Bicycle Mechanics - 135mm hub into 132mm dropout width ?

My old aluminium frame mountain bike that I use as a commuter has a dropout width of 132mm... I'd like to put a new wheel in with a 135mm freehub so that I can get myself a 11t smallest cog. Right now I have a freewheel with a 14t cog, the smallest it will take is I believe a 13t.

Will I need to just change some spacers on the new wheel to make it fit ? Or is there more to this ?

Thanks!

Ian.

The difference is not in the freehub rather it is the axle on the hub that makes it 135mm. I don't believe you can spread the dropouts on a aluminum frame.

Respacing will work.

How much of a worrier are you?

If it was my "old commuter bike" I think that I'd just force feed it the 135mm rear wheel and go with it. I very seriously doubt that 3mm difference is going to cause you any trouble.

uhh... you're going to put a wheel 135mm wide into a frame meant for 132mm? wouldn't this stretch/flex the frame? i think you'd be putting too much stress on the stays if you do this. if it was a bigger frame/smaller axel then respacing might work, but since this is the other way around IMO it would stress the frame if you force that wheel in there.

I have done it before on an Aluminum frame. 3MM won't kill ya. I wouldn't do it if it were any more but you should be fine.

I have a old road bike that is 126mm, and I want to put a 9sp wheelset on it which are 130mm. I asked the guy at the LBS about it he said they could do it, but said I could just force the wheel in there one side at a time. Just don't tell anyone he told me haha asked afterwards if it was steel or aluminmum so I would just put the wheel in :)

You can tweek an alloy frame a little and if it measures 132(should be 130) it is allready off a bit any way. Forcing the wheel in there will work but is kind of a pain. You can put a 2x4 against the seat tube and the drop out and coax each stay out just a little, 1.5mm each side isn't much,then you would want to check dropout and hanger alignment just to be sure every thing is straight.

Hey thanks everyone for the replies and advice.

Went down to LBS with the bike today and chatted to the guys down there. They pointed out that spending in the region of a hundread dollars just to get a slightly higher gear was a bit extravagant. I'm not sure what happened after that but I'm now seriously considering buying a whole new commuter, maybe the '02 Specialized Sirrus Elite that's on sale. I'm still not sure why it's better to spend $650 than $100, all I know is that new bike was sweet to ride :D Damn, this hobby/sport/obsession sure is addictive :p

Originally posted by Mine'sAPint
...I'm not sure what happened after that but I'm now seriously considering buying a whole new commuter, maybe the '02 Specialized Sirrus Elite that's on sale. I'm still not sure why it's better to spend $650 than $100, all I know is that new bike was sweet to ride :D Damn, this hobby/sport/obsession sure is addictive :p

:D :D :D yeah, funny how the logic works out isn't it?

WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION!!! :beer:

Ihad a customer come in with an old road bike that had been up for a long time and needed about $300 of work. He decided to buy a new bike for $1000. I showed him my fixed gear and he decided to have me do it to his old bike. Over $200 to do this. Beauty tho, flat black scwinn racer with chromed stays. Cleaned up like new.