Newbie with a Team Banana Question

[mikeyboyo]

Hello everyone

my name is mikeyboyo, if any of you are on Grifter or Burner forums you may know me from there. I have a question about a Raleigh Team Banana I own, I have wanted to know what year it was made in for a long time and I do not know what the numbers and letters in its frame number mean as I only know about frame numbers of slightly older Raleighs. On the underside of the frame is stamped "PA5 8TA"

Could anybody shed some light on what this frame number means please?

Thanks
Mikeyboyo

 

[mattr]

That's probably the postcode of the original owner.
From somewhere up in Renfrewshire........ apparently.

 

[mikeyboyo]

Oh It isn't scratched in ala coded cycles it is stamped on the bottom bracket, though it would make sense as I got the bike in Glasgow, I could not see any numbers near the rear drop outs, where is the frame number likely to be?

 

[Nob]

Hagg Cresent

 

[David B]

Oh It isn't scratched in ala coded cycles it is stamped on the bottom bracket, though it would make sense as I got the bike in Glasgow, I could not see any numbers near the rear drop outs, where is the frame number likely to be?

Hmm....most Raleighs seem to have the frame number on the underneath of the bottom bracket shell, if it isn't there that's unusual. If it's a cheapo Banana with SR cranks, steel rims, Weinmann brakes and Huret Eco rear mech it'll start with N, whereas the "proper" team replica with 531 Competition tubing and Shimano 105 bits will have a W prefix. Be warned though - the full number might well be hidden by the rivetted-on plastic gear cable guide!

David

 

[Midlife]

We stamped post codes / date of birth onto the bottom bracket at buyers request, not scratched but full on stamping with a hammer and a die LOL, Knackered the paintwork

Very ocassionally the raleigh / carlton frame number was stamped on the seat tube opposite the rear brake just down from the seat bolt.

It will be stamped somewhere, raleigh were run by bean counters and believe me they kept everything numbered..........

Shaun

 

[mattr]

We stamped post codes / date of birth onto the bottom bracket at buyers request, not scratched but full on stamping with a hammer and a die LOL, Knackered the paintwork

our local plod used to do it for free, touring round local schools and businesses.

Not seen anyone "scratching" them in. Seen it engraved, and etched. But not scratched!

 

[MrW]

try the back of the seat tube for the frame number

If it's an 18-23 tubed frame, that'll be where it is

 

[mikeyboyo]

Thank you very much for that info, Midlife you are right, it is one of the those very occaisional bikes, on the seat tube I found the number 0266136, does anyone know what that means as regards year of manufacture, the hubs both say " 36 90" on them, though they are French and not Raleigh parts, it is one of the downmarket versions with weinmann brakes, I am planning to fit a few new parts just to improve it a little, the rear rim is noticably buckled and rubs the brake pads in some areas, so I am saving up for some nice new wheels, the frame is actually too small for me, but I have so much sentimental attachment to this bike that I don't want to find a bigger frame, so I've put a really long seatpost on it to make it rideable Once again, Midlife and David B, thank you very much for that information

Michael

 

[mikeyboyo]

mattr my first big boy bike (2003 Raleigh Chinook) had it engraved on the underside, I guess engraved was what I meant, it just looks a tad messy when you have the bike upside down as I remember

And MrW it is one of the 18-23 frames and that's where I found it, thanks