Hi Tim and whoever:
I just thought I would drop you a note as a customer of yours with a Eddy Merckx 753 frameset asked me about cold setting the rear end of his frame.
You guys apparently advised him that a shop could carry that operation out...I am not sure if those Eddy's have actual 753 stays (chain & seat) but if they do, it is strictly against Reynolds recommendations that the frame be cold set. This thin walled heat treated stuff cannot be dealt with like "normal" steel alloys and will likely lead to premature failure. As you may know, 753 initially had a bad reputation until more accurate and precise building technologies became in wide use. Certainly the Merckx workshop is laudable in it's level of engineering acumen and that is a contributing factor to the successful use of 753.
But, the bike frames, once built properly of 753, should not be cold set.
I told the customer that he could likely find a shop that would do it, (Not cycles de ORO though) and that he might "get away with it" i.e., not have an immediate failure, but I still advised against it.
Thanks
Dale Brown
cycles de ORO, Inc.
Greensboro, NC