frame not what i thought it was

[Rhythm Thief]

A while back i bought a frame off ebay after looking for ages for a 531 steel 56cm frame. I was a little uncertain of it as it was a very obscure make and had no sticker but the vendor was insistent. I've just got it back after getting it powder coated - powder coater told me it was definitely not 531, in fact its not even a British steel at all and very poor quality. Moral is, make sure you know what you are getting on ebay. I've blown 130 on a frame i now don't want and the whole project is now forfeit.

There's your mistake. You've basically bought something off some bloke on ebay who - intentionally or not - has told you it's something else. You had your doubts, but you still bought it. You need either to buy another frame, not making the same mistake again, or learn to be happy with the one you've bought.

 

[Alembicbassman]

I have a Reynolds Double Butted Seamless Tubeset with seatpost 26.8mm. It was custom drawn for Claud Butler by Reynolds and hence does not have a Reynolds number, just a Reynolds CR-Mo sticker.

 

[Zoiders]

Well you've ignored the link to Chris Juden's post on the CTC forum giving an example of non 27.2 531, maybe you'll also ignore this one from Sheldon Brown;


http://www.sheldonbr...post-sizes.html

I haven't ignored anything and Sheldon - if you check the full chart - does not tag many of the frames with a Reynolds Number at all.

Looking for exceptions is one thing but a drawn 531 tube is 9 times out of 10 going to be 27.2.

 

[asterix]

We need pictures. Show the BB area and the threads of the BB shell, the lugs and so on, the fork crown. The rear triangle..

Weigh the frame, see how springy it is.

Neil Oliver ('Touring Bikes') gives 531c tubes (thinner) as having a seat pillar of 27.4, other brass brazed 531, incl ST, as 27.2, altho' he says a silver brazed (less usual) 531 frame should be 27.4 for a good fit.

 

[Baggy]

Is it this one that someone posted about on yacf? (scroll to the bottom of the page). I remember it as I'd just bought a vintage frame, too. Even if it isn't 531, it looks like a nice frame. Build it up and see how it rides.

I think you've left it too long to raise a dispute via Ebay or paypal, but if you really hate it am sure you could sell it on.

 

[Jezston]

Hi yes it is that one. Forgot i posted there so cheers for finding it.

I'm off work today so can pop in to the lbs so can get more pics and measurements. Let me know what is needed to establish what we can and ill get it.

It could be the guy at the powdercoaters was wrong and it is 531 after all, or it could be something else thats virtually as good, or at least good enough to keep me happy!

 

[Hilldodger]

Reynolds made 531 in different gauges - the 532c was a thiner gauge to the 531st. Frame builders often used both in frames.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

IMHO it is highly unlikely for a builder to put Campag dropouts on a frame made of lead pipes. Also nothing about the lug work tells me it is not a frame of reasonable quality. If you can get the accurate weight of the frame and fork separately without bits on, that should tell us whether it is made from lightweight tubes or not.

 

[pubrunner]

paypal almost entirely sides with the buyers so return it, Paypal will reverse the payment

I think, from what I've read over and over again

ask the seller to prove it's what he says it is

If it has been power-coated, the seller could say that it is not being returned in the 'original' condition.

 

[pubrunner]

IMHO it is highly unlikely for a builder to put Campag dropouts on a frame made of lead pipes. Also nothing about the lug work tells me it is not a frame of reasonable quality. If you can get the accurate weight of the frame and fork separately without bits on, that should tell us whether it is made from lightweight tubes or not.

+1

It does look a nice frame and if the size is right for you, I think that it would be a nice bike to ride.

 

[e-rider]

I thought 531 was always 27.2

Some custom frames have a mix of tubes but are badged as 531, so perhaps this explains the small number of 531 frames that don't have 27.2 seat posts

 

[e-rider]

just looked at the pics and it looks like a decent enough steel (531-type) frame. It may or may not be 531 but the build quality looks good. Does it really matter?

 

[fossyant]

Looks a decent frame TBH. Quality lugs and dropouts (if they've got Campag engraved on them).

It could be 531 or other quality steel frame - most likely a good chro-mo.

Wouldn't get too wound up, so long as it's light. Many 531 frames were just main tubes and still carried the badge, and 531 came in many flavours.

 

[Zoiders]

It looks like a quality frame and possibly not English so it could well be columbus tubing of some description, it's too well put together and lugged for a gas piper.

 

[Jezston]

Oops weird double posting there. I'm going to go up shortly and see what I can get using some bathroom scales!