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rjsdavis

Member since Nov 2012 • Last active Sep 2014
  • 2 conversations
  • 18 comments

Most recent activity

  • in Current Projects
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    I've had a result, and with some time and patience managed to release everything on the Vitus that was corroded and stuck: Grub screw / seatpin / saddle in seatpin / stem in headtube!

    The worst was the seatpin itself in the frame, closely followed by the grub screw. What worked for me was to soak, regularly, and over a period of time with "Crack It", which is a very cold high pressure spray can which I picked up from the local motor factor.

    Then, I hammered a oversized Torx bolt (bought individually) from the same motor factor into the rounded grub screw allen head. This was really hammered in. Then, simply a 10mm socket on the end and a ratchet wrench to attempt to move it. I'd give it a nudge every so often and with repeated sprays and tugs on the wrench - it eventually gave way. In the end, once it had started to move, it came out pretty easily!

    The seatpin also got the same freezing treatment - this was an original alloy Vitus seatpost in an aluminium seattube. This was very tricky to remove and I could only move it very slightly left and right to begin with. A trip to my LBS gave me the second pair of strong hands that I needed to simply get it twisting with brute force. Eventually, I'd been able to twist it round several times, we could eventually work it out of the tube.

    The stem was again, the same as the seatpin - liberal use of GT-85 and the freezing spray. Eventually, a few twists of the stem against a wheel held between your legs and we got it to crack free and start moving. Once you've got even a tiny amount of movement, it will come out.

    I've now deleted the pics that I uploaded into another forum, so here's a link if you wanted to have a looksie...

    http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=264724&start=10

    Dead pleased to have everything freed up and released - what a pain in the backside!

  • in Components and clothing
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    Hi Ben2

    I'd be interested in this, if it hasn't long gone by now?!

  • in Current Projects
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    ....And the Vitus 979 I thought was an ebay bargain but the grub screw for the seat post was screwed. I've drilled out the hole and filled it with an aerospace aluminuim putty which is drilled and tapped after hardening. Fingers crossed it works.

    Hi there Racing Snake..

    Was just wondering how you got on with this? Have identical problem and am just considering using an "easy out" drill bit to drill it out (hopefully) after some soaking with Plusgas! Would love to learn from your experience as the frame and seatpin is well worth saving!

    RD

  • in Wanted Adverts
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    Thanks for the recent offer - have now obtained one!

    RD

  • in Wanted Adverts
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    Thanks, but this won't be any help. I mean this most respectfully, but how could you possibly adapt a 27.2mm seatpin to go into a 27.0 seattube?

    Lol

    I can understand that a 27.0mm seatpin could be used in a 27.2mm seattube with a thin shim of course....

  • in Wanted Adverts
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    Hi Kay

    Thanks for replying! Sounds great, but also expensive if it's NOS and in the box! What length is it, and how much are you after for it? I'm after one to actually use in a frame, and I appreciate that some collectors are going to pay top dollar for a boxed NOS example.

  • in Wanted Adverts
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    Hi there

    Am after a Dura-Ace seatpin - it must be a 27.0 diameter which is a pain in the backside, as I'd be able to get a 27.2 so much more easily!

    Please feel free to PM me, or drop me a reply to this thread - many thanks...

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