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Seatpost Binder for 1973 TdF 
PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2015 10:46 pm Reply with quote
mountaindave
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
Posts: 75
Location: Flathead Valley, MT
Turns out standard seatpost binders don't quite work with old Gitanes. Anybody have a spare kicking around or a direction you can point me to procure one?

Thanks!
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Re: Seatpost Binder for 1973 TdF 
PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2015 12:45 am Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
mountaindave wrote:
Turns out standard seatpost binders don't quite work with old Gitanes. Anybody have a spare kicking around or a direction you can point me to procure one?

Thanks!


MD,

They used a standard Gitane seatpost clamp bolt. Most French Bike Boom models used similar bolts.

My 1971 TdF





By now most of the seat post bolts have been switched out to socket head bolts.




Unless your a stickler correctness, you can find these bolts all over the place for $10.00 - $12.00.

PM me if you can't find one of the newer style bolts. They use a short length bolt than other brands.

_________________
Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 6:45 am Reply with quote
mountaindave
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
Posts: 75
Location: Flathead Valley, MT
Thanks Chas. I have what I believe is the proper length socket head binder, but the socket head (the nut part) is too large to fit the post hole. I guess I could turn it down a little. I'll have to investigate. I'd rather not drill out the post hole and I'd rather not go back to a traditional nut/bolt.
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Socket head seatpost clamp bolts 
PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 10:25 pm Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
Dave,

The standard size is 8mm diameter with M6x1 metric threads.

I've seen a few 10mm diameter socket head seatpost clamp bolts advertised but never in use.

There's currently one listed on eBay:





You may have a 10mm bolt???


This is a timely subject. Yesterday (Saturday) I was out on my celeste non Gitane Italian bike. I'd just done some work on it and stopped to adjust the seat height.



When I tightened the bolt, it felt like it was slipping. The next bump I hit, the saddle turned to the side...

When I removed the Campy bolt to check it out I discovered that it had split. Shocked



Fortunately I was about a half block from a LBS and they had a replacement seatpost clamp bolt for $8.00! Very Happy




Back in the mid 70s there were only a few companies that made socket head seatpost clamp bolts: Campy, TA, Zeus were the most common ones.

For a year or so around 1975-76, all of the Campy bolts that we got in were breaking during tightening. They were heat treated to hard and were brittle.

I used to carry a spare Campy bolt, just in case! Rolling Eyes

_________________
Chas.
SF Bay Area, CA USA
==============
1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
1974 TdF
1984 TdF x 2 Bikes
1970 SC
1971 SC
1972 SC
1984 SC
1984 Team Pro
1985 Professional
1990s Team Replica
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 5:46 am Reply with quote
mountaindave
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
Posts: 75
Location: Flathead Valley, MT
With a little "encouragement" I got the bolt in. I believe the powder coating was a little thick. Now I probably need to carefully remove it from the face of the bottom bracket, possibly the same to the headset (already installed).

Looks great BTW. Smile
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Seatpost Binder for 1973 TdF 
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