Bicycle Mechanics - Screws on the ends of horiz dropouts-- can I put a rack on them?

wanting to put a rack on my 80s univega competitizione but don't have the holes on the dropouts where they usually are to attach the rack to. I DO have two small pins/screws in the ENDS of the dropouts or maybe just above them, (the back not the sides), and I was wondering what these are for and could I maybe bend the rack so that the holes are facing the back of the bike, and use those screws to attach a rack? or are they for some other purpose? Thanks!

Those screws are there to adjust the angle and position of the rear wheel, and are too flimsy to hold up much more than the rack itself.

Ask for some rack mounting frame clips at your local bike shop, and they'll set you up with a handful of rubber-coated hardware for about ten bucks.

pictures ?

if its what i think, those screws are the adjusters for your chain tugs to adjust chain tension and wheel allignment. If this is the case - no, you cannot mount a rack to these as they are not designed to take vertical load.

yeah, they look pretty flimsy. thanks for the info. rack mounting frame clips.

Why not just get a seat post rack?

I thought about that but the ones I have seen are way heavier than the racks, and the angle seems wierd... like it's pointed slightly up instead of straight across. not sure why.

short answer: No.

you can go to most hardware stores and ask for p clips. they should come in metal, coated metal or nylon.

http://www.moto-racing.co.uk/ccp51/media/images/product_category/HEL%20P%20Clip.jpg

These are dropout adjust screws. Very fine pitch, small diameter. Not meant to receive any load. Putting load on these is asking for trouble.

Would P-clips support the weight of the rack and loaded panniers? Maybe not what the OP is asking but I would like to know?

Would P-clips support the weight of the rack and loaded panniers? Maybe not what the OP is asking but I would like to know?

I use P-clips (obtained from the electrical section of Home Despot) to mount a rack on a Varsity. I put about 50 pounds on that rack with no problems.

The other solution is to find a rack that mounts to the brake bridge. Like the one pictured below. No, it's not for sale.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3j6z2/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/01.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3j6z2/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/02.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3j6z2/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/03.jpg

The other solution is to find a rack that mounts to the brake bridge. Like the one pictured below. No, it's not for sale.


But he'll still need the P-clips to attach at the bottom of the rack... sounds like the problem, really, is that there are no eyelets at the dropout, so he'll have to attach P-clips to the seatstays just above the dropouts.

But he'll still need the P-clips to attach at the bottom of the rack... sounds like the problem, really, is that there are no eyelets at the dropout, so he'll have to attach P-clips to the seatstays just above the dropouts.

Sorry, I didn't read the thread from the beginning. In that case, what he really needs to do is find someone who knows how to weld.

Sorry, I didn't read the thread from the beginning. In that case, what he really needs to do is find someone who knows how to weld.

Sure, preferably new dropouts and a new paint job. But for cheap and dirty, P-clamps will probably do him just fine, provided he uses the rubberized kind so they don't slip easily.

rubberized p-clamps it is! I'll give it a try. thank yew!

I use P-clips (obtained from the electrical section of Home Despot) to mount a rack on a Varsity. I put about 50 pounds on that rack with no problems.

what size do I get? or how do I measure what size to get?

what size do I get? or how do I measure what size to get?

First I need to clear something up. I didn't read your original post carefully. I now understand that your bike has no eyelets at the drops for mounting a rack/fenders.

My Varsity has eyelets at the drops so the rack bolts up to the drops. I had to use the p-clips to mount the rack to the the seat stays on the top end.

The good news is that you can still mount a rack using p-clips on the seat stays, the bad news is that 50 pounds may be too much weight for such a set-up.

Determine where the rack will mount on the seat stay. Get an adjustable wrench and tighten it so that both jaws touch the seat stay where the p-clip will go. The distance between the jaws is the diameter of the seat stay. Measure the distance between the jaws with a ruler or tape measure. Take this measure to Home Depot or Lowe's and and find the p-clip which is close to this measure. The clip should snug up tightly when you torque everything down.

The clips are cheap. A small package will only cost you $3-$4.

thanks, I went to Home Depot with the bike and got some 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch clamps. I attached the rack to the frame with the clips, top and bottom, no problem... I think you are right, though, this won't take heavy loads. still, I'm pretty happy with the results, and it's more than I had before.

In the drawers in the hardware section of Lowes / Home Depot (the same place where you'd find metric bolts), you can get P-clamps with much more rubber on them. Because of the way the rubber deforms around the stays, you *might* be able to attach them tighter and take more weight with other kinds of P-clamps. (This is just a thought I had today - no idea if it's true, but it seems likely to me!)

In the drawers in the hardware section of Lowes / Home Depot (the same place where you'd find metric bolts), you can get P-clamps with much more rubber on them. Because of the way the rubber deforms around the stays, you *might* be able to attach them tighter and take more weight with other kinds of P-clamps. (This is just a thought I had today - no idea if it's true, but it seems likely to me!)

those are similar to the kind I got! lots of rubber on them. seems pretty sturdy. but I will check those out also in case these ones fail or something.