I didn't work on it at all this afternoon. Family and videogames took over. But I got a couple hours in tonight. Spent too long beating on it.
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Once I made the decision to just cut it off it went quick. Whoa what's this solid plug?
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Then I spent too long beating on this, but I'm glad I did.
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There's a nub of the solid plug and the ROUND WEDGE BOLT.
I never did get the last three inches of seatpost out. But I did cut a new tube from a stout mtb fork. I also trimmed a fat eighth off the fork butt. Now I need to weld the nub back on. Then weld the new piece on. Woohoo.
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Maybe tomorrow... I'm still thinking about the solid part inside the bottom of the fork. I'm guessing it's the bracket mount that holds the pin and the springs. (Did I mention I have those parts?) I probably don't need to weld the nub back on but that little piece left on the "butt" end of the fork isn't much of a backer. I usually sleeve these kind of splices but the solid piece nixed that...
GC.