Dented top tube

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

Tim

leave till you need a respray (when it will be filled with bondo), it's
not serious.

--
---
Marten Gerritsen

INFOapestaartjeM-GINEERINGpuntNL
www.m-gineering.nl

Quoted message said:

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

Tim

What material is it made of Tim? Myabe worth finding out if it CAN be
repaired first, as opposed to is it worth it.

--
Mark
_______________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

In article <[email hidden]>, Tim Hall

() said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

The fixer has had a lbooyd gert Dent in /its/ top tube - just ahead of
the seat tube lug - for ages now, since a crappy Halfrauds lock made
from cheese jammed while the bike was securely attached to New Cross.
Fortunately, /because/ the lock was made from cheese, I was able to beat
it to deth wif a big hammer, but this led to the formation of the Dent.

I have not bothered with doing anything to it, even though it's a fairly
reasonable - if somewhat ancient - frame. Sooner or later, y'see, the
bottom bracket - which has been stuck immovably in place for more than a
decade - will give up the ghost and then I shall probably be obliged to
replace the whole thing. Bah!

To sum up: only if it /really/ bothers you...

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Flies are the work of Stan, and should be killed by all means available.

"Tim Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

I wouldn't bother. It'll be fine, as long as the paint is intact - that may
need patching.

cheers,
clive

"Tim Hall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

Tim

It won't make a scarp of difference to how the bike rides if you leave the
dent. The problem is you will always look at the dent every time you take
out the bike,can you live with that.
My mercian was repaired only to be written off when a car turned right and
took us into the gararge with it for petrol. I was travelling in the
opposite direction to the car.

PK

PK said:

My mercian was repaired only to be written off when a car turned right and
took us into the gararge with it for petrol. I was travelling in the
opposite direction to the car.

But not for long. :-(

--
Dave...

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

I presume it's steel? The dent will not affect the way the bike rides,
or its structural integrity at all. If the paint is chipped you
probably should touch it up. But, Tim, it's a Mercian. Isn't it illegal
not to keep them pristine?

--
Dave...

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

Tim

leave it as it is. put a bit of lacquer over the dint to keep the paint
from flaking. It's not going to affect the handling. It would be
expensive to replace the tube. cheaper to get it filled and painted
over ... leave it till the rest of the frame needs a respray or bits
brazing on to it.

--
"You can't see paradise if you don't pedal" (Fowler, Chicken Run)

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

As the others have said, leave it as it is, it won't affect the bike. If
you don't like the cosmetics then apply some car body filler to the
dent, smooth off and cover with touch up paint.

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

Leave it. Get it filled next respray.

dkahn400 said:

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

I presume it's steel? The dent will not affect the way the bike rides,
or its structural integrity at all. If the paint is chipped you
probably should touch it up. But, Tim, it's a Mercian. Isn't it illegal
not to keep them pristine?

Theres some battered and gnarly looking Mercians here in the North, I
thought it was mandatory for all steel bikes to show their mettle.

dkahn400 said:

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

I presume it's steel? The dent will not affect the way the bike rides,
or its structural integrity at all. If the paint is chipped you
probably should touch it up.

Is it Magenta or pink? ;-)

MSeries said:

dkahn400 wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I presume it's steel? The dent will not affect the way the bike rides,
or its structural integrity at all. If the paint is chipped you
probably should touch it up. But, Tim, it's a Mercian. Isn't it illegal
not to keep them pristine?

Theres some battered and gnarly looking Mercians here in the North, I
thought it was mandatory for all steel bikes to show their mettle.

But not their metal.

--
Dave...

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

A similar dent hasn't caused any problems for my 531 top tube in 20 years.
Don't repair. You will grow to love your dent! ;-)

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

Tim Hall said:

Perusing my Mercian the other day (the same day the computer got
nicked off it), I noticed a small dent in the top tube, about 2mm deep
at the deepest, 10mm or so long. I think it got caused when I dropped
the bike while faffing around with my gloves and it hit a wall on the
way down.

Does the panel think it's worth repairing? Presumably it'll mean a
respray.

A similar dent hasn't caused any problems for my 531 top tube in 20 years.
Don't repair. You will grow to love your dent! ;-)

Thanks everyone for your replies. Taking a selection of points from
the responses:

Quoted message said:

What material is it made of Tim? Myabe worth finding out if it CAN be
repaired first, as opposed to is it worth it.

531C, as a proper bike should be.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

But, Tim, it's a Mercian. Isn't it illegal
not to keep them pristine?

Theres some battered and gnarly looking Mercians here in the North, I
thought it was mandatory for all steel bikes to show their mettle.

Of course it should be pristine. You must remember I'm a southern
softy. Image is everything.

Quoted message said:

Is it Magenta or pink? ;-)

Magenta, not pink. What kind of bloke do you think I am? (rhetorical)

Quoted message said:

A similar dent hasn't caused any problems for my 531 top tube in 20 years.
Don't repair. You will grow to love your dent! ;-)

I'll keep riding then. What I wanted to hear was "no, get it fixed
immediately". That way budgetary negotiations are easier.

Tim

in message <[email hidden]>, Tim Hall

(') said:

I'll keep riding then. What I wanted to hear was "no, get it fixed
immediately". That way budgetary negotiations are easier.

Why didn't you tell us? Get it fixed /immediately/ !

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

'there are no solutions, only precipitates'

Tim Hall said:

I'll keep riding then. What I wanted to hear was "no, get it fixed
immediately". That way budgetary negotiations are easier.

claim on the insurance?

BTW Chris (?) in Crawley has got 10% off ATM, and 20% off a new bike
(got some new mudguards from him)