Classic & Vintage - '74 Raleigh International Seat Tube Dent :(

So a few months ago I picked up this '74 Raleigh International. It's been sitting in my garage, havent had time to do anything with it yet.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bYNfObzpWyA/TFA7yOvsMcI/AAAAAAAAAC0/ocGnANu2Zjs/s640/IMG_0451.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_bYNfObzpWyA/TFA74nGhnqI/AAAAAAAAADA/_7ZMuXR51As/s640/IMG_0452.JPG

It's got what I think is all of it's original drivetrain parts. It's pretty neat really. The frame however is a little rusty, and unfortunately there's a good sized dent in the seat tube.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bYNfObzpWyA/TFA7xs0iP9I/AAAAAAAAACw/2jh2yZa4xM8/s640/IMG_0450.JPG

I guess the questions are:

would you ride it with that dent? Can the dent be fixed somehow? What would you do to address it? It's a shame because aside from some light rust and not the best paint, it's in really good shape. I'm still really not sure what I'm going to do with it. The price was hard to pass up...

It might be helpful if you could post some closer shots.

From what I can see I don't think I'd have a problem riding it as is. To my eye it appears to be an isolated wound, as though the bike fell over on something, rather than significant crash damage. You could easily do the string around the headtube to the dropouts test and make sure the rear triangle is straight.

I know others have had success at "popping" dents out with contoured wooden blocks (greased, clamped around the tube, turned), but I've never tried it.

Very pretty bike.

I wouldn't hesitate to ride it like that, but would probably try to pop it out anyway. I'd do that from the inside... with plenty of grease and a very long 27.2 mm seat post!

Accessible from the top, no tube butting interference, above the bottle braze-ons; I'd go for attempting a fix on that one.

Paint's maybe not going to like it, though.

Although I've never attempted this kind of fix, I'd start with wood blocks on the outside and 1" dowel (don't know if you could find a 1 1/16") with a rounded end on the inside.
But for some correct advice, I'd post this in framebuilders.

I wouldn't hesitate to ride it like that, but would probably try to pop it out anyway. I'd do that from the inside... with plenty of grease and a very long 27.2 mm seat post!

Hmm...you might be on to something. I'm half-way to envisioning some type of shop made gizmo with a threaded expandable widget on the end, like the mount on a barcon. Or maybe just a dowel the right size that you could tap in there.

Yeah, of all tubes to have a dent like that in, the seat tube is the absolute easiest. Seat tubes tend to be single-butted, so, yes, it might just be a matter of finding the proper diameter mandrel-type item, securely fastened so it can be retrieved, and popping the ding out. If you want to get it fixed by replacing the tube (not necessary, IMO), try Dreesens in Schwenksville. I can put you in touch with him.

Pete

My '71 International has a similar dent on the top tube and a few more besides. It's one of my best riding bikes, and I've put it through all kinds of harsh conditions.

Neal

Pete: I pm'ed you about a week ago - did you get it? I can bring up that Mondia and Trek frame for you to check out any time this week - I'm off.


As for the international frame, I like the dowel idea but i'd be concerned about it getting stuck. Maybe I'll take it to Bilenky and see if they can do anything with it..

As for the bike itself, I'm kinda torn. As you can see most of the original parts are there, however I dont have much use for that setup in the hills around here. It doesnt feel right taking it apart though. I'm kinda thinking of letting it go to someone who will restore it or at least use it in it's original configuration. I dunno..

Looks like something fell onto it off a shelf, in the garage or cellar. I always liked your posts & bike collection, Holiday. Last post I remember ,,you were cleaning out your garage? I'll be down to touring 2 bikes soon.Chris

I wouldn't hesitate to ride it like that, but would probably try to pop it out anyway. I'd do that from the inside... with plenty of grease and a very long 27.2 mm seat post!

It's worth the cost of a 350 mm Kalloy to give it a try. I think it will push right out. That tubing is paper thin.

It's worth the cost of a 350 mm Kalloy to give it a try. I think it will push right out. That tubing is paper thin.
Yeah, but I would use a chrome one, not aluminum; I'd use a slightly smaller one, too, not a 27.2. I think I have a 26.6 chrome post somewhere; I'd mount that on a long threaded rod, grease it up, and see what happens. Can always try a bigger one later!

It's worth the cost of a 350 mm Kalloy to give it a try. I think it will push right out. That tubing is paper thin.

I have used a solid rod that magically had measured 27.0 mm to push one out, I put a radius on the end and used liberal amounts of grease. I did not just ram it but twisted it, worked surprisingly well.
It was not perfect perfect, but I only worked from the inside to save the paint.

Holiday76, have you put a straight-edge on the ST? I'd guess it's just a dent and is straight, but that first photo makes the ST appear to be bent.

I had a 26.0 aluminum post long enough that I tried but it's not big enough. I do think the dent would probably pop out with a 27 or so post. Maybe I'll have to go give that a try, but i'll need to buy a new post.

i put a straight edge up to the ST on all sides and it's perfectly straight. It does seem like something just fell over on the frame.

"Looks like something fell onto it off a shelf, in the garage or cellar. I always liked your posts & bike collection, Holiday. Last post I remember ,,you were cleaning out your garage? I'll be down to touring 2 bikes soon.Chris "

Thanks Chris! That's nice to hear. If memory serves the international "fell into my lap" about the same time i was attempting to tone down my collection...
I've got something like 20-30 complete bikes and frame right now and I'd really like to be around 5-7, but it's hard!

Yeah, but I would use a chrome one, not aluminum; I'd use a slightly smaller one, too, not a 27.2. I think I have a 26.6 chrome post somewhere; I'd mount that on a long threaded rod, grease it up, and see what happens. Can always try a bigger one later!

how about you stop over with your seat post and take home that 20's "track bike" with you :) I'm here all week...Maybe we can finish figuring out what to trade for it.

how about you stop over with your seat post and take home that 20's "track bike" with you :) I'm here all week...Maybe we can finish figuring out what to trade for it.

Okay... uh, in September?

What's the gearing on the International: 14-28 freewheel, 42-52 chain rings? Doesn't sound that bad....

Okay... uh, in September?

What's the gearing on the International: 14-28 freewheel, 42-52 chain rings? Doesn't sound that bad....

52-43 and its a 6 speed cog in the rear. Looks like 26 max in the rear but i havent really checked.

september works too for getting together. no rush reallly.

what about that clamp thingie that goes over the tube to remove the dent? of course I can't find a reference to it now.

Yeah, but I would use a chrome one, not aluminum; I'd use a slightly smaller one, too, not a 27.2. I think I have a 26.6 chrome post somewhere; I'd mount that on a long threaded rod, grease it up, and see what happens. Can always try a bigger one later!

I'd use aluminum and it would be a 27.2.

I'd use aluminum and it would be a 27.2.

Well, I have that (as well as a 27.2 chromed steel one) so when I go down, I'll bring that along as well. What's your reasoning? I'm concerned the aluminum, being softer, has a greater likelihood of getting permanently jammed in there, the tight fit of 27.2 all the more so.