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Is there a reliable way to tell what type of steel based on diameter?

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Is there a reliable way to tell what type of steel based on diameter?

Old 05-11-20, 03:35 PM
  #26  
branko_76 
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Originally Posted by martl
Short answer: no sure way of telling by the outer diameter, those were the same for many 70ies 80iies tube sets because available lugs sort of dictated them.

As has been pointed out, seat pin diameter *is* a hint, the high end stuff usually had 27ish like 27.2mm. 26.2 would be unusual but 26.4 or 25.8 was common for lower/mid range tube sets.

If you know nothing about prevenience etc. The sort of lugs used can provide clues as well.
The odd thing is that my early 1970's Raleigh Super Course frames with plain gauge 531 tubing take 26.4mm sp's, same era Falcon, same tubing takes a 26.8mm sp. According to the 1978 Raleigh catalog, the Super Course with plain gauge 531 takes a 26.8mm seatpost. So it seems as though there were at least 2 types of Reynolds 531 Plain Gauge tubing.
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Old 05-12-20, 08:09 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by branko_76
The odd thing is that my early 1970's Raleigh Super Course frames with plain gauge 531 tubing take 26.4mm sp's, same era Falcon, same tubing takes a 26.8mm sp. According to the 1978 Raleigh catalog, the Super Course with plain gauge 531 takes a 26.8mm seatpost. So it seems as though there were at least 2 types of Reynolds 531 Plain Gauge tubing.
Raleigh is british, and one thing i learned is: everything is different on british and french bikes than anywhere else you're correct, these dimensions should be treated as clues, not as laws.
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Old 05-12-20, 04:41 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by branko_76
The odd thing is that my early 1970's Raleigh Super Course frames with plain gauge 531 tubing take 26.4mm sp's, same era Falcon, same tubing takes a 26.8mm sp. According to the 1978 Raleigh catalog, the Super Course with plain gauge 531 takes a 26.8mm seatpost. So it seems as though there were at least 2 types of Reynolds 531 Plain Gauge tubing.
The catalog lists either a 26.6 or 26.8 (can't quite make it out) seat post for the 79 as well but my 79 took a 26.4.
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