Although I most likely have not done as many frame repairs as some of you guys, but I've done my share, and a good number of them were replacements of Campy drop-outs. They all broke across the web at the top-rear of the triangle-shaped opening. I think the possible reasons for this breakage, that have been posted here, are all very viable possibilities. However, I have also wondered about two other possible reasons. One, the person doing the brazing got the drop-out too hot, maybe for too long, and for some reason, possibly a breeze blowing through the area (your guess is as good as mine here), caused the heat affected area to cool too quickly, causing a sudden change in the crystal size within the forged metal. And two, most of the ones I have replaced had been filed down to a much smaller cross-section, which in turn, reduces the strength of the web.
My two cents worth.
Mark Perkins
On Tue, 16 Jan 2001 23:15:17 EST CYCLESTORE@aol.com writes:
> Hi Gang,
>
> I'm with Sheldon on this, campagnolo dropouts are strong enough for
anybody.
> In almost 30 years of professional experience I cannot recall a
Campagnolo
> dropout failing in normal use (crashes don't qualify). Having said that
many
> if not most frames I see have dropouts set for the incorrect width for
the
> intended hub and are not square with the outer locknuts. Clamping a
quick
> release skewer puts enormous pressure in this area and this would be a
more
> likely cause of any actual failure. Axles of hubs are much more subject
to
> failure. Almost every bent axle (crashes excluded) I have seen can be
matched
> to a frame with poor alignment and spacing.
>
> My 5 cents,
>
> Gilbert Anderson
> Raleigh, NC
>
>
> In a message dated 1/17/01 2:58:15 AM, tomwitkop@juno.com writes:
>
> Further divergence but perhaps helpful. I was recently at John
Hollands'
> frame shop north of Baltimore in Maryland. He is very knowledgeable
and
> happily shares that information. He also builds beautiful appearing
> frames although I have never ridden one of them. To the point-he
advised
> that he receives approximately one e-bay frame weekly with problems.
>
> Most problems are the wrinkled top and down tube; the fracture in front
> of the bottom bracket shell; and one I was ignorant of-the hairline
> fracture in the right Campagnolo dropout. He had a 2 lb. coffee can
> full of fractured Campagnolo dropouts. His theory is that the normal
> freewheel style set up allowed for an extended spacer or spacers
between
> the right side lock nut end of the bearing. This extended axle would
> continually flex while riding constantly massaging the dropout and
> eventually and apparently, inexorably, leading to failure. The theory
> seems reasonable to me. More impo.
>
> TomWitkop >>