water inside frame

[zulu23]

Had my Scott CR1 Team since May, recently, whilst taking it off the roof rack noticed the sound of water inside the frame, around the chainstay area. Took it back to Rutland cycles for them to check over and was told that they contacted Scott who said they authorise a modification which doesn't affect the warranty of drilling a drain hole under the bottom bracket. I have never used a power washer on the bike and after spending the best part of Two grand you don't expect the frame to fill with water and have to drill a drain hole in it.

Would be very grateful of any ideas or solutions as I think Rutland are trying to mug me off?

 

[the snail]

Might be worth using some grease or carbon fibre paste around the seatpost, or seeing if there's some other gap letting water in. I suppose carrying your bike on a roof-rack in the rain is not dissimilar to power washing - if there's a hole/gap the water is going to get in. Makes sense to drill a drain hole if you can't prevent it though, and probably worth checking the bottom bracket is dry and lubed at the same time?

 

[gbb]

As an example of water getting into a frame, some years ago I had a moderately cheap steelie roadbike. I got caught out in a mother of a cloudburst, didn't think much of it....until about a week or so later, I pulled my bike out the shed, to see a rusty brown stain on the floor. That bike had drain holes in the chainstays, that's where the water was oozing from. I upturned the bike....to see a considerable amount of rusty water come out the seat tube. Bloody hell...on a steelie, its a recipe for disaster.
Down the seat tube seemed the only probably entry point.
I always upturn the bike now if its been out in the rain.

 

[judder]

Yeah my bike shop had info off Scott to drill hole when it went in for service. That was 2 years ago and had no probs. .I was advised to occasionally take out seatpost and turn bike upside down just to let everything dry out. On both ali and carbon bikes.

 

[02GF74]

is the seat post open at all? can' really see how ele water can get it.

remove seat post, tip fram upside to empty water.
make sure you do that especially if you keep you bike out door coz if we get frost, the water will freeze and burst your frame.

 

[Paul.G.]

Don't worry, all bikes get water inside the frame and most is condensation, especially if its steel or aluminium frame and you keep the bike indoors or in warm garage then take it out in the cold. Even my Colnago has drain holes drilled in bottom bracket shell, bottom of front forks and rear chain stays. Just make sure as said above that you keep your seat stay lubed to avoid it seizing inside the frame.

 

[themosquitoking]

@Nomadski will give you an explanation of how this can be a problem or maybe not shortly.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I should think that enough water in your chainstay, when it inevitably freezes, would/could crack your chainstay.

 

[avalon]

It use to be a common problem, not so much now though with modern components and alloy frames. As mentioned earlier, a drain hole in the bottom bracket will let the water out although I've never bothered. What I have always done is sprayed the inside of the frame with oil or wax and reapplied whenever the bottom bracket has been out. Doing this has kept my 1980 Mercian frame as good as new on the inside.

 

[compo]

Older style straight seatposts were hollow tubes which as well as allowing water in also allowed water to evaporate. Looking at the modern seat posts they are sealed at the top reducing the ability of the frame to "breathe". That's progress!

 

[zulu23]

Thanks for all your replies and advice, much appreciated.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

My bikes do not get water inside the frame. Maybe a little condensation at the most and noting more (I checked all my bikes after seeing this thread yesterday and getting concerned and they are all bone dry.)
Running internal cabling for Di2 and seat post batterys, the result would be really problematic if they did.

I personally would be concerned with the drilling of holes in my frame, as this can expose the fibres. When water gets between the fibres the carbon will expand and weaken.
As the purpose of these holes if to let water out, I would want to know what they are doing to protect the fibres exposed by the drilling.

 

[simon.r]

It use to be a common problem, not so much now though with modern components and alloy frames. As mentioned earlier, a drain hole in the bottom bracket will let the water out although I've never bothered. What I have always done is sprayed the inside of the frame with oil or wax and reapplied whenever the bottom bracket has been out. Doing this has kept my 1980 Mercian frame as good as new on the inside.

Similar here - I've always used Waxoyl in steel frames (though not relevant to the OP's carbon frame). I also remove the seatpost and leave the bike upside down occasionally, especially after particularly wet rides.

 

[02GF74]

Nothing wrong wth drilling a hole but it should not be necessary - you need to find out how water is getting in and stop that.

A hole in the BB wil let water into the frame if you cycling on wet roads or go wading trough rivers, not a huge amount but more than if there was no hole.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I should think that enough water in your chainstay, when it inevitably freezes, would/could crack your chainstay.

For this to happen the tube would have to be absolutely full of water and sealed in. Plumbing pipes crack in winter because they are absolutely full and the expanding ice has nowhere to go but through the pipes. This is never going to be the case in a bike tube. Whatever pools of water that there may be will have plenty of room to expand into. It's not as if you'd take out your seat tube to find that the water was up to the top. It's just a rusty puddle at the bottom. Don't panic.