Re: [CR]more on laterally ovalized head-tube

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 20:39:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Joe Starck" <josephbstarck@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]more on laterally ovalized head-tube
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <20040815201731.20F62163A03@ws3-7.us4.outblaze.com>
cc: "w.a. manning" <wamanning@email.com>


--- "w.a. manning" wrote:


"...the smaller front-to-rear dimension in the ovalized lower end of the head-tube is the same measurement as the (the still round) upper end of the head-tube."

Walter, I wouldn't have expected this from my reading of your original post.

Briefly, when a fresh-made frame inherits ovalization at the head-tube ends, the maker than rounds out the tube by squishing here and there from the outside and/or by inserting a cone-like rod and/or by inserting a straight rod and leveraging the tube out a bit. THEN THE HEAD TUBE IS REAMED AND FACED. If the maker fails to de-ovalize, then the fore-aft of the tube i.d. gets reamed too much and the side-to-side of the tube i.d. doesn't.

On your frame, I would have suggested de-ovalizing as above followed by reaming but given your snipped quote above, I'd say take it to a competent framebuilder for further analysis.

Joe Starck summumbonumboojum bicycles Madison, WI

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