[Michael]

Hi there all.
I just had the rear part of my APB frame fail. The bottom bracing strut basically tore away from where it is attached to the seat tube just above the bottom bracket. Luckily I was only just setting off from a stop so only minor road rash on my arm. This is a 2000 Land Rover model.

It looks as though the seat tube failed rather than the join because there is now a hole in the seat tube where it tore away as it failed.

The whole of the rear assembly is now bent out of shape so I doubt if repair is a practical or sensible option. So just wondering if anybody might have an old APB rear frame assembly that they are willing to part with? Or anybody that has successfully repaired a similar failure.

Cheers Michael

[david james]

can u post a picture of this to warn others what to look out for? also it might be worth joining moulton APB group on facebook, about a thousand members so someone might have a triangle.

regards

[Michael]

Hi David. I cannot work out how to attach a picture. I am not on Facebook or any other social media sites. If you personal message me am happy to send you a picture via email to share where you see fit.
The bit that tore away is the lower strut that joins together through the hook joint. It tore a big ear of metal out of the seat tube before the weld/braze gave way so there is an ‘ear’ of jagged metal torn partly away from the seat tube and the frame strut is completely detached at that end.

In case anybody was wondering I don’t think I was doing anything ‘unusual’ on the APB – regular commuting to work about 10 miles per day plus weekend rides in London. I wasn’t downhill racing or mountain biking or anything radical. On the other hand I do seem to have a history of breaking frames, this is the fifth broken frame in my biking career so maybe I am harder on bikes than some people.
Cheers Michael

[david james]

cheers michael
email at dave@fastcalconline.com, send a pic of the rear triangle as well, theres peple om there who repair frames, they can give advice.

regards

dave

[Philip McCafferty]

hi All

Hope I can help – rear triangle of an early mid-90s APB in daily hard use collapsed on me while heading home from work. one side them quickly afterwards the other. Not rideable. Dismantled it and the bottom tubes had parted company from the pivot tube. The top tubes of the fork were equally distorted. Pashley_Moulton were very cautious and asked me to have it inspected by Gear in Glasgow, one of their agents. Not sure they were keen to be involved but there was no further corrosion present. They did not have the means to repair it but I found someone who did – he builds new rear triangles for Rohloff Bromptons in batches and is a skilled and inventive guy. He is also a Moulton fan. I think he had rebuilt an AM rear triangle in past. He cold-manipulated the tubes back to shape and rebrazed the bottom pivot tube connections. He added quite a fillet around the tube ends and it has survived dogs’ abuse for last 3 years or so. Checking for other corrosion is the key, to make sure the failure is not a sign of major decay. The guy who repaired it may even be up for making a new triangle at some future date!

[Roger Cantwell]

APB rear frames have a reputation for breaking. Not clear whether it’s rust-related or just weak specification and construction. For what it’s worth, old Brompton rear frames rust out and collapse too.

[Stefan Cembrowicz]

ARGOS cycles in Bristol were able to repair my broken AM7 rear forks after hitting a 4 inch deep pothole with a metal drain cover.Ugh.
The forks were not corroded but wonderfully slender possibly metal no thicker than cartridge paper.

[fastbike]

A little late to the party but ..

A few years back, The rear triangle on my 1999 APB broke a chain stay where the lattice is welded in. Looked like it had been over heated in the Pashley works. I got it fixed by a local frame builder(using a sleeve) and the bike has been relegated to an everyday hack.
I told my wife it was the perfect excuse to upgrade to a Jubilee (Alfine 11), and six months later I had to order a second one – for her 🙂

[Author]

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