Dented tube
#1
my nice bike is at home
Thread Starter
Dented tube
I have here a rather nice looking Erickson frame with S&S couplers (!) and a nice sized dent in the top tube.. cool thing is the dent is smooth, paint didn't even crack. The frame seems well-aligned despite the ding. I have about 5 frames needing repair, this one will hopefully be an easy fix, by me... at least one the others will seek professional help, some will just "be") To fix the ding I have the ability to get inside the tube, since as I mentioned, the frame is equipped with S&S couplers. I am now wondering if i cant just 'send' some kind of expanding device inside the frame whilst compressing the outside tube with a hose clamp something like a "SHAW_PLUG" *. But the shaw plug would have to be the perfect size (and maybe NOT made of rubber?) a regular two piece expansion anchor might work as well ...It will also have to be remotely operated since th' ding and the frame 'opening are at opposite ends of the tube.. Is this one of my frames who should visit an expert? It is really a very nice-quality- built-thing.
* https://www.grainger.com/product/14M...!471564520201!
* https://www.grainger.com/product/14M...!471564520201!
__________________
BMC Race Machine / BMC Team Machine / Rossin Record / 80's Pinarello Traviso / Merlin MTB / Raleigh "Folding 20" / Ti-Swift (!)
Erikson w/C&C couplers / Trek's: 2300, 1200, 990 / Jamis 'Sputnik'
BMC Race Machine / BMC Team Machine / Rossin Record / 80's Pinarello Traviso / Merlin MTB / Raleigh "Folding 20" / Ti-Swift (!)
Erikson w/C&C couplers / Trek's: 2300, 1200, 990 / Jamis 'Sputnik'
Last edited by kraftwerk; 09-15-20 at 06:51 PM.
#2
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,790
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3590 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
1,935 Posts
Something like the expander wedge on a quill stem might be able to do it. 1" diameter top tube? If the dent is close enough to the coupler opening for the wedge to reach the dent, a quill stem might be sufficient. If it's further away, you'd likely have to fabricate your own tool.
#3
Team Beer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 6,339
Bikes: Too Many
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 114 Post(s)
Liked 159 Times
in
104 Posts
I've seen someone fix a dent in a headtube with a quill stem as the expander. I don't know how much space a S&S allows into the tube but , in theory, if you can get inside you could push out a dent.
__________________
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
#4
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,399
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,699 Times
in
2,519 Posts
don't s&s have a flange that would keep something full diameter from going in there? Been a while since I had my travel bike apart
I made a tool the size of a 27.2 seat tube that has a wedge like on a quill stem. Wouldn't be hard to make one for 1"
I made a tool the size of a 27.2 seat tube that has a wedge like on a quill stem. Wouldn't be hard to make one for 1"
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,096
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4210 Post(s)
Liked 3,876 Times
in
2,315 Posts
The few S&S that I have in hand (and brazed up) have an access hole about .7 of the tube's OD (this derived from a 1.125" lugless set and about what I remember from the lugged versions i have done). Sp the plug's expansion would need to be about 150% (likely more due to spring back). Additionally the plug would ideally want to be slightly convex or bulged at it's center to focus the pressure at the dent's center and produce lessening expanding force towards the dent's ends. A ball shaped plug could result in localized out dents if not careful and a flat plug would result in a shallow dent still present. I don't think any of the stem style expander plugs would work here. I'll add that the plug would also need to have a long flay "half" so to not bulge out the undented portion of the area. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#6
blahblahblah chrome moly
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,994
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1181 Post(s)
Liked 2,576 Times
in
1,076 Posts
I'm not optimistic about your chances of getting an expander in there. The regular method of squeezing it in metal (not wood) tube blocks from the outside may be worth trying, if you don't mind losing the paint. But unless it's bad, I'd just leave it alone. Any Erickson is a precious thing -- and they aren't making any more of them! One with S&S couplers even more so. Don't risk making it worse.
Mark B in Seattle
Mark B in Seattle
Likes For bulgie:
#7
my nice bike is at home
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the responses. You guys are great and give me a lot to think about.
__________________
BMC Race Machine / BMC Team Machine / Rossin Record / 80's Pinarello Traviso / Merlin MTB / Raleigh "Folding 20" / Ti-Swift (!)
Erikson w/C&C couplers / Trek's: 2300, 1200, 990 / Jamis 'Sputnik'
BMC Race Machine / BMC Team Machine / Rossin Record / 80's Pinarello Traviso / Merlin MTB / Raleigh "Folding 20" / Ti-Swift (!)
Erikson w/C&C couplers / Trek's: 2300, 1200, 990 / Jamis 'Sputnik'
Last edited by kraftwerk; 08-19-20 at 10:59 AM.
#8
Full Member
Is there a vent hole at the end of the tube? Could you mesure the opening in the S&S coupler, go to the craft store get a wooden ball or barrel that close to the Id of the coupler or you can sand slightly to fit? Drill a hole through the ball, thread a mountain bike brake cable through ball each way.. Thread the cable through the coupler and out through the vent hole pull the ball doun past the dent. Get a piese of copper tubing as close to the Id of the coupler as you can. Cut two slots 90 degrees fron eash other like you are making a tool to remove a headset cup. spread the ends, thread brake cable ,insert into the tube past the dent. pull the ball into the copper tube. pull the copper tube with the ball in it past the dent pushing it out. Don't know if you can make this work, but I have a Dent in a down tube I am going to pull the ball up the tube to try ond push it out. Good luck with your dent
#9
Banned
Lets see if the search function gets "snarling Iron"
there we go.. bang down on the outside part with a hammer, and the inside end bangs up.
there we go.. bang down on the outside part with a hammer, and the inside end bangs up.
#10
1/2 as far in 2x the time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,746
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
222 Posts
*(Columbus) Head tubes are made of pretty sturdy stuff...
__________________
I seem to have lost what little mind I had left before this all started.
I seem to have lost what little mind I had left before this all started.
Last edited by Last ride 76; 08-24-20 at 12:50 AM.
#11
framebuilder
Can you please explain as clearly as possible, what that person used, and what steps they took to fix the dent in the head tube. I have a bicycle that received two small dents in the head tube, from insufficient packaging when it came over from Europe... Thanks!!!
*(Columbus) Head tubes are made of pretty sturdy stuff...
*(Columbus) Head tubes are made of pretty sturdy stuff...
#12
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,399
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,699 Times
in
2,519 Posts
It would be nice to have a tool to expando a head tube that has been dropped. I did that to a frame sitting in the shop and it's amazing how bad the dent was. I wonder if an exhaust pipe expander can be used
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,096
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4210 Post(s)
Liked 3,876 Times
in
2,315 Posts
Why are we talking about a head tube dent? "I have here a rather nice looking Erickson frame with S&S couplers (!) and a nice sized dent in the top tube" This is the first sentence in this thread... A headtube dent is quite a different thing then a toptube one. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#14
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,399
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,699 Times
in
2,519 Posts
This is why
I'll post a picture of my dent removing quill tool later. I suppose the same type tool could be made for a head tube.
I'll post a picture of my dent removing quill tool later. I suppose the same type tool could be made for a head tube.
#15
1/2 as far in 2x the time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,746
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
222 Posts
Why are we talking about a head tube dent? "I have here a rather nice looking Erickson frame with S&S couplers (!) and a nice sized dent in the top tube" This is the first sentence in this thread... A headtube dent is quite a different thing then a toptube one. Andy
__________________
I seem to have lost what little mind I had left before this all started.
I seem to have lost what little mind I had left before this all started.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,096
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4210 Post(s)
Liked 3,876 Times
in
2,315 Posts
Likes For Andrew R Stewart: