Help needed. Possible crack in lugs

[onyerbike531]

Hi Rtrobike community
I've just discovered some unhealthy looking lines that run down the centre of the head tube lugs on my Raleigh Yukon. At first I thought they might be some sort of seam but now I'm not so sure as the one at the top isn't straight.
I'm worried these might be cracks propagating possibly caused by some sort of front end collision in the past.
Is anyone else familiar with this model or any other lugged raleigh mtb of this era, any insight would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[marc two tone]

I could be wrong, but without seeing the lines in real vision, I would suggest that they are casting Marks or some other fabrication based thing.

 

[mdvineng]

Those are marks from the forming die closure.

 

[onyerbike531]

I think I've managed to take a better pic of the worse one, will just upload in a second. Thanks

 

[onyerbike531]

Thanks for your replies, how come they're only prominent on the head tube lugs, is it because of the length of those ones? The one in the recently uploaded pic looks a bit skew.

 

[mdvineng]

They're only made down to a price point, little or none post process finishing.

 

[onyerbike531]

So only on the more bog standard models? I have noticed they're quite messy looking in places, it's an heavy old thing. Love it though.

 

[mdvineng]

Exactly. Cheap lugs were heavy/thick and often pressed from a basic slug. Better ones are investment cast then hand finished. High quality frame builders would the do more refinishing, often thinning them down to blend into the tube surface or close enough.