Third bottle mount
#1
Road Runner
Thread Starter
Third bottle mount
My frame has a third bottle mount under the front side of the downtube. Why, I have no idea, since it's fairly useless with the derailleur cables crossing and passing right over that area. In fact, I just discovered that the FD cable actually wraps over or around one of the protruding screw heads and rubs against it. This might be why my FD seems to go in and out of adjustment frequently!
I can't just remove the screws since that would leave holes in the tubes. So here is my idea: I'll cut off the shanks of the screws, thread them into the downtube with some strong loctite or epoxy, then grind down anything that protrudes.
Does this sound like a good way to do this, or is there an even easier way to plug up these holes smoothly? It's an aluminum frame, BTW.
I can't just remove the screws since that would leave holes in the tubes. So here is my idea: I'll cut off the shanks of the screws, thread them into the downtube with some strong loctite or epoxy, then grind down anything that protrudes.
Does this sound like a good way to do this, or is there an even easier way to plug up these holes smoothly? It's an aluminum frame, BTW.
#2
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NOt a good idea IMHO.
My Waterford seemed at first glance to have similar interferance with the third cage/bolts and cables. No actual problems though.
You might try crossing the cables on the down tube (hard for me to explain), but easy to do when you change cables.
Put a cage there-one with a little offset from the tube, rather than flush.
--Why I'd say not to "plug" those holes:
You might want the third cage (I find it handy for heavier items like tools, or powders inside a .5L nalgene).
You might accidentally damage the frame.
You might want to sell the frame.
My Waterford seemed at first glance to have similar interferance with the third cage/bolts and cables. No actual problems though.
You might try crossing the cables on the down tube (hard for me to explain), but easy to do when you change cables.
Put a cage there-one with a little offset from the tube, rather than flush.
--Why I'd say not to "plug" those holes:
You might want the third cage (I find it handy for heavier items like tools, or powders inside a .5L nalgene).
You might accidentally damage the frame.
You might want to sell the frame.
#3
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Cables
Why not just reverse the cables. My Cannondale came assembled the same as yours and I just reversed the cables. Works fine now.
#4
Road Runner
Thread Starter
By "reverse" do you mean keep the cables on the left and right sides so they do not cross? I had thought about that but understand that it can cause some rubbing problems against the headtube when turning the bars.
It would solve the cage mount and crossover problems, however.
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Yes
Yes that is what I mean. Right to right and left to left. There is no rubbing on my bike and I just did a 3150 mile tour without any problems. When I mounted the third water bottle cage I placed a small presta stem washer under each of the two screws to keep them from rubbing. That way the cables do not cross and the cage is above the cables.
#6
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Superstick's explanation is what I meant to say...
Good luck!
Good luck!
#7
Senior Member
Yes that is what I mean. Right to right and left to left. There is no rubbing on my bike and I just did a 3150 mile tour without any problems. When I mounted the third water bottle cage I placed a small presta stem washer under each of the two screws to keep them from rubbing. That way the cables do not cross and the cage is above the cables.
#8
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Your "cross the cables" installation is sometimes done to keep the housing from rubbing on the headtube when the bars are turned a lot but it's unnecessarilly fussy and the cables housing length can be adjusted to prevent it anyway.
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My frame has a third bottle mount under the front side of the downtube. Why, I have no idea, since it's fairly useless with the derailleur cables crossing and passing right over that area. In fact, I just discovered that the FD cable actually wraps over or around one of the protruding screw heads and rubs against it. This might be why my FD seems to go in and out of adjustment frequently!
I can't just remove the screws since that would leave holes in the tubes. So here is my idea: I'll cut off the shanks of the screws, thread them into the downtube with some strong loctite or epoxy, then grind down anything that protrudes.
Does this sound like a good way to do this, or is there an even easier way to plug up these holes smoothly? It's an aluminum frame, BTW.
I can't just remove the screws since that would leave holes in the tubes. So here is my idea: I'll cut off the shanks of the screws, thread them into the downtube with some strong loctite or epoxy, then grind down anything that protrudes.
Does this sound like a good way to do this, or is there an even easier way to plug up these holes smoothly? It's an aluminum frame, BTW.
Could even put some silicone sealant in the holes too. Why do something not reversible?
#10
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I would plug the holes. You can get set screws from the hardware store that don't have a visible head. They just install with an allen wrench. Use red loctite so they don't fall into your frame.
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hardware store will also have nylon screws (plastic) that will be 5x1 screws with a flat blade button head that will fit in there good giving you a good seal and not protrude away from the tube much.
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Use blue loctite
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I plugged all unused holes on my tandem with plastic plugs from the hardware store. Just get the right size and it leaves a nice clean flat final result.
You can even paint them to match if needed.
You can even paint them to match if needed.
#15
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A couple of things that no one else seems to have mentioned ...
What kind of screw/bolt is in the hole now? If it's a "socket head" type, then you should probably try replacing it with a low profile "button head" type. See this page for reference:
https://www.boltdepot.com/metric-socket-products.aspx
Also, assuming you now have button head screws, then the use of cable donuts should also help. Besides preventing the cable from scraping on the paint, they are also very useful for avoiding obstructions.
Donuts here:
https://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id...ing&tc=O-Rings
What kind of screw/bolt is in the hole now? If it's a "socket head" type, then you should probably try replacing it with a low profile "button head" type. See this page for reference:
https://www.boltdepot.com/metric-socket-products.aspx
Also, assuming you now have button head screws, then the use of cable donuts should also help. Besides preventing the cable from scraping on the paint, they are also very useful for avoiding obstructions.
Donuts here:
https://biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id...ing&tc=O-Rings
#16
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A bit of warmed beeswax is sufficient and easy.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
#17
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Agreed. The little bit of rub can be alleviated by a piece of clear tape underneath.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
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Its a goofy thing to do, if you do not want a bottle cage there, plug the hole with a plastic plug, I am sure your LBS has them, a lot of frames have the little black plastic plugs over the rack mounts. If you wish to put a bottle there and leave the cable the same more or less....strip the liner from some cable casing, place over the cables in question, space out the bottle cage using some plastic washers, or any other sort of spacer, 3-5 mm is lots and install the cage. Plastic washers are available at home depot, but any "thickish" washer will work.
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Reversing Cables
I bought a bike that had the cables crossing when I bought it. I was troubled, having never seen that before. However, a little research and I discovered that it was no big deal.
If the crossing cables is a problem, simply reverse them - switch cable stops. I have certain rides I take where water is not easy to find. On a hot day, having a third bottle holder is a good thing. You can also use it for other things.
If the crossing cables is a problem, simply reverse them - switch cable stops. I have certain rides I take where water is not easy to find. On a hot day, having a third bottle holder is a good thing. You can also use it for other things.