What maniac would drill holes in a PX-10 frame?
08-22-22, 06:37 PM
#1
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What maniac would drill holes in a PX-10 frame?
just picked up a 1972 px10 for a good price. it's rough around the edges but the components are worth the price. the crazy thing is someone drilled holes in the seat tube! the top two holes have bolts that hold in an incorrectly sized seatpost. then there are 4 more holes down lower. is this dangerous? is there a way to repair? a way that's affordable at least
08-22-22, 06:37 PM
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i'd post some pics but i'm not allowed yet
08-22-22, 07:05 PM
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Did you try to load the pics? If you let them load they won't post on the thread but somebody else can retrieve them and post them.
08-22-22, 07:21 PM
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I need to make ten posts first
08-22-22, 07:23 PM
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08-22-22, 07:30 PM
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Wow that sucks.... No advice from me but others will know.
08-22-22, 07:40 PM
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It looks like you've used up your 5 posts 
That bike looks pretty rough. What are you planning to do with it? Are you planning to repaint?
The holes likely won't impact the strength of the frame at all, but could be a place for water ingress which could cause problems.
If you are planning to repaint and replace the decals, you could weld up the lower holes. The problem with welding near the top of the seat tube is that you'll have to carefully smooth out any weld that penetrated through the welds.
A good welded repair should look completely invisible. However, it may actually make the tube weaker than it was with the holes due to the heat affected zone.
Once you get your ten posts, you could ask the question under the https://www.bikeforums.net/framebuilders/ forum.
As far as why this was done to your bike. It could have been stolen at one time or another. Ultimately, the bike may well have been worth $50 go $100. And, the owner decided that an improvised repair was better than paying to get the right parts. Perhaps the owner was having troubles figuring out how to get the right post. FRENCH? Likely a non-standard seatpost size that wouldn't just be laying around the garage.
That bike looks pretty rough. What are you planning to do with it? Are you planning to repaint?
The holes likely won't impact the strength of the frame at all, but could be a place for water ingress which could cause problems.
If you are planning to repaint and replace the decals, you could weld up the lower holes. The problem with welding near the top of the seat tube is that you'll have to carefully smooth out any weld that penetrated through the welds.
A good welded repair should look completely invisible. However, it may actually make the tube weaker than it was with the holes due to the heat affected zone.
Once you get your ten posts, you could ask the question under the https://www.bikeforums.net/framebuilders/ forum.
As far as why this was done to your bike. It could have been stolen at one time or another. Ultimately, the bike may well have been worth $50 go $100. And, the owner decided that an improvised repair was better than paying to get the right parts. Perhaps the owner was having troubles figuring out how to get the right post. FRENCH? Likely a non-standard seatpost size that wouldn't just be laying around the garage.
08-22-22, 07:52 PM
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Three lower holes my guess were to stabilize a U lock bracket.
PX-10's are known to have a cork stuffed down the seat tube half to 2/3rds down.
remove the seat post and run a rod to confirm.
a wood ship auger bit and an extension can grind it up if it does, service the bottom bracket anyway.
Can be a functional bike but as it has metric tubing... a seat tube replacement can be done but not really worth it.
might be able to braze in with silver some filling bits.
PX-10's are known to have a cork stuffed down the seat tube half to 2/3rds down.
remove the seat post and run a rod to confirm.
a wood ship auger bit and an extension can grind it up if it does, service the bottom bracket anyway.
Can be a functional bike but as it has metric tubing... a seat tube replacement can be done but not really worth it.
might be able to braze in with silver some filling bits.
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08-22-22, 07:59 PM
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If you want to do a full restoration these holes are pretty challenging, but if you're looking to build a hipster fixie you can fill them with putty and they're just part of the patina.
08-22-22, 08:10 PM
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How about a white vinyl decal big enough to cover all the holes by wrapping it around the seat tube? That would stop water getting in and reproduction decals could still be applied.
08-22-22, 08:15 PM
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08-22-22, 08:49 PM
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Tier 1 repair - weld and fill, grind and smooth, repaint
Are they okay, as is? In a seat tube, my guess is they will be just fine. They are round holes and the tube sees mostly compression with minor bending.
The one with the bolt is "Drew" at his finest,... or is it worst? Un-freaking-believable!
Are they okay, as is? In a seat tube, my guess is they will be just fine. They are round holes and the tube sees mostly compression with minor bending.
The one with the bolt is "Drew" at his finest,... or is it worst? Un-freaking-believable!
08-22-22, 08:56 PM
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Yeah I would just ride it. If you feel paranoid, inspect around the holes for cracks every month or two. If you're worried about water getting in, put some tape or a sticker over the holes. If you are paranoid and worried about water, use clear tape. If nothing else, it adds lightness! 
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08-22-22, 09:44 PM
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Epoxy putty and white rustolem. If it is your size, you will enjoy it.
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08-23-22, 02:00 AM
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You could braze a Zerk fitting over each hole. Then you could regrease without pulling the seatpost. Actually, I would be tempted to simply slap a sticker or two on there.
Actually, I would be tempted to simply slap a sticker or two on there.
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08-23-22, 04:32 AM
#17
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Apart from the holes that frame looks pretty darn good from what I can see! A good cleaning and a little jar of rust-oleum appliance white will probably work wonders. I'd think about finding a correct diameter seatpost long enough to block the top hole. As for water entering the holes further down, it might be good to add a water exit hole in the bottom bracket if that is a concern. Lots of good suggestions on inexpensive plugging of the holes above and if one doesn't stay in or on while riding you can go ahead and try another.
08-23-22, 08:33 AM
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B,B
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08-23-22, 10:52 AM
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Install a correct seat post. It's too good a bike to waste but not worth the trouble of welding and a complete repaint and re-decal. Cover the holes with clear helicopter tape and ride it. Just my opinion.
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08-23-22, 03:04 PM
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well the consensus seems to be that this is not going to be structurally unsound, so that makes me feel better! lots of good suggestions here. i guess it depends on how involved i want to get. either just quickly plug the holes with putty or tape, or get into welding, painting etc. i think i'm leaning towards the first option but we'll see. i think it might clean up ok. it's just kind of dirty. but it sure would look better with fresh paint. if i went with the more involved fix, i think i’d use epoxy putty/jb weld as Classtime suggested if i went that route.
i do have a bunch of px10 parts laying around, including a seat post. i inherited my fathers 1972 px10 about 20 years ago. it was too big for me (and in similar shape to this one, minus the holes) so i sold the frame and kept some of the parts. i later got a black px10le which i've been riding for the past ten years. so i don't necessarily need another px10, but i have been looking for a frame for a 650b build since i have a wheelset. maybe this would be a good choice. also, the shifters broke on my px10le last week, so could use these and put barcons on this one.
and thanks for posting those pics CliffordK. hopefully i can start posting regularly now.
i do have a bunch of px10 parts laying around, including a seat post. i inherited my fathers 1972 px10 about 20 years ago. it was too big for me (and in similar shape to this one, minus the holes) so i sold the frame and kept some of the parts. i later got a black px10le which i've been riding for the past ten years. so i don't necessarily need another px10, but i have been looking for a frame for a 650b build since i have a wheelset. maybe this would be a good choice. also, the shifters broke on my px10le last week, so could use these and put barcons on this one.
and thanks for posting those pics CliffordK. hopefully i can start posting regularly now.
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08-23-22, 03:24 PM
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If it were mine and fit me, I would probably try to coax gugie into fabbing up a custom bottle cage that mounts on the three holes, but faces forward. And then I'd flatten a penny on the railroad tracks, drill a couple holes in it, and bend it over the other drillings.
08-23-22, 04:00 PM
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08-23-22, 04:04 PM
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08-23-22, 04:17 PM
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We've already discussed stickers in another thread. The correct answer is, banana stickers. 😁🍌🍌🍌😁
08-23-22, 04:21 PM
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well the consensus seems to be that this is not going to be structurally unsound, so that makes me feel better! lots of good suggestions here. i guess it depends on how involved i want to get. either just quickly plug the holes with putty or tape, or get into welding, painting etc. i think i'm leaning towards the first option but we'll see. i think it might clean up ok. it's just kind of dirty. but it sure would look better with fresh paint. if i went with the more involved fix, i think i’d use epoxy putty/jb weld as Classtime suggested if i went that route.
i do have a bunch of px10 parts laying around, including a seat post. i inherited my fathers 1972 px10 about 20 years ago. it was too big for me (and in similar shape to this one, minus the holes) so i sold the frame and kept some of the parts. i later got a black px10le which i've been riding for the past ten years. so i don't necessarily need another px10, but i have been looking for a frame for a 650b build since i have a wheelset. maybe this would be a good choice. also, the shifters broke on my px10le last week, so could use these and put barcons on this one.
and thanks for posting those pics CliffordK. hopefully i can start posting regularly now.
i do have a bunch of px10 parts laying around, including a seat post. i inherited my fathers 1972 px10 about 20 years ago. it was too big for me (and in similar shape to this one, minus the holes) so i sold the frame and kept some of the parts. i later got a black px10le which i've been riding for the past ten years. so i don't necessarily need another px10, but i have been looking for a frame for a 650b build since i have a wheelset. maybe this would be a good choice. also, the shifters broke on my px10le last week, so could use these and put barcons on this one.
and thanks for posting those pics CliffordK. hopefully i can start posting regularly now.
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