Expert opinions please

[ayceejay]

Have look at the photos and tell me how the head tube came to be dented

 

[AndyRM]

It probably got bumped quite hard by something else.

 

[Cubist]

Professor Plum, in the Conservatory, with the Lead Piping.

 

[ayceejay]

Please - this is very serious and as funny as that Cluedo joke is I would really appreciate some help.

 

[ianrauk]

Well it's either been whacked with a hammer or dropped on/against something.

 

[Nibor]

be a real whack to dent that what is the frame made out of?

 

[Nibor]

Looks like it is just the headset cup so it is replaceable could be over zealous fitting that has caused it I always use a bit of drift if fitting headset cups with brute force.

 

[ayceejay]

The frame is aluminum. What do you mean by over zealous fitting Nibor? Would dropping it do that?

 

[raleighnut]

The frame is aluminum. What do you mean by over zealous fitting Nibor? Would dropping it do that?

It does look like it's been dropped to cause that damage.
Basically does the black bit come out of the frame, if so you need a new one.

 

[ayceejay]

It's all black, what appears to be blue is the reflection, I don;t think the cup is removable.

 

[S-Express]

There is no removable cup - it's an integrated headset, or it appears to be. If it has been dropped, then it's been dropped before being painted, else there would be superficial paint damage. (The paint damage on top is not where the impact came from). If the bearing fits in, then it's good to build up. If it doesn't, then it should go back.

 

[Cubist]

In a semi integrated headset it should take no force at all, the bearing should just slip in. The damage is on the outside, and looks square edge, so I guess it's been dropped.

 

[raleighnut]

There is no removable cup - it's an integrated headset, or it appears to be. If it has been dropped, then it's been dropped before being painted, else there would be superficial paint damage. (The paint damage on top is not where the impact came from). If the bearing fits in, then it's good to build up. If it doesn't, then it should go back.

If it's been dropped whilst wrapped (bubble wrap or similar) it would protect the paint but not the aluminium.
Don't try knocking the dent out but if you know someone who is good with a dremel or better still a 2 stroke engine tuner who can 'port' cylinders (and more importantly has the tool to do it) then you could gently grind that section back to round but be very careful not to grind anywhere else apart from where the 'ding' is.

This is a porting tool and the guys that use them correctly can work to 0.25 of a millimetre.

 

[fossyant]

Best bet is to dremmel the flattened section so the bearing sits in OK. This is provided it's not a new frame.

Most likely dropped or pranged some how !

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I wouldn't ride that. The material will work harden if you try to bend it back and if you dremmel it, it'll reduce the wall thickness and the paint looks like it's cracked indicating a fair old whack.

Tbh the force needed to do kinda damage may have even caused further damage else where on the frame, like twisting if the force came from behind. For example, being pushed about in the back of a van by other stuff.