Originally Posted by
kalash74
The long end of the 2x4 (to the left of the picture) is apparently resting on a stool or something of the sort. He recommends you press down on top of the seat tube to bend the bottom stay up (narrow the distance between the two stays). What I'm trying to figure out is why he says to press straight down on the seat tube instead of pressing on the short end of the 2x4 in the main triangle (overhanging the seat tube).
There's really no difference. It's all in the leverage anyway. I would press down on the 2x4, just to keep it from slipping sideways.
As I said before: with your mild steel frame, you will be surprised at how little force it takes to move the stays. It's sometimes tempting after the first couple of spring-backs to really heave on it. DON'T!. Just keep applying a little more pressure, then a little more, etc. etc. Eventually you will sense when the frame takes a permanent set.