Soma Roark

Ok there appears to be some sort of pebble in my frame. I can hear it as I rotate the frame, but nothing will come out! First I thought it was the top tube, but then again it seems like it's in the seat tube. The tubes are not sealed so I don't know why it wouldn't just fall out! It's driving me insane!!!

TimeTravel_0

air compressor.

robatsu

I'll bet it is a bit of slag in one of the seat stays. I had a frame like that, it sort of drove me crazy, I was turning it upside down and all, got all OCD about it. But then afterI built it up, I never noticed a thing. As a matter of fact, I had forgotten about this until you reminded me. Rats, now I'm going to be listening on my next ride...

Soma Roark

can you explain what a slag in the seat stay means? are you saying it won't come out and just build it up? Ok I just looked up the meaning of slag... so a trapped debris? Ugh yes I am getting extra OCD over this! Air compressor?? I can't even locate this thing! ah!

dyander

Oh I definitely have one stuck in my sealed top tube, afraid it is there forever. I'm noticing it now when I turn the bike as I sand and paint, but it will be quiet once I'm riding down the road again, I hope. At least I never noticed it the first 30 years of riding.

robatsu

In case you haven't figured it out, the short answer is don't worry about it. I personally guarantee you that if, after the frame is built up and you are riding it, it suddenly changes to an angle relative to horizontal that causes the debris to make noise, you've got a LOT more to worry about than a little rattle in the frame.

gmouchawar

Have you rebuilt the bottom bracket? It is possible that one of the bearing loose balls fell out and it is now in the frame.

ftwelder

or may be you didn't pay your mechanic properly and the BB was a gift?

Charles Wahl

I fixed this on a fork by knowing where the bit of stuff was, and putting some thin cyanoacrylate into the vent hole near it. I don't recommend it unless you're really certain where the offending particle is, and don't use too much -- otherwise your bike will be off-balance.

norskagent

treat the frame with framesaver, the slag may stick still, and you will be protecting your frame.

unterhausen

What kind of frame is it?

if it's a typical steel lugged frame then it can only be in the top tube or the seat stays. Top tube seems more likely to me. Depending on the quality of the frame, it may be a ball of flux, or if it was a factory frame, it could be some steel that rusted loose. There is also the possibility of some brass in the seat stay.

DiegoFrogs

I once found a spare nipple in the cavity of a deep section rim on a prebuilt wheel. Despite the fact that it was undetectable whilst riding, I absolutely HAD to remove a spoke nearby to get it out. Drove me crazy.

Citoyen du Monde

I would agree that those are the two most likely causes, but I know of another one too. When I built my second frame, I was building it up whenever I had spare time. When cutting the full taper seatstays to length, I cut the excess off the smaller diameter end. I then proceeded to brazing the drop-outs one and then put things away until I next had some time available. Being the parsimonious person I was as a poor university student, I kept the bits that I cut off and for safekeeping put them inside the stays of the partially brazed rear end. Too bad I forgot that the bits were there and ended up brazing the seat lug junction with the bits still inside... With heat/cold I was able to make the bits lodge themselves in such a way that they no longer moved around. I can can only hope that bits came unlodged and the thief who eventually stole the bike was ultimately annoyed by noise...

Soma Roark

It is a lugged steel frame... I don't think it's a bearing bc it does not roll smooth, it's more likely a pebble of some sort based on the skipped sounds. I tried shining a light in there but could not locate the culprit. It did not come with a BB and I do all the work myself so I don't think it was an intentional ball bearing... However I did boeshield the whole frame, and it's been drying for a few days now. The sound is gone... I guess it stuck to something inside. The thought is still quite annoying though. Guess we'll never know what it is =( but thank you for all your help!

vjp

Slag is a bit of braze or flux left in the tube after brazing.

vjp

Soma Roark

I wish I had an endoscope

bikerosity57

Yes it's probably a small ball of brass from the brazing used to make the frame. I had a small piece of actual brazing rod in an old frame once. It WILL drive you nuts for sure, but it'd be best just to forget it, and ride.

jimmuller 

So it's half a bearing from the one which broke in the BB.

Soma Roark

Did not know that could happen! =)

Soma Roark

ok it's back... FML....

Andrew F

I had a simular experience, stripped a frame to repaint and noticed a rattle in what I thought was the seat tube. For several days, I turned the frame every which way shaking it hoping remove whatever was in the frame. Eventualy it dropped out of the seat tube, a very dry kernel of corn!

unterhausen

too bad we're on opposite sides of the country. Although the endoscope I have that's small enough to see inside a frame isn't right angle, so it might not be easy to spot your rattle

Soma Roark

LOL WHAT!? .. .HOW?! haha

HAHA and thanks for the scope offer =) I'll just keep shaking it ugh... I have some time before I can afford building it up anyway =)

Andrew F

It adds some fun to think of it as a game.....a really sick and twisted game ...but a game no less. Using a Sawzall is cheating!

DiegoFrogs

The kernel was probably deposited by a field mouse or some other critter. My cousin went on vacation one time only to find several pounds of dog food hidden in her sofa upon returning home. They're crafty little buggers!