LexRides

willard · training wheels Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 42

So I decided to repaint one of my bike frames and instead of masking off the head badge, I drilled out the rivets. At the time, I assumed that there would be enough clearance between the headtube and the steerer tube to fit a standard pop rivet.

Now that I have the bike assembled again, the gap looks way too tight for any rivet to fit in.

I was thinking about ordering some ultra short rivets (with a 3/64 throat) but I'm even worried about those fitting. I have also thought about tapping the holes and using tiny hex bolts (but then someone can steal it).

Anybody have any ideas that don't involve epoxy?

sailorjames · cutter Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 329

I was gonna say epoxy + spoke heads to fill in the holes where the rivets were, that's what I did on my bike. Then I read the last line.

I still stand by the epoxy, i'd think there's some kind of compound that will break down epoxy in the future if needed.

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

some of you may have seen the sweet Lexrides "skully" headbadge that i have on my polo bike... Henry made it for me out of that same metal they use for teeth fillings.

Anyway, I got some of the 3M outdoor double-sided tape and used that to attach the headbadge, and I can tell you, that sucker is a BITCH to try to take off (I've had that headbadge on two bikes so far).

I got it at Chevy Chase Hardware, and it comes in a roll, with red backing. The tape itself is grey, and is kind of thick and foamy-feeling (maybe 1/32" thick or so).

That would be my recommendation over epoxy, because epoxy would be a little too permanent for me, should I ever want to take it off again.
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brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

Ben · hipster Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 92 Location: Lexington

Just red locktite that shit!

sailorjames · cutter Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 329

willard · training wheels Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 42

I'm only parnoid because I actually know a guy who has a collection of head badges (He only steals them off scrapped bikes).

It is a really pretty head badge... trust me.

At the same time, I probably shouldn't worry about anyone whipping out a 2.5 mm allen wrench to steal a headbadge on the street. So I will most likely bolt it on. [/img]

elzie5000 · cutter Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1177

People protect quill stems and seat post clamps by supergluing ball bearings into allen heads all the time. You could do the same on a much much smaller scale.

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

if attaching it with screws is the route you want to go, take a look at the tiny screws in some other bike brands' badges... like Schwinn's for example.

Those screws are TINY. They're a lot like the little screws that go in eyeglasses to hold the earpieces on. They're super short (only a few mm at best), and they have really fine threading on them. I'd say it's a safe bet they don't protrude into the actual head tube at all.

You can definitely find those screws... in fact, I have a few here from past bike projects. But I'm not sure where you'd find a tap that small and finely threaded.
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willard · training wheels Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 42

Luckily I had to get a set of really small taps for a commision that I had a while back. I might make a trip out to Fastenall and see what they have in the way of tiny hardware.

If that doesn't work out I have a set of the Schwinn headbadge bolts from an old tall bike project that I never got around to.