Mercian head tube problem

Got a lovely old Mercian Road Path frame off the Bay, only thing that seemed to be wrong were slightly bent stays, that was easy enough to fix... Big problem is there's some wear at the top and bottom of the head tube (about .2mm) so a 1 inch headset is very slightly loose, can't ride it like that...
I'm planning to send it up to Derby for a full resto at some point and get the head tube repaired/replaced but my LBS mate reckons in the short term I should just shim it with a Coke can and ride the little beauty...
Is that asking for trouble? Also, are Mercian more likely to repair something like that (whack some brass in and ream it out again) or stick a whole new head tube and lugs on?
Any tips greatly appreciated, I'm desperate to start ridin' her...

sounds like an ovalised headtube... possibly due to previous owner running the headset loose??

Coke can it, it worked fine for my Grifter, however wouldn't reccomend it as a long term thing

CHUG_IT sounds like an ovalised headtube... possibly due to previous owner running the headset loose??

Coke can it, it worked fine for my Grifter, however wouldn't reccomend it as a long term thing

It's ovalised alright... Total pisser... New tube or repairable d'ya think?
Would only ride it like that 'til I can spare the cash for the resto job, coupla months tops... How much more damage would I be doing in the meantime?

teenslain Also, are Mercian more likely to repair something like that (whack some brass in and ream it out again) or stick a whole new head tube and lugs on?
Any tips greatly appreciated, I'm desperate to start ridin' her...

Only one way to find out. Speak to them. They may offer both depding on you budget. I would think an entire new head tube as brass is goos as filler material when brazing but is too soft (I would have thought) to just use to correct an ovalised head tube.

you can give it to me for £20 as it's totally wrecked and not salvalgable.

(or shim with coke can)

Two opioinons here to a similar question.

Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=framebuilders.10105.0107.eml
From: "Thursday (Jon&Salisa Norstog)"
Subject: Re: [Frame] Ovalized headtube.
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 17:53:45 -0700

May 11 01

Ovalized headtubes ... Hmmmmm .. somebody's been house-jumping!

yOU CAN DO SEVERAL THINGS.

1. Get some loctite shaft and bearing compound and stick it together with
   that.
   
2. If it is a steel frame, hammer around the bottom of the head tube to
   get it back into shape, then have the headtube re-cut
   
3. Build up inside the headtube with bronze, then recut.
   "Thursday"
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: Andy Grow
   To: Framebuilders List
   Sent: Friday, May 11, 2001 10:44 AM
   Subject: [Frame] Ovalized headtube.
   
   
   

Took a frame to have a new headset installed today...noticed that the lugged
headtube is ovalized somewhat on the bottom portion (downtube lug). Is this
a problem, or can the cup be installed still?

Thanks

and

Took a frame to have a new headset installed today...noticed that the
lugged headtube is ovalized >somewhat on the bottom portion (downtube
lug). Is this a problem, or can the cup be installed >still?

This can become a serious problem if nothing is done about it. Many folks
recommend heating it up and adding brass, I don't like that because it can
anneal the area and make it softer, also it fries you paint. The way I've
done it is to use the heavy-duty bondo in the same way you'd use brass.
After you face and mill the headtube again it'll be just as strong as the
brass and you didn't have to heat anything. Plus you've saved you paint in
the process.
enjoy,
Brandon"monkeyman"Ives

dogsballs you can give it to me for £20 as it's totally wrecked and not salvalgable.
(or shim with coke can)

Ha! :P

TheBrick(Tommy) Only one way to find out. Speak to them. They may offer both depding on you budget. I would think an entire new head tube as brass is goos as filler material when brazing but is too soft (I would have thought) to just use to correct an ovalised head tube.

Yeah, without seeing it they reckoned new headtube, which sucks... £83 plus VAT... :(
Cheers for the advice... Joe

Mario Vaz could probably replace the headtube for a good bit less than Mercian (his brother does the repairs - he's a welder for Roberts).

It'll need Mercian lugs tho'... I'll give Mario a call, see what he says...
Ross at Brixton Cycles was gonna braze some silver in there but when he had a proper look he reckoned I should send it back to Derby...
Old bikes, goes with the territory I guess... Bah!

teenslain It'll need Mercian lugs tho'... I'll give Mario a call, see what he says...
Ross at Brixton Cycles was gonna braze some silver in there but when he had a proper look he reckoned I should send it back to Derby...
Old bikes, goes with the territory I guess... Bah!

The lugs will probably be kept it will just be the head tube that is taken out and replaced. My brother crippled the downtube on his Mercian and they only replaced it. Needed a respray obviously so that might be a good reason to send it back to them so they can do that as well.

Just to revive this thread,

I've had similar problems, LBS (both of them) recommended alloy headset cups, as these are generally closer fitting than steel. I've got a 105 sitting about unused, so i'll try that.

Anyone else got any ideas?

Is your headtube shagged, Toby? Vaz's brother fixed mine for £10... Been running fine ever since...

Ever so slightly shagged yes, in that the cup is loose. However, trying another cup (alloy Campga mirage one I had laying about) fitted more snugly. However, that one didn't cover the bearings fully. The 105 doesn't fit the bearings either so I guess i'd need to swap out whole thing.

How did the Road Path turn out? I'm building up a 1955 Mercian Road Path at the moment...

Very nicely... She's having the winter off and coming back with some new boots in the spring... No drops anymore, but unholy risers... ;o

I'm waiting on some 50s track drops to finish mine off. what's with the risers!

Just seen the pic, where are the rims from?