Chuck,
Agreed on the breaking TA alloy cages. The crimped cages ones break, too, though. The top of the cage just shears at the stress riser where the crimp ends. At least that happened to the ones I used. Both styles seem to last about 6-10,000 miles in my experience.
The only lightweight cages I have used with success (beyond TA steel) are American Classic. A very smart design. Are they still within our timeline? When did they appear?
Also, anybody have a spare kit to mount an American Classic cage on a frame with no braze-ons? (It's a special clamp...)
Finally, happy holidays to all.
Jan Heine, Seattle
>
>
>Message: 9
>Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 21:00:54 -0700
>From: Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
>Subject: Re: [CR]Steel cages, 1980s?
>
>Pros in the 80s were distrustful of alloy TA cages and still used the
>steel ones. I know from my own experience that eventually the tig weld
>between the cage and the base cracks and fails.
>
>In the past I use to think that the aluminum cages that had the base
>crimped to the cage were a cheaper way to make them, but I now think
>that style of construction is probably superior.
>
>Chuck Schmidt
SoPas, SoCal