I've seen un-mitered tubes entering the bb shell on a number of bikes.
Mostly they were lower end, and while this precluded the insertion of a bb sleeve, there was no other reason why this wasn't a good way to reduce costs as long as the tube came fully up to the inside surface of the bb shell.
A lack of any (or proper) mitering at the head tube, where tubes butt into each other, is concerning, but likely somewhat common on lower level bikes from the old days. Plenty of other craftsmanship issues on many of those as well. Makes me doubly glad to be a lightweight, as I ride many a cheap old road bike through punishing conditions on and off-road.
David Snyder Auburn, CA usa
Robert Shackelford wrote:
> "Someone just cut off the tubes and stuffed them in
> the lugs."
>
> Funny you should mention this...
>
> Back in the mid-80s I changed the BB in my Peugeot with 501 tubes and 103
> forks. Apparently the tubes entering the BB shell were not mitered at
> all. In
>
> order to get a new plastic shell in in place of a non-existing one - I had
> to
> ream out the ends of the tubes while avoiding damage to the BB shell
> threads.
> All four tubes - yes chainstay tubes included - were sticking in a good
> 1/4
> inch. It was a helluva messy job.
>
> Had to do the same to a friends similar model Peugeot as well. Was quite
> taken
>
> aback by this - had never seen this at the time - even on el cheapo
> Benottos.