cyclotoine

Is it advisable to remove a brass brazed DO and replace it? The reason would be the original has no eyelets and I would like one with forged eyelets for rack mounting. I suppose the objection would be repeated super heating of the tubes, which are 531 fork blades.

Or should I just forget the rack and silver braze fender eyelets on and use a wald basket if I need a front carrier (mounts to axle).

unterhausen

I wouldn't change dropouts just to add eyelets. I wouldn't think you are going to carry enough weight on the front that an eyelet installed with brass would fail. While I have no problem replacing rear dropouts, I don't like the idea of replacing fork dropouts for no good reason. If the bike has no eyelets, does it have enough rake to make adding weight on the front make sense?

JohnDThompson 

Why not simply braze another eyelet onto the present dropout?

unterhausen

that was why I was asking about rake, he says it has no eyelets. Makes me wonder if adding weight to the front is a very good idea.

cyclotoine

I don't know the rake, It's a 1970s frame, a sort of mid level amateur racer. It has eyelets on the rear but not the front. I was thinking porteur conversion, but I guess getting a whole new fork would make more sense if I really want to do it? I was thinking it is better to silver braze the eyelets on as you don't risk melting the existing brass? BTW, I would be having someone else do the work. Is there a way to measure rake with common tools and how do I know what is appropriate for carrying a front load?

unterhausen

have you posted pics of the frame anywhere?

cyclotoine

I haven't and it is stripped to the frame/fork at this time. I suppose if I found the right size dowel/pipe I could put it in the steer tube and if it extended to the dropouts I could just measure the offset from the center of the steer tube, correct? Either way, the frame is Swiss in origin, a Mairag three star, and I am pretty sure it is a fairly typical 70s racer but has my much sought after feature of having lots of clearance for up to a 32mm tire with fenders with campy long/standard reach brakes.

unterhausen

don't worry about measuring it, take some pictures and post them

is there any chrome?

unterhausen

don't worry about measuring it, take some pictures and post them

is there any chrome?