Mechanics and Fixing Any Questions Answered

Photo please?

The seatpost looks like shit now because of the slipping

2 Attachments

Thanks +kjlem. That's a Pearson?

If its me I'll try another seatpost.

Might be worthwhile checking the seat tube diameter too in case it has worn down a bit.

Could possibly be 27.3 or 27.4 instead of the .2

Beer can shim works wonders if that's the case.

It's a Soma Smoothie. I'll do some more measuring and will try a different post first.
Thanks for thinking along .

I've had similar issues. Some suggestions based on my experience:

• Grease the bolt threads
  
• Carbon assembly paste on the seat post
  
• Try a different seat post (same nominal size but can be larger actual diameter due to manufacturing tolerances)
  

My Dawes frame is on the way out I reckon. I’m wondering if anyone thinks it’s salvageable? The pics show quite a decent crack which could snap in two fairly soon. Could this be welded?

5 Attachments

Hehe, it’s facked!

I’d assume a new headtube would in order if you want to save it…. Will be expensive. And I’d want to be absolutely sure nothing else is wrong with it before undertaking the repair

https://www.varonha.co.uk/repairs/

Quotes £120 for new head tube and lugs

Put the badge on yer hat and recycle the rest.

Zip ties.

on the way out I reckon

could snap in two fairly soon

Perhaps stating the obvious. But it's done already. Do not ride this any further.

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like the cost for repair would be more than the bike is worth

Fair nuff, I thought it was a long shot alright

Yes there’s a risk of the head tube coming clean off. Not worth risking my teeth and/or face over it

Front tyre is on backwards so basically unsafe to ride*

*Totally failed headtube might also gain the dreaded red label of death. So long as the other tubing hasn't been affected (possible if its been ridden at all like that) then your prob about £200 to get a framebuilder to chop out and braze something new in there, then paint it yourself. Might be worthwhile so long as rest of frame good, BB cluster ins't rotten etc. If not find another decent frame and swap your parts over in an evening

Are headset baseplates interchangeable? Straight 1 1/8 tube with external cups, the only contact is with the inside of the bearing cartridge which is just one of two sizes no?

not quite. there are two different angles (35 and 45 degree) but the inner diameter of the bearing can differ. Particularly annoying is CK headsets where only their crown races work. You could get lucky but equally you might not.

Thanks, it’s a CK so probably won’t get away with it. Oh well

You could get lucky...

It's probably worth a try.

I mix and match headsets a fair bit and have never had a problem on the bottom bearing. Top bearing yeah as some have a wedge that fits on top of the bearing, some it slips inside.

This is a where to find question, the dropouts on my fixed are 8.1mm thick, anyone know where I can obtain chain tugs that will slot over these?

DMR or Gusset and quite a few other BMX brands.

What frame out of interest?

That sounds pretty hefty. You might need to get busy with a file.

The MKS ones come in a couple diffferent versions for different thicknesses I think.

There are designs where the thickness won't matter, like a Surly Tuggnut, it just pushes against the back of the dropout instead of slotting over

Looks like these GT ones work similarly, https://www.skatepro.uk/381-48673.htm?stockcode=45221050122&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvqGcBhCJARIsAFQ5ke4fpQE0VqIAYXsAJ5gr9TrDuIJVipHECqfMJHWQSAEIEuIC08NM-g0aAtQhEALw_wcB

Bike/frame is a Brian Rourke 853, chrome forks and dropouts, driveside chainstay also chromed. The chrome on the dropouts probably accounts for the extra thickness. I tried one from my friendly lbs mechanic, a fairly bog standard sort of thing you see on Ebay but it was 1mm too narrow and also too thin to file down. I am aware of the surly and the like but too much money and for me a bit too fancy for a bike {in my humble opinion] with such beautiful clean lines.
Thanks for the replies, going to have to think about this.

I'll say DMR will wirk since its pretty much cater for BMX dropouts.

MKS does some nice stuff too. Not sure if it will fit but being cast iron, there should be plenty of material to machine or Dremel out.

I can see 2 ways to sort this out, message the Ebayers and get them to measure their chain tugs or buy a couple and fashion the back plate myself, though I'm thinking that any metal worker could knock one up in 5 mins.
I have zero knowledge of BMX so I have no idea if their dropouts are especially thick, is there anyone on here who has that experience? I know my bike is a bit special but didn't realise it was so different in reference to the dropouts. Just had a look at my other fixed, a Pearson, and the dropouts are within the same width [no chain tugs] so not that unusual after all. Given that the Pearson is not a rare bike, mine's a Touche if anyone here has one with chain tugs on other than surly's I would be grateful to know what they are.
Thanks for your input ce, I'll take a look anyway

I do work in a bike shop, if you need any assurance.

Also, no one need chain tugs. I've never ever had my axles slip.

User or setup error if you'll ever need one.