Originally Posted by
Iowegian
You can also roll out the bulge with aluminum blocks that are made for that purpose. I have a set and if you want to borrow them let me know. This will ruin the paint in the affected area so be aware of that. And +1 on the top tube. You might not see a bulge so feel with your fingers in the area immediately behind the lug.
So if I rolled it out with those aluminum blocks (which I have seen before), would the life of the frame then be increased? Or would the repair be mostly cosmetic? I wouldn't be happy about losing the paint, but if rolling it out would significantly increase frame life over the current condition, I'd think about it. I always hear about being able to bend steel frames, and that being one of their advantages. It looks like I'd be able the fit the blocks on there before hitting the lug. At the same time I'm telling myself the frame will never be the same again, and just don't bother.