Brian is exactly right on this. I just started cleaning upo a mid 70's Pogliaghi frameset and found this ball rattling in the top tube. it sounded like it was the size of a golf ball.
I managed to manipulate it down to teh brathe hole near the seat cluster, and slowly pecked away at it with an exacto knife point until it was rendered a pile of dirt small enough to clear the breathe hole.
On the other hand, it can be music to some ears to leave it in.
Ken Denny Boston, MA
>From: Brian Baylis <rocklube@adnc.com>
>Reply-To: rocklube@adnc.com
>To: PeterGrenader <peterg@ixpres.com>
>CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Re: [CR]Shavings - you got to love them
>Date: Tue, 09 Jan 2001 10:51:28 -0800
>
>Peter,
>
>It may not be as bad as you think. That stuff ratteling in the tube is
>most likely hardened flux left over from brazing. I would try drilling a
>hole in the seat tube from behind the seat lug with a long drill bit.
>should be easy to do through the slot in the seat tube or the hole that
>(is hopefully) at the end of the slot in the seat tube. The hole does
>not have to be very large; 1/8" should do it. Then, squirt some grease
>into the top tube to which the flux balls will stick. That should do it.
>
>Brian Baylis
> >
> > Listafino's,
> >
> > I have just picked up an (unnamed) Swiss frameset (name withheld so you
> > won't think I have an obsession with this manufacturer). It was
> > reported to be NOS and I think I just realized why, 25 years after it
> > was last touched by a torch, it was never sold....
> >
> > I know in newer steal and ti frames there are holes drilled in the head
> > and seat tube placed adjacent to where the top and downtubes meet them.
> > I know in ti frames this is required to produce a path for the Argon gas
> > to flow freely to flush out the oxygen to get a solid weld. I'm sure
> > there are reasons for these holes in modern steel frames, but I am
> > unaware of why although I assume they might be there for some sort of
> > heat escape or something like that.
> >
> > Anyway, this (unnamed at this time) Swiss frame does not have these
> > holes -and- I noticed there are metal shavings of some sort inside the
> > toptube which produce a subtle and mellifluous rattle when the frame is
> > tilted for and aft or jolted in hand. In truth, these whimsical little
> > noises are one notch above almost silent, but probably enough to be
> > downright annoying over the long haul (sort of like that time Batman was
> > placed into a large vase with tiny pebbles pinging off the top of his
> > head as a type of villainous torture).
> >
> > OK OK OK....i hate them.
> >
> > A lot.
> >
> > I see no way of ridding this frame of these noises outside of violating
> > the integrity of the 531 by drilling a hole through the toptube, fishing
> > them out with a magnet and then bondoing the hole shut prior to
> > repainting, which I need to do to this frame anyway - but man-o-man, I
> > shutter at the idea of having to do this.
> >
> > Does anyone know any other place to make a hole that doesn't seem so
> > destructive? I do not know of any drill which could make a hole in the
> > proper place 'around the corner' so to speak into the head or seat tube
> > to duplicate the holes found in newer frames once the thing is slapped
> > together.
> >
> > Any info would be helpful
> >
> > rattled in LA,
> >
> > Peter Grenader