Raleigh Royal 708 - seat post size?

[bedraggled]

If you have a Raleigh Royal with Reynolds 708 tubing can you confirm the seat post size on yours.

The searches I've done suggest 27.2mm but I'd need a sledge hammer to make a 27.2 fit.

 

[hamster]

The Tony Oliver book has it as 28.6mm OD with 0.9/0.6 butting. 28.6-1.8= 26.8mm

Can send a photo of the page if you like.

 

[Captain Stupido]

Re:

Fairly sure mine is a 27.2 :?

 

[Chat Noir]

Re:

Seat post sizes not necessarily straightforward.

I have two 708 frames, one will just about take a 27.0 but has had a hard life so may not be what it was originally. My other 708 was built by Peugeot’s Prestige workshop, an unridden team bike, and is a very smooth fitting 27.2. Reynolds advised: ‘it is common to find internal distortion during the brazing process at the seat lug of the frame. In such instances it is recommended that the seat tube is reamed or breached before attempting to fit the seat pillar’ (from their 1985 catalogue).

I think there were two 708 tubesets, the classic and one for touring, which might be what you have. I have no info on the touring tubeset, if there is one, but here are the specs for 708 classic:

This doesn’t give seat post size for 708, unlike 753 and 653, but my maths says 28.6 – (2 x .6) = 27.4 - .4 = 27.0. I can’t explain the extra 0.4 mm but this seems to be standard. However, my metric framed 753 and 653 bikes all take 26.8 seat posts, not 26.6 as recommended by Reynolds which has led me to conclude the seat post size is what it is, and not necessarily what it is supposed to be.
Good luck

 

[Nob]

Use a bore gauge or bore micrometer To get an accurate reading then you will know what fits

 

[hamster]

D'oh, I'm an idiot! I took the thickness of the wrong end of the seat tube (0.9) instead of the thin end (0.6). :facepalm:

OK, it's nominally 27.4, which allowing for a little heat distortion means a 27.2 post.

 

[bedraggled]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.
The label says 708 Tourist.
I've tried a 26.8 and there is some play.
Going to buy a 27.0

03/02/2021 Update: Got a 27.0 and it is definitely the correct size for my frame.

 

[doctor-bond]

Re:

Just for info: Randonneur in 708 Classic = 27.2.

 

[vcballbat]

Re: Re:

Seat post sizes not necessarily straightforward.

I have two 708 frames, one will just about take a 27.0 but has had a hard life so may not be what it was originally. My other 708 was built by Peugeot’s Prestige workshop, an unridden team bike, and is a very smooth fitting 27.2. Reynolds advised: ‘it is common to find internal distortion during the brazing process at the seat lug of the frame. In such instances it is recommended that the seat tube is reamed or breached before attempting to fit the seat pillar’ (from their 1985 catalogue).

I think there were two 708 tubesets, the classic and one for touring, which might be what you have. I have no info on the touring tubeset, if there is one, but here are the specs for 708 classic:

This doesn’t give seat post size for 708, unlike 753 and 653, but my maths says 28.6 – (2 x .6) = 27.4 - .4 = 27.0. I can’t explain the extra 0.4 mm but this seems to be standard. However, my metric framed 753 and 653 bikes all take 26.8 seat posts, not 26.6 as recommended by Reynolds which has led me to conclude the seat post size is what it is, and not necessarily what it is supposed to be.
Good luck

Is this similar to your Peugeot ?
https://www.bikeboompeugeot.com/Brochur ... 1000PC.jpg

 

[Chat Noir]

Re:

Yes - here's the build thread from the other year.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=378076&hilit=Peugeot+708&start=0