Mountain Biking - did i bend my derailure hanger?

hey guys i was giving my bike a once over and i was shifting thru the gears while in my garage and when i went into first the rear mech pulled the chain compleately off the cassete! so i was looking at my rear mech and i noticed that it indeed went past the largest cog on my cassete so i was like ok no biggie the limit screw just backed out! and so i tightend that thing as far as it would go and the rear mech still pulling the chain off the the off the cassete. so i took a good look at it and notice that the rear mech is kinda at an angle in comparasin to the cassete. and its now further over the cassete than it used to be. so i looked at the rear hanger and and i dident realy see anything at first glance. so i took it off the bike and layed it on a flat surface. and notice that it now has a slight bend in it. (sry i forgot to mention that this is off a 2004 hardrock ss) and so i dont think that bend is supposed to be there but i took some photos and attached them you can see a small space between the leval surface and the bottom of the hanger, so if you guys can tell me if thats supposed to be there or not. but im hoping that i damaged the hanger and not the mech itself. im gona take it into the shop and see if they can help me, if it is the mech its no biggie cuz its only an 07 sx-5 so i can get a new one. but still.

THANKS GUYS
SEAN SCOTT

alright sory guys i guess i kinda jumped the gun i thought i was loading up pix but when i went to mannage attachments i loaded up the pix but i dont see were they are. so if you guys can tell me were and how to upload them then we will be off. lol geez i feel like such a noob!

THANKS GUYS
Sean Scott

I like going to photobucket.com, and uploading them there.

I think you can buy this:
http://www.rushextremesports.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b1s279p761

Bent hangers can sometimes be fixed in shops. I would take it in and ask.

From your description, it does sound like the bent angle is to blame. A small angle bend will be exaggerated at greater distances (like at the lower pulley).

This guy makes a living (or partial living) selling only hangars: http://www.derailleurhanger.com/

Learn how to use paragraphs and capitals. I'm amazed that anyone could make it through that first post!

It's very difficult to tell if you have a slight bend in either the hanger or the derailleur cage. I keep spare hangers in my on-bike tool kit as between the wife and me, we've taken out a few and had to walk out.

If in doubt and I have shifting problems, I'll switch it out to check it.

Al

hey guys i was giving my bike a once over and i was shifting thru the gears while in my garage and when i went into first the rear mech pulled the chain compleately off the cassete! so i was looking at my rear mech and i noticed that it indeed went past the largest cog on my cassete so i was like ok no biggie the limit screw just backed out! and so i tightend that thing as far as it would go and the rear mech still pulling the chain off the the off the cassete. so i took a good look at it and notice that the rear mech is kinda at an angle in comparasin to the cassete. and its now further over the cassete than it used to be. so i looked at the rear hanger and and i dident realy see anything at first glance. so i took it off the bike and layed it on a flat surface. and notice that it now has a slight bend in it. (sry i forgot to mention that this is off a 2004 hardrock ss) and so i dont think that bend is supposed to be there but i took some photos and attached them you can see a small space between the leval surface and the bottom of the hanger, so if you guys can tell me if thats supposed to be there or not. but im hoping that i damaged the hanger and not the mech itself. im gona take it into the shop and see if they can help me, if it is the mech its no biggie cuz its only an 07 sx-5 so i can get a new one. but still.

THANKS GUYS
SEAN SCOTT

Before Raiyn gets to you, I would like to point out that there are very good reasons to Capitalize the first letter of the first work of every sentence. Two spaces between each sentence is also helpful. Moving onto another paragraph when you've completed an idea also considerably helps the reader. Otherwise the whole thing just looks like a string of words.

It's very difficult to tell if you have a slight bend in either the hanger or the derailleur cage. I keep spare hangers in my on-bike tool kit as between the wife and me, we've taken out a few and had to walk out.

If in doubt and I have shifting problems, I'll switch it out to check it.

Al


Good advice. I've been riding for 7+ years, and a few months ago, a ride buddy crashed and wiped out his hangar. He had to walk/limp out = no fun, especially with cleats. On the way home, I stopped by the LBS for a spare hangar to keep in my pack.

hey guys i was giving my bike a once over and i was shifting thru the gears while in my garage and when i went into first the rear mech pulled the chain compleately off the cassete! so i was looking at my rear mech and i noticed that it indeed went past the largest cog on my cassete so i was like ok no biggie the limit screw just backed out! and so i tightend that thing as far as it would go and the rear mech still pulling the chain off the the off the cassete. so i took a good look at it and notice that the rear mech is kinda at an angle in comparasin to the cassete. and its now further over the cassete than it used to be. so i looked at the rear hanger and and i dident realy see anything at first glance. so i took it off the bike and layed it on a flat surface. and notice that it now has a slight bend in it. (sry i forgot to mention that this is off a 2004 hardrock ss) and so i dont think that bend is supposed to be there but i took some photos and attached them you can see a small space between the leval surface and the bottom of the hanger, so if you guys can tell me if thats supposed to be there or not. but im hoping that i damaged the hanger and not the mech itself. im gona take it into the shop and see if they can help me, if it is the mech its no biggie cuz its only an 07 sx-5 so i can get a new one. but still.

THANKS GUYS
SEAN SCOTT
If it is your hanger that is bent you can straighten it roughly & get it pretty close by clamping the wheel in the frame & gently pulling/pushing on the hanger with a big 'okie fit'em all'(Crescent wrench) or properly called an 'adjustable open end wrench'.