xtc14

Is this frame safe to ride? Regrettably bought this Panasonic bike a while ago online and at the time didn't registered the weld plast on the bottom bracket area, the frame has some dents which makes me wonder if a hit happened on the BB area and the fact that it was repainted.

I rode it one time on a 66km bike ride and felt fine, haven't rode since I was getting some Microshift Brifters to have indexed shifting. What do you guys think? I would use the frame sparingly as a secondary bike, but the welds make me nervous.

Velo Mule

You are right, in that that looks like it has been welded and ground. Is that red paint original Panasonic paint or has the frame been repainted. I can't imagine why there should be anything that looks like a weld on the bottom bracket.

On the other hand, the drive side cup is threaded in. The cup doesn't appear to be painted. The fact that you rode it and had no problems is a good sign.

You might have to remove the drive side cup to learn more.

Can we get a picture of the whole bike and the model?

Drillium Dude 

Looks to me that the weld is for keeping the fixed cup in place, and the whole thing was painted afterward. You can get an idea of the extra painted width by the location of the gear cable guide in reference to the BB shell. Personally I'd pass on riding something with such a repair; I might end up walking home when I should be riding

DD

ramzilla

That's a really ugly weld. And, what could have possibly happened to make that repair necessary? Did somebody accidentally back over the bike with a car? Ouch!

Velo Mule

That would be really hard to damage the bottom bracket in such a way that a weld repair is possible without the whole frame being damaged as well, unless the kids go a hold of a plasma cutter and were looking for something to cut.

Drillium Dude may be right in that perhaps the drive side theading got stripped the owner decided to shove the cup back in and weld it. If I were going to do that (which I wouldn't), I would have done "rosette" welds. The type where you drill a hole and weld the two parts together inside the hole.

Is it possible that someone welded a line to get the steel bottom bracket to pull in a little?

I had been going on the idea that the frame was not painted. But If the frame is painted just in that area, then it looks like a shabby repair.

Manny66 

If you rode it already, and it works fine, then just keep on riding it until you cant anymore..Why fix something that Aint broken.

pcb 

+1 on that.

Whatever was done there, by whoever, I can't imagine for even a brief second that frame left the Panasonic production line in that condition. Has to be a post-production repair and respray. Wouldn't make any sense to take a newly-built frame that needed that much repair off the line, then hand it to a worker to do a sloppy repair. I also can't imagine how either a machine brazing on an assembly line, or a human worker with a torch, could damage a brand-new bb shell in such a way that would require a repair like that.

None of that adds up in my mind.

cudak888 

It's been shoddily repaired, but if you do enjoy the bike as it is now, I'd pull the cranks and BB to inspect the BB shell first before calling it a lost cause.

-Kurt

xtc14

Thanks for the reply so far,

I'm attaching some pictures of the bike.
It came with Shimano 600 components, the seller said the original color frame had yellow, and the serial number is 7E01070, from what I've seen on the catalogue of 1986 none of those bikes resemble this one's seller description.

I don't have the tool to remove the bottom bracket, I'll have to leave it to be inspected by a LBS to have a look inside the BB. As I said, the ride feels fine, although I've not been able to adjust the front derailleur to not rub against the chain when on the highest rear cog.

cudak888 

Rear dropout looks as if it's been pried open a bit. Can be fixed, but always a bit chancy.

Still think that a looksee of the BB area with the crank and BB removed wouldn't be a bad idea.

-Kurt

dddd

The front derailer running out of travel suggests too long of a bb spindle is in there.

xtc14

I've the 7th gear making the chain rub on the FD, already tried adjusting.
The LBS disassembled the BB, they say is fine. I messaged the seller of this bike and got no reply.

There's another issue with the bike, when I got it it had a 27.2 short Campagnolo seat post. Apparently they figured it's better to stick a bigger diameter seat post than find the appropriate one. I put a 26.8 seat post (as it is the same size used on another used '85 DX-3000 I bought earlier and went in but at the part where you put the seat post binder it has some play and even after tightening the seat post slipped. I put a small piece of can sheet and it stopped the play but haven't ridden the bike to confirm the slippage is fixed.

Such a shame that poor mechanics or individuals don't take proper care of a fine japanese frame.

jdawginsc 

That's a really neat Panasonic. Worth the small "adjustments" you are making. If the BB BLOBB is making you itch, but it is sound (as the LBS stated), you could probably sand it down some...but it is hidden so you might be better off not doing so.

Check the frame alignment, see what a 27.0 post might do, and ride it!

Nice little girl/guy you have there.

xtc14

The seatpost slipping was fixed with a piece of soda can wedged between the seatpost and seat tube, rode today and even hanged for some laps with folks riding carbon, and no problem whatsoever, so I think I'll keep the bike.

Thanks regarding the little cat.