Dented headtube - a rare save...
10-26-17, 06:49 PM
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Dented headtube - a rare save...
With facilitation help I picked up a Raleigh Mixte for my sister and got it home. Finally started tearing it down this week to do the clean. lube, etc - and had an unpleasant surprise. The headtube was dented. Neither the gentleman who assisted nor I noticed this, the bike is white and it wasn't obvious from a casual inspection. It sure was now...
But it wasn't horrible (or we'd have noticed it), just made the front of the tube a bit flat. The fork had been a bit stiff in turning, I had attributed that to dry bearings but it was also rubbing against the dent. Checked the steerer with a rule though, perfectly straight. Forks correctly aligned too. Whatever caused it was a dead-shot right on the headtube face between the lugs. Didn't mar the headbadge at all.
Fix or leave? A $75 bike, Raleigh 20-30 thick steel tubing, very short headtube on a very small mixte - why attempt a fix of course. I removed the headset and headbadge and - and in a nice bit of luck - found that a 22mm socket wrench I had perfectly fit the opening, not too snug nor too loose.
So I greased up the inside of the tube and first hammered a 20mm socket through it first to relieve the dent a little, then ran the 22 through it. The results:
Looks good, the tube is nice and round again. No indications of stressing, just some paint flaking that I'll need to touch up. I'm good with this I think, not worried about potential safety issues- this tubing is some thick stuff. If it were high-end tubing it would have been a write-off.
The only bad thing is that my ears are still ringing, guess who forgot to insert ear plugs before commencing to whanging on the sockets with a hammer? I should know better..
But it wasn't horrible (or we'd have noticed it), just made the front of the tube a bit flat. The fork had been a bit stiff in turning, I had attributed that to dry bearings but it was also rubbing against the dent. Checked the steerer with a rule though, perfectly straight. Forks correctly aligned too. Whatever caused it was a dead-shot right on the headtube face between the lugs. Didn't mar the headbadge at all.
Fix or leave? A $75 bike, Raleigh 20-30 thick steel tubing, very short headtube on a very small mixte - why attempt a fix of course. I removed the headset and headbadge and - and in a nice bit of luck - found that a 22mm socket wrench I had perfectly fit the opening, not too snug nor too loose.
So I greased up the inside of the tube and first hammered a 20mm socket through it first to relieve the dent a little, then ran the 22 through it. The results:
Looks good, the tube is nice and round again. No indications of stressing, just some paint flaking that I'll need to touch up. I'm good with this I think, not worried about potential safety issues- this tubing is some thick stuff. If it were high-end tubing it would have been a write-off.
The only bad thing is that my ears are still ringing, guess who forgot to insert ear plugs before commencing to whanging on the sockets with a hammer? I should know better..
10-26-17, 06:58 PM
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A exhaust pipe expander might also work, if you can get it deep enough.
10-26-17, 07:31 PM
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10-26-17, 07:43 PM
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Nice work! How was the badge attached?
10-26-17, 10:24 PM
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Definitely better without the dent, and a clever solution to it. Unless the steerer was being impeded or misaligned (didn't think either was the case), that would have been strictly a cosmetic issue. Always good to get a vintage Raleigh back on the road. 
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10-26-17, 11:40 PM
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10-26-17, 11:41 PM
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10-27-17, 12:50 AM
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10-27-17, 02:27 AM
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10-27-17, 04:43 AM
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Right, I have the hollow copper rivets for another Raleigh project but not these. Hobbyists use them though so a trip over to Michael's and I should be able to find some and if not I've seen them on on eBay.
I'll just cut them so that a couple of mm of stem protrudes into the tube then bend them flat. That outta do it. I might put a dab of silcone between the badge and tube to make sure things don't rattle, I can't pull it as tight with the rivets without the tools designed for that.
Duct tape and bailing wire, improvisation is my life. You should see the code I write.
I'll just cut them so that a couple of mm of stem protrudes into the tube then bend them flat. That outta do it. I might put a dab of silcone between the badge and tube to make sure things don't rattle, I can't pull it as tight with the rivets without the tools designed for that.
Duct tape and bailing wire, improvisation is my life. You should see the code I write.
Last edited by PilotFishBob; 10-27-17 at 04:47 AM. Reason: Grammar
10-27-17, 05:12 AM
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When I see posts about dents I'm on edge because it's usually someone going "I saw something under a microscope, is this a deathtrap??".
Imagine my surprise to see someone with common sense! You've done a good job here.
Imagine my surprise to see someone with common sense! You've done a good job here.
10-27-17, 07:28 AM
#18
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Never underestimate the inner MacGuyver in one’s self and of course, the universal usefulness of the lowly hammer!
(Well done sir!)
(Well done sir!)
10-27-17, 02:36 PM
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10-27-17, 06:33 PM
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nice save!
Another old frame lives to ride another day
Another old frame lives to ride another day
10-28-17, 05:33 AM
#21
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Thanks everone, I may post in "Before" and "After" once I get this thing refurbed and ready to go. My sister can barely hear, hasn't ridden in decades and will only ever be a casual rider. I'm replacing the friction shift Huret setup with a 6 speed Shimano SIS - otherwise it'll be gear-grind city on this. I think the bike has seen enough abuse. 
10-28-17, 11:30 AM
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Nice job. Made a similar save on a Raleigh Pro Mk IV. Worked like a charm.
11-11-17, 11:37 AM
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As a followup, the finished result. It all came out okay, I think my sister will dig it.
11-11-17, 12:15 PM
#25
flypaca
Verry nice finish Love those mixte frames! Great rescue!! What is the rear DR?