How to remove shifter braze-ons
06-15-05, 02:33 PM
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carpe napum
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How to remove shifter braze-ons
I just converted my 20 year old steel Trek to a SS, and its oodles of good fun. Re-dished the wheel and everything...a nice setup I think.
But now I have these nasty shifter bosses coming out of the down tube....the things that the old downtube shift levers used to screw into.
Is there a good way of removing these? Can I just cut 'em off with a hacksaw and file away the remaining bits, or is that going to weaken my frame?
Many thanks.
But now I have these nasty shifter bosses coming out of the down tube....the things that the old downtube shift levers used to screw into.
Is there a good way of removing these? Can I just cut 'em off with a hacksaw and file away the remaining bits, or is that going to weaken my frame?
Many thanks.
06-15-05, 02:35 PM
#2
Lone Fixie
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Not sure about weakening the frame but the hacksaw thing is what I did and it worked fine.
06-15-05, 02:46 PM
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Spoked to Death
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Many times, since the braze is weaker than the metal, you can just grab them with a strong pair of big vice grips, and just twist them off. If you are lucky, they pop off and take the braze material with them, leaving a smooth spot that you just paint over and forget about. Sometimes a little braze material stays behind, and you have to do a little filing. But it works good.
peace,
sam
peace,
sam
06-15-05, 02:58 PM
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Sure ya can.... That's why I have a crushed and twisted shifter boss attached to my beater frame, yeah? 
(Jeff, dude, sorry about that thing... I rode it this morning and it could probably use an overhaul in the BB... Something is definitely feeling not totally smooth.)
(Jeff, dude, sorry about that thing... I rode it this morning and it could probably use an overhaul in the BB... Something is definitely feeling not totally smooth.)
06-15-05, 04:08 PM
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carpe napum
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Thanks everyone for the responses. I tried the vise-grips, but they are tenacious little ******s and so I ended up sawing 'em off. Got some filing to do now though.
06-15-05, 04:48 PM
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got a frame builder near you?
my buddy popped em off (along with the cable guides) in about 10 seconds with a small oxy-acetylene torch.
a little touch up paint, and you can hardly tell they were ever there.
my buddy popped em off (along with the cable guides) in about 10 seconds with a small oxy-acetylene torch.
a little touch up paint, and you can hardly tell they were ever there.
06-15-05, 06:08 PM
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what's that noise?
what's that sound?
that's the seach box...
get'n down.
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/93679-torching-off-braze-ons.html
what's that sound?
that's the seach box...
get'n down.
https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/93679-torching-off-braze-ons.html
06-15-05, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Sure ya can.... That's why I have a crushed and twisted shifter boss attached to my beater frame, yeah?
(Jeff, dude, sorry about that thing... I rode it this morning and it could probably use an overhaul in the BB... Something is definitely feeling not totally smooth.)
(Jeff, dude, sorry about that thing... I rode it this morning and it could probably use an overhaul in the BB... Something is definitely feeling not totally smooth.)
I've probably removed about 10 or 15 shifter bosses and cable guides and stops using that technique. But maybe your frames are different. Whatever works for you, I suppose!peace,
sam
06-15-05, 10:27 PM
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Skidmaster
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Originally Posted by potus
what's that noise?
what's that sound?
that's the seach box...
get'n down.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=93679
what's that sound?
that's the seach box...
get'n down.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=93679
06-15-05, 11:09 PM
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likes avocadoes
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I also recommend using shifter bosses for more interesting things...bells, horns, pirate flags, etc.
but I've use the torch and the dremel to remove lots no prob.
but I've use the torch and the dremel to remove lots no prob.
06-16-05, 01:20 PM
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i don't stop
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i've used (very carefully) a flex wheel to remove the bulk, then carefully sanded the rest by hand.
