Classic & Vintage - Legnano Help! Seatpost binder bolt?

Hi,

I refurbished (I can't really say 'restored') my father's 70s Legnano five-speed roadster bike and it rides pretty wonderfully.

THIS (http://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/03bicycles/legnanoST.html) is the model (but in lime green).

That said, some of the original parts went missing, including its original seatpost binder bolt!

I found a closeup of it from a different Legnano HERE (http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=dynamicalbum.PopularAlbum&g2_albumId=280656&g2_itemId=280689).

I desperately need to procure it as the seat continually swivels as I'm riding it.

Any help as to where I can find this completely unique and difficult-to-find part would be MUCH appreciated! I really, truly will be forever indebted! I've looked on ebay and ebay.it numerous times and haven't found a thing...

Thanks much!

P

There's two different types of Legnano binders. I would think the roadster style bike would take the "split wedge" style? The Roma shown in your second photo takes the "scalloped bolt" style.

Does your seat-tube have a slot in it running below the bolt hole?

I can show you a source for the scalloped type, but not wedge style which I think you need. It would be best to post photos of the actual frame you are working on to be sure.

Wow, quite a nice bike you've got there. I'm sure fellow CVer's will be along soon to aid you and wet themselves over your bicycle. Also, please post pics!

Hi Ragooch,

I just checked and it looks like there is no slot running below the hole. It's a large hole that actually comes to a point -- like a triangle. (Does that make sense?)

My camera is kaput right now, so I can't post pics. I will, though, soon, hopefully.

Thanks much!!!

Thanks much, RoboIsGod! I'll post pics when I can.

The bike doesn't have all the original parts, alas. It was poorly stored -- in my parents' extremely humid basement. There's a new rear wheel (the original rim cracked) and a friend of my brother made it into a five-speed "racing bike" back when I was a kid in the early 80s... It now has an Atax stem and (I think) track bars with Mafac brake levers. He took the chainguard off as well as the fenders. Ahhh, those were the salad days... (Get it?!) My dad has some of the original parts somewhere, though. Orig bars, levers, fenders, etc... but not the seatpost binder bolt!

Oh and one of the spokes broke today... it's neverending!

I think you need this one.

http://picasaweb.google.com/haxixe/LegnanoBinderBolt?feat=directlink#5407707367046373890

Unfortunately, that type is pretty hard to come by. You'll probably have to make something to work.

I had a Legnano with the same hole pattern. The previous owner of the frame also lost the bolt but had one 'made' by a local welder.

He found a bolt/nut combination that fitted through the hole and had the welder weld or add metal to this bolt to form a conical/wedge shape seat binder bolt. Not very pretty but it worked.

If you want to see this custom made bolt, let me know. I'll have to dig it out and take a photo.

I was told that some older stems (for mountainbikes??) used the same system.

And as far as I remember, that's what was used to make the bolt for my Legnano.

I ended up making a bolt for one of my Legnano frames. I took a standard old style chrome seatpost bolt and put it in the frame. I put some paint on the end of the seatpost and inserted it in the frame to mark the bolt for the relief. I removed the bolt, filed a curve into it to match the seatpost. Worked fine.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Legnano/Legnano_TW_bike.htm

Thanks a bunch, all!

I think I'm going to try this filing method. It sounds perfect and a genius yet totally intuitive idea.

Also, one last question (maybe I should start another thread...) but the bike has a pretty lousy Campy Extra rear derailleur which has been always giving me problems. I can simply replace it with a Nuovo Record from that era, yes?

I will post pics of the bike when I'm done with it.

Thanks again,

P

Thanks a bunch, all!

I think I'm going to try this filing method. It sounds perfect and a genius yet totally intuitive idea.

Also, one last question (maybe I should start another thread...) but the bike has a pretty lousy Campy Extra rear derailleur which has been always giving me problems. I can simply replace it with a Nuovo Record from that era, yes?

I will post pics of the bike when I'm done with it.

Thanks again,

P

I do not think this will work for you, and is why I pointed out there's two types of bolts for the different frame arrangements.

The bolt with a scalloped section to fit around the seat-post draws the frame tube together to clamp the post. It can do this because the tube is slotted to allow some movement.

On frames without the slot the bolt is two-pieces with a wedge that draws the two wedge pieces to the center when tightened, which jams up against the seat-post.

That's the type of bolt you need to make for it to work right.

Got it. Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'm going to look into having something made. with that wedge! I'll keep you posted...

petitefeuille,

what you might do is join Classic Rendezvous and post to the list to see if anyone has a bolt for sale, or know where to find one. The members there are very helpful. One caveat though, read the list rules and follow them, Dale (listmeister) is a stickler for signatures etc.
CR main web site is here http://www.classicrendezvous.com/main.htm there are links to the rules and how to subscribe on that page. If you don't like lots of email sign up for the digest form, it collects posts and sends out one as opposed
to many.

Marty