Guys, in all my 36 years in the biz, I have never quite seen a down tube just bow like that!
All the head on pile ups and smack into something or other crashes I have seen, have wrinkled that DT just below the lower head lug.
That sort of long gradual curve is something you should be able to work with. I think it can be bent back.
As Brad says, I might reach for the fork jack... Actually not exactly the FORK jack but I think Park or Bicycle Research had a tool with which you removed the fork (leave headset cups in) insert a steel rod in the head tube and then use the jack pushing against and away from the bb shell. It worked on the frame alone and would equal in the opposite direction, the force which caused the damage.
Of course, you also need to check the fork too; looking at the pics, it is possible it got tweaked a little as well......
Dale Brown cycles de ORO Bike Shop 1410 Mill Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27408 USA 336-274-5959 http://cyclesdeoro.com http://www.classicrendezvous.com http://www.carolinacup.com http://www.greensborovelo.com http://www.bikegso.org http://nbda.com
-----Original Message----- From: Steven Willis <smwillis@verizon.net> To: Brad Luecke <brluecke@gmail.com>; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 4:15 pm Subject: Re: Re:[CR]the limits of steel repair, or, de rosa vs pothole
Well I have the tool but in stead of grey hair most of mine is gone.?
Steven Willis?
The Bike Stand?
1778 East Second Street?
Scotch Plains NJ 07076?
908-322-3330?
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>; <sashae@gmail.com>?
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 3:16 PM?
Subject: Re:[CR]the limits of steel repair, or, de rosa vs pothole? ?
> This may start a BIG fight, but.....?
>?
> IF what you want is a JUST rideable frame:?
> In the old days we had something we called a "fork jack". Stuck one end
> on?
> the BB and the other on the axle of a hub fixed in the fork drop outs. I?
> "fixed" many frames with it. They were not perfect, but they tracked well?
> and most rode as well as before the accident.?
> I'd bet your LBS still has one of these things stashed somewhere. But?
> probably doesn't have anybody who has ever used it. Just look for the old?
> grey haired hippy guy in the back, he will be your best bet.?
>?
> It is VERY unlikey that your STEEL frame will fail dramatically, it would?
> be a long process that should give you plenty of warning. I've seen more?
> than one frame with cracked head tube or BB lugs that were ridden into the?
> shop because the owner knew something was funny, but couldn't figure out?
> what. Normally we told them not to ride the bike home, but I'm sure some?
> did.?
>?
> If you want your frame back like it was, this probably will not work for?
> you.?
>?
> Too bad about your tumble,hope you heal quickly.?
>?
> Brad Luecke?
> Columbia MO?
>?
>?
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