I have a Flying Scot Frame with a damaged down tube is it possible to get reynolds531 tubing to replace tube ?

Question

I take it the tube is brazed or silver soldered into top and bottom brackets? would it need jigged during replacement process?

Answer 1

Um, yes, it isn't all that tough to replace a steel tube IF you know how to braze and how to machine steel tube. If the frame is welded, throw it away and buy a new one... it isn't worth the grief.

Reynolds 531 is readily available from several places... just do a search.

Here is a QUICK explanation of how a downtube replacement is done...

1) Take exact measurements of the tube to be replaced and prepare the new one;

2) Cut out the center of the tube leaving about 3" at the BB and headtube;

3) Heat the BB and remove the remaining piece of tube and clean the BB of brazing residue;

4) Heat the  headtube (HT)/downtube (DT) lug, remove the remaining piece of DT and clean the lug of brazing residue;

5) Separate the top tube (TT) from the lug, clean the lug;

6) Insert the new DT into the BB then insert the top tube and DT into the head lugs;

7) Lay the frame so that the TT and DT lay FLAT on a table. Be careful not to lay the frame on a lug or the BB. Tack all the joints;

8) Build up some heat on the BB and complete the joint. Continue with the TT and the DT. Make sure to fill the lugs completely and not to overheat the tube;

9) Do a final alignment check, sandblast the frame, and repaint.

Answer 2

yes, you can repair steele frames.  the problem is cost.  to have a tube replaced and the frame propperly aligned is expensive.  as a general rule buying a new one is cheaper.  one of my last acts as a pro2 rider was to wreck.  i had a custom fuji built of tange tubes, and i bent the downtube in the wreck.  i never came back after that. by the time i healed no team remembered or signed me.  the bike was mine, and i looked into having it repaired as there are some very good frame shops here.  the problem was price.  i could replace the frame cheaper than repairing and painting it.