LeMond frame filled with water!

Shayne Wissler may have said:

Several days ago I was out riding and it started to rain really hard. When I got home I dried my
bike off. Yesterday I went for a ride, and when I leaned my bike over, rusty water dripped out from
inside the frame! I noticed that there were small holes in the frame, near the axel on the chain
and seat stays.

Now this is probably not news to you tech gurus, but when I saw those holes I was wondering why on
earth they'd be there, and if there, why they aren't plugged up at the factory?

They are present to ensure that during the welding and brazing of the frame, the internal pressure
is relieved.

Quoted message said:

How can I make sure the water is all out?

Pull the seatpost, flip the bike over, drain anything that comes out that way, flip and rock it to
put each of the holes in the tubes at a low point until they finish draining, and then park it in
the sun for a few hours. No sun? Cold weather? Park it over a ventilation register or some such.
Truly obsessed with getting it dry inside and, and possessed of the time to do such things? Pop the
fork and BB out, dry things, and reassemble. (Take the opportunity to grease the steerer bearings if
you want to.)

Quoted message said:

Is there something I should plug the holes up with so this doesn't happen again?

In my opinion, no. Water will probably still get in somewhere. It's better to have a way for it
to get out.

Some people like to make sure there's a hole drilled in the bottom of the BB tube to allow water to
drain. Opinions vary both on the necessity and the advisability of that.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

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

Quoted message said:

In my opinion, no. Water will probably still get in somewhere. It's better to have a way for it to
get out.

Some people like to make sure there's a hole drilled in the bottom of the BB tube to allow water
to drain. Opinions vary both on the necessity and the advisability of that.

In ancient times, half the BB shell was cut out for show! Colnago comes to mind....however, in this
day and age of alu BB shells, a small hole, say
1/8" or less, is more adviseable. I'm certain it will have little effect on the overall
durability of your frame. And it means you don't have to worry about a pint of water sloshing
around in your BB.

Cheers,

Scott..

Shayne Wissler said:

Now this is probably not news to you tech gurus, but when I saw those holes I was wondering why on
earth they'd be there, and if there, why they aren't plugged up at the factory?

They are there to allow hot air to escape during welding/brazing. They are not where your
water got in.

The water gets in typically at the seatpost. It gets a lot of spray from the rear wheel, and the
water coating the post just slides down inside. Using a lot of grease on the post stops this, and
also prevents the post from welding itself to the frame.

Quoted message said:

How can I make sure the water is all out? Is there something I should plug the holes up with so
this doesn't happen again?

Plugging up the vent holes will not matter.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics, I can _`\(,_ | assure you that mine
are all greater. -- A. Einstein (_)/ (_) |

Werehatrack said:

Quoted message said:

How can I make sure the water is all out?

Pull the seatpost, flip the bike over, drain anything that comes out that way, flip and rock it to
put each of the holes in the tubes at a low point until they finish draining, and then park it in
the sun for a few hours. No sun? Cold weather? Park it over a ventilation register or some such.
Truly obsessed with getting it dry inside and, and possessed of the time to do such things? Pop
the fork and BB out, dry things, and reassemble. (Take the opportunity to grease the steerer
bearings if you want to.)

Thanks--I didn't realize all the tubes were open to each other at the joints. I tried a hair-dryer
blowing down the seat tube and air came out of those holes. Seems like a good way to dry it.

Since I've gotten dirty water in my BB, does that mean it should be taken apart and re-greased? Is
this a ritual one must do after every wet ride?

Shayne Wissler

Robin Hubert said:

That's what Jobst says but doesn't jibe with my experience. I can't imagine having the damn
interface more clogged up with grease than I've already managed. I also consulted my frame builder
about this and was informed that there's really nothing you can do to stop it (ok, a rear fender
helps alot).

And that does not coincide with my experience. We've had a lot of rain here this Spring/Summer, and
a well-greased post has kept the water out of my frame.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and also prevents the post from welding itself to the frame.

I figure grease also promotes seizing due to emulsification of grease/water due to the movement of
the post inside the frame.

I don't think so, and I am certainly not willing to test such a theory.

Quoted message said:

It works that way on quill stems, right? That's why the post needs to be periodically removed,
cleaned, and regreased.

No, it's because the grease washes out, eventually.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or _`\(,_ | that we are to
stand by the president right or wrong, is not (_)/ (_) | only unpatriotic and servile, but is
morally treasonable to the American public. --Theodore Roosevelt

Quoted message said:

Since I've gotten dirty water in my BB, does that mean it should be taken apart and re-greased? Is
this a ritual one must do after every wet ride?

your bike probably has a sealed cartridge BB. repacking is not a practical option as they are not
readily designed for this procedure. alfred

if not sealed, then the answer is yes, repack it.
1/8 hole is probably small as grit coming down the seat tube will likely clump and clog the hole.
i'd use a hole between 3/16 and 1/4, say 7/32". make sure your cable guide doesn't cover it up as
well as it is at the true bottom as possible.

"Alfred Klek" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Since I've gotten dirty water in my BB, does that mean it should be

taken

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

apart and re-greased? Is this a ritual one must do after every wet ride?

your bike probably has a sealed cartridge BB. repacking is not a

practical

Quoted message said:

option as they are not readily designed for this procedure. alfred

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Robin Hubert said:

That's what Jobst says but doesn't jibe with my experience. I can't imagine having the damn
interface more clogged up with grease than I've already managed. I also consulted my frame
builder about this and was informed that there's really nothing you can do to stop it (ok, a
rear fender helps alot).

And that does not coincide with my experience. We've had a lot of rain here this Spring/Summer,
and a well-greased post has kept the water out of my frame.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and also prevents the post from welding itself to the frame.

I figure grease also promotes seizing due to emulsification of grease/water due to the movement
of the post inside the frame.

I don't think so, and I am certainly not willing to test such a theory.

Quoted message said:

It works that way on quill stems, right? That's why the post needs to be periodically removed,
cleaned, and regreased.

No, it's because the grease washes out, eventually.

Washes *where*, pray tell?

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

Werehatrack <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Shayne Wissler may have said:

Several days ago I was out riding and it started to rain really hard. When I got home I dried my
bike off. Yesterday I went for a ride, and when I leaned my bike over, rusty water dripped out
from inside the frame! I noticed that there were small holes in the frame, near the axel on the
chain and seat stays.

Now this is probably not news to you tech gurus, but when I saw those holes I was wondering why
on earth they'd be there, and if there, why they aren't plugged up at the factory?

They are present to ensure that during the welding and brazing of the frame, the internal pressure
is relieved.

Quoted message said:

How can I make sure the water is all out?

Pull the seatpost, flip the bike over, drain anything that comes out that way, flip and rock it to
put each of the holes in the tubes at a low point until they finish draining, and then park it in
the sun for a few hours. No sun? Cold weather? Park it over a ventilation register or some such.
Truly obsessed with getting it dry inside and, and possessed of the time to do such things? Pop
the fork and BB out, dry things, and reassemble. (Take the opportunity to grease the steerer
bearings if you want to.)

Quoted message said:

Is there something I should plug the holes up with so this doesn't happen again?

In my opinion, no. Water will probably still get in somewhere. It's better to have a way for it to
get out.

Some people like to make sure there's a hole drilled in the bottom of the BB tube to allow water
to drain. Opinions vary both on the necessity and the advisability of that.

If you are totally paranoid about it, spend a coupla bucks, get some FrameSaver and treat the inside
of the frame. I have heard it recommended as frequently as an annual ritual and as infrequently as
once in the life of a frame. I would adhere to the suggestions on the can.

Other posts regarding this issue suggest that the frame will fail before rust will eat it up. Maybe
ignore it, and if you can't, FrameSaver.

App

App

"S. Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

In my opinion, no. Water will probably still get in somewhere. It's better to have a way for it
to get out.

Some people like to make sure there's a hole drilled in the bottom of the BB tube to allow water
to drain. Opinions vary both on the necessity and the advisability of that.

In ancient times, half the BB shell was cut out for show! Colnago comes

to

Quoted message said:

mind....however, in this day and age of alu BB shells, a small hole, say
1/8" or less, is more adviseable. I'm certain it will have little effect

on

Quoted message said:

the overall durability of your frame. And it means you don't have to

worry

Quoted message said:

about a pint of water sloshing around in your BB.

Cheers,

Scott..

Ancient???? Oh man, I didn't know I was that old. I do admit that I like being able to spin my Super
over in the workstand and seeing that cutout. Need I mention the beauty of lugs as well?

C