SirLurkalot
Old School Hero
I rescued a Raleigh Moonrun from being dumped in a skip because I wanted a cheap project while on part furlough. It had been sat outside for a long time and the seatpost was solid and down as far as it could go.
The first course of action was to soak it in penetrating fluid then try it. Didn't budge, so I took to my mates workshop, put in his heavy duty vice and use the frame as a lever, nothing. My mate then turned down the end of a aluminium bar on his lathe to fit inside the post cut the clamp off and TIG welded the bar on so we had something more to grip. Used a long handle pipe wrench and the weld broke, twice!
Next we cut down inside the post and bent the top in and mate (now losing patience) used a long thin chisel down the sides to try and free it. At this point the frame started to split and I call a halt to it.
The only option left is caustic soda which I didn't want to do. My mate said if I could get the post out he'd weld the frame but is it worth it? It's a Reynolds 501 lugged frame.
So my cheap fun project has turned into a bit of a nightmare and I now have a refurbed Suntour XCE groupset and Alesa wheels with nothing to put them on.
Now looking for a cheap medium frame with 1" headtube. Maybe I should just take up knitting.
The first course of action was to soak it in penetrating fluid then try it. Didn't budge, so I took to my mates workshop, put in his heavy duty vice and use the frame as a lever, nothing. My mate then turned down the end of a aluminium bar on his lathe to fit inside the post cut the clamp off and TIG welded the bar on so we had something more to grip. Used a long handle pipe wrench and the weld broke, twice!
Next we cut down inside the post and bent the top in and mate (now losing patience) used a long thin chisel down the sides to try and free it. At this point the frame started to split and I call a halt to it.
The only option left is caustic soda which I didn't want to do. My mate said if I could get the post out he'd weld the frame but is it worth it? It's a Reynolds 501 lugged frame.
So my cheap fun project has turned into a bit of a nightmare and I now have a refurbed Suntour XCE groupset and Alesa wheels with nothing to put them on.
Now looking for a cheap medium frame with 1" headtube. Maybe I should just take up knitting.
