame. 300# or not, riding a frame with a big crack in it at a weld is not a good idea. at all.

that being said, he got the Turner from me. I received the frame at a bike-swap thinking I'd build it up....it was a good deal and I had sold stuff at the swap, making it seem almost "free" to me (used the money from the stuff I sold to buy it). Decided to trade it for a 29er frame (there was a thread by me regarding this trade a month ago).

I am confident that when I shipped the frame it did not have that crack in it.

When I purchased the frame it had BB and Cranks installed on it, and I didn't have the tool to remove them, so I took them to a (very reputable) local LBS to have them removed....he would've (I'd imagine) put the frame in a repair stand. He certainly would've noticed a cracked frame while working on it, especially as AKWL told me that he noticed it when trying to slide a seatpost into the seat tube he felt it restricted.

Also, the frame then spent time hanging above my workbench when I think I would've noticed it at as well. A few friends also had fondled the frame and no one ever noticed this sizeable crack.

Then, to ship the thing (from durango to Canada) was a total nightmare with USPS regulations of 108" length + girth. It orignially boxed with lots of extra cardboard and bubble wrap, but was returned to sender for being over the 108". It was repackaged and then shipped again. IIRC total shipping costs (once through USPS returned, then again through FedEx) was over $200. When it was boxed the second time it was packaged super minimally for sure, me trying to get it under the $108"...which I never got to.

With not much padding around the frame...and the way the seat-tube sticks up higher than the top-tube I can imagine how that spot is vulnerable? Or not?

So, WWMD? There was no $ traded hands as this was a straight-up trade. I asked Arty via PM back then to try and valuate the frame and he didn't know what it was worth. Like I mentioned, it only cost me a bunch of random bike parts (kid's bike trailers, look pedals, seatpost, etc)

AKWL and I are both willing to figure out a fair outcome...but hopefully doesn't involve re-shipping everything back to each other again. He doesn't want anything to do with this frame (Norco Nitro Niner hardtail) and the thought of going through the international shipping process again makes me want to start drinking. Also, I built the Norco up as a SS so I put a bunch of $$ and time into it.

I'm pretty sure the fork on the Norco that was traded is blown as well, but that's for AKWL and I to figure out! sheesh!

anyone have any input on how we can proceed to make us both feel warm and happy?

Originally Posted by Tech Tonics

anyone have any input on how we can proceed to make us both feel warm and happy?

First step would be to contact Turner (by phone) and tell them the situation. Their response will help drive the rest of the process.

I've never dealt with Turner but the I imagine they would receptive to your situation and at least offer a discounted new frame.

I hate to say it but it's highly unlikely it got cracked from shipping. Those frames DID crack there but it's from riding and prolonged stress. There's not a UPS monkey alive who could induce a stress crack chucking around a 6lb frame. You'd see dents. Fortunately a crack on a gusset can be fixed without compromising the more important junctions.

Turner's really good with working with folks for trade-ins/crash replacements etc...

I hope you guys figure something out. Props for not being primadonnas about it though. Shit happens.

Originally Posted by kidwoo

I hate to say it but it's highly unlikely it got cracked from shipping. Those frames DID crack there but it's from riding and prolonged stress. There's not a UPS monkey alive who could induce a stress crack chucking around a 6lb frame. You'd see dents. Fortunately a crack on a gusset can be fixed without compromising the more important junctions.

^^^ Bingo. Prolonged stress... if the metal was fatigued it might not have shown as a visible crack until shipped.

OK,
An update. I spoke to Turner warranty, who were very nice. Apparently the frame is too old to be repaired, but they were willing to give me a $1200 discount on a new frame. This is super generous, but I dont have the budget to buy even a discounted frame.
Turner told me the horst link rear ends are in some demand, but i cannot find any real recent evidence of this.
One option i could consider is selling the frame to someone for it's warranty value. Say $300 for the discount? Anyone looking at a Turner and interested in $900 off MSRP? I would have to confirm this can work with Turner.

Or anyone interested in the rear end?

Tech Tonics has been great about this, and we are trying to figure out a fair solution. Right now it looks like he is going to have kick in some cash or more gear, but if I can get some value out of the Turner, we can keep that to a minimum (hopefully zero!)
Thanks

Wonder if would they give you $1200 off the already discounted 2011 5 Spot? Probably not.

I would beg/borrow/steal and get a 2012 Spot, cause that's a good deal.

1200 off a new frame is twice their normal trade in discount! They will sometimes still honor the discount off sale priced frames too.

Like i said, it is very generous! I think it is off msrp, not sale prices. Just dont have the budget, sadly.

Originally Posted by AKWL

I think it is off msrp, not sale prices.

Never hurts to ask.

PM sent earlier this morning...

Can you apply the $1200 discount to a Sultan? If so, I would be interesting in buying the frame from you for $300.

I have contacted Turner to see if the credit is transferable. It is definitely off MSRP, not sale prices.