beekay

Hello everybody,
I'm in the process of overhauling a early 70's sekine road bike that I've been commuting on for the last two years. It's a lugged steel frame. When I removed my fork to grease the headset bearings, the lower pressed race just fell out onto the ground. Upon inspection, the bottom of the headtube has split along a welded seam. Are headtubes even supposed to have seams? How unsafe has this been? Can it be fixed?

I like my bike, and I want to repair the frame if possible. If anyone could please, please help, I'd be grateful. I'm attaching some pics of the break and the headtube.

thanks,
bk

Nessism

Looks like the seam from the lug. In days of old, lugs were formed by stamping/folding/welding sheet metal together. Newer lugs are usually cast.

Frankly from the look of the photos, the frame is junk You could try to find someone to replace the lug or weld it up but this will cost quite a bit more than the frame is worth.

Good luck.

Ed

DocF

Before the frame is condemned, I would take it to a frame builder if there is one near you. It may be possible to repair this. Does the frame look like it is sound otherwise?

Doc

sch

Frames of this vintage would be dirt cheap if you could find one at a thrift store
or garage sale. New equivalent frame from Nashbar might be $150-250. Doubt
repair cost would be worth the expense and would necessitate a repaint. Welding
is likely to distort the tubing too much, even brazing likely would: this is where
a moderately precise part of the bike fits, the headset. Replacing the lug and perhaps the head tube would be the best approach but not worth it. Find another bike. Steve

beekay

Thanks for the input, guess I'll be looking for a new frame.