This bicycle is a warranty replacement from Trek. The bike is less than 1 month old, and has less than 500 miles on it. Can you tell me if this is normal? Did the mechanic over-tighten the bottom bracket when it was built? I have contacted TREK, and they told me to talk to my shop, but I’m going to have a tough time getting my shop to admit a mistake.
This is the 3rd frame that I have had in the last 18 months. They keep replacing them; but the replacements keep breaking! What should I do!? Do other TTX owners have this same problem!?
The cracked paint/enamel is ocurring on both sides of the bottom bracket.
Ouch! is there a very hairy mechanic at your shop who drags his knuckles as he walks? if not i’d say it is a defective frame. I think that you woudl really have to crank on that BB to get that result.
I have had my TTX for a year now with no issues. if this is your 3rd, I would say some one is screwing up on the install, or you have the worst luck out there. There are more than a few folks on ST with this bike though, maybe you will hear from others too.
I cant tell if they “go into the carbon” as the area where this is happening has several different weaves/thicknesses of carbon, and I’m not able to do the “tap” test to see if there is a crack.
What remedy would you guys/gals recommend on this!?
The crank arm nick was when someone stuck a screwdriver in there to span the gap to get the arm off…
Looks like you have real pros working on your bike.
How do you know what your shop is or isn’t going to do? Have you asked them? I’m not trying to be a wise-ass, but from the sound of what you wrote, it isn’t exactly clear if you have or haven’t.
I have a Trek 5500 that has a small, irregular crack above the rear brake on the wishbone seatstay. I’ve had the shop that sold the bike to me look at it and they’ve sent photos to Trek. Though I’ve acknowledged that it could be merely a paint crack (they happen) and tap tests haven’t exactly been conclusive, Trek has said they’ll replace the frame, “to be on the safe side.” I’ve been very impressed. I’ve had similar issues with other frames over the 15 years that I’ve been riding Trek and I’ve never failed to be very impressed with their warranty service.
Based on those photos, I can’t imagine that Trek wouldn’t see that you got a new frame. That looks WAY worse than my issue. If your Trek LBS is afraid of blame, I think I’d take it to another Trek dealer and explain the situation. I think if it gets before a Trek rep, you’ll get satisfaction. And if your LBS deserves blame, they’ll probably get it anyway.
I certainly appreciate your mindful response; and I have not fully explained my situation here - quite frankly, because I’m getting sick and tired of laying down $5,000.00 for a bicycle that I have had constant problems with.
As you see in my thread, this is my third replacement (the 4th Trek carbon frame) that I have had in the last 18 month or so. With the previously cracked frames, Trek warranty service has been nothing less than STELLAR. One of the replacements, they sent a new frame without even asking for the cracked one back.
My issue is not with their warranty department; it is with their workmanship on these Trek bikes. I have a 2100 that has been AWESOME. It’s comfortable, reliable and has been a great bike. It’s also aluminum.
What I’m trying to go after at this point is a refund for the pain and suffering that I’ve endured in trying to get this issue straightened out. No doubt, my shop guys cringe when they see me walk through the doors, and I dont blame them for these issues; I just have trouble trying to get things straightened out when it’s clearly not the fault of the more than generous guys at my shop.
I’m happy to share my e-mail with anyone that wants a good read. I’ve been as courteous and calm about this as I can. I’m wondering if it’s time to take off the gloves, get a refund and go buy a P3C?
It would be a lot easier to help you in your query if you provided more details…
When did you notice the crack? How long have you been using the bike - after the last time you picked it up from the LBS - did you notice the crack? The answer to that question will make a world of difference, which is perhaps also the reason why Trek wants you to speak to your LBS first. There are two posssible scenarios here:
If you have been using the bike for 3 weeks already and one night decided to clean it and noticed the cracks then the frame may be potentially defective since you’ve ridden on it for only a short time.
You noticed the cracks IMMEDIATELY after picking it up from your LBS when Trek sent them the frame (as a replacement you say) then it could have been the LBS wrench fault for overtightening the BB cups.
Case 1 will result in Trek maybe giving you a new frame. If they do, then bring it to another LBS to build.
Case 2 will result in the LBS giving you a new frame (that Trek will not send) which they will have to purchase from frame. If the LBS gives you a new friend, bring it to another LBS to build. Another option of yours is to just negotiate for a refund from the LBS or for them to give you a totally different brand frame. That will leave the LBS to thresh things out with Trek.
It would be a lot easier to help you in your query if you provided more details…
When did you notice the crack? How long have you been using the bike - after the last time you picked it up from the LBS - did you notice the crack? The answer to that question will make a world of difference, which is perhaps also the reason why Trek wants you to speak to your LBS first. There are two posssible scenarios here:
If you have been using the bike for 3 weeks already and one night decided to clean it and noticed the cracks then the frame may be potentially defective since you’ve ridden on it for only a short time.
You noticed the cracks IMMEDIATELY after picking it up from your LBS when Trek sent them the frame (as a replacement you say) then it could have been the LBS wrench fault for overtightening the BB cups.
Case 1 will result in Trek maybe giving you a new frame. If they do, then bring it to another LBS to build.
Case 2 will result in the LBS giving you a new frame (that Trek will not send) which they will have to purchase from frame. If the LBS gives you a new friend, bring it to another LBS to build. Another option of yours is to just negotiate for a refund from the LBS or for them to give you a totally different brand frame. That will leave the LBS to thresh things out with Trek.
The frame was built up on or around July 12th. I noticed the paint chip/crack in the bottom perpetually getting worse since then. I pointed it out to the Trek bike mechanic when it was in the shop a few days ago. He looked at it, touched it and didn’t have a comment. I had the bike out this weekend and had 2 other (non-Trek) mechanics look at it and tell me that my BB was over-tightened and that it will eventually fail when I rip the BB loose. The bottom bracket has not been mechanically worked on (because the bike has not been out of my sight) since the initial build.
I’m not interested in another bike that cracks. I shouldn’t have to spend hours and hours on end trying to figure out how to remedy a problem with a $5000.00 bicycle. Can you feel my frustration!?!?!?
had the bike out this weekend and had 2 other (non-Trek) mechanics look at it and tell me that my BB was over-tightened
That seems like your problem right there. Don’t know why you are so frustrated? Get the shop to replace the frame, then take it somewhere else to have it built up…they Ff8cked up…it’s not the fault of the Trek frame.
