small dent in 531 frame

[cloudhead]

Hello,

I would like to know if the dent in my frame is causing any risk to the frame itself. I dented it years ago in a crash and then the bike was put in storage for a while (yeah it was one of those kinds of crashes).

It's a Reynolds 531 frame of a 1985 Trek 720 Touring bike. The dent is about at the halfway point on the top tube, as seen in the photos.

http://junklogic.com/transfer/DSCN0438.jpg

http://junklogic.com/transfer/DSCN0439.jpg

The frame is straight and I see no cracks or any other obvious fatigue to my amateur eyes, and the bike itself has a severe amount of sentimental value, so if everything checks out ok, I may get it repainted. Most of my friends tell me since it's a steel bike that I don't have to worry, but I would like to check with others with experience.

Ultimately of course, I'll verify with a frame expert, but at this point i'd like to know if my restoration project can continue on.

Thanks,

Court

 

[Froze]

Sorry about the dent, I didn't mean to hit you...

Anyway, Reynolds 531st tubing is very strong thus that little dent won't make the frame break, but it does take away from the value of an otherwise superb touring bike.

 

[cloudhead]

Thanks, and thats good news. And unless you were driving that city bus that didn't check it's blind spot, I don't think it was you that hit me

I don't care about resell value--I'll have this bike until I die if everything checks out. I'm 39 and I've had it since I was 14 so what's another 25 or 50 years...

Is this something that can be smoothed out and patched if i get the frame repainted?

 

[alienator]

Thanks, and thats good news. And unless you were driving that city bus that didn't check it's blind spot, I don't think it was you that hit me

I don't care about resell value--I'll have this bike until I die if everything checks out. I'm 39 and I've had it since I was 14 so what's another 25 or 50 years...

Is this something that can be smoothed out and patched if i get the frame repainted?

It can be filled.

 

[Froze]

Thanks, and thats good news. And unless you were driving that city bus that didn't check it's blind spot, I don't think it was you that hit me

I don't care about resell value--I'll have this bike until I die if everything checks out. I'm 39 and I've had it since I was 14 so what's another 25 or 50 years...

Is this something that can be smoothed out and patched if i get the frame repainted?

It could be smoothed out with bondo and then repaint the whole frame.