Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Safe to file dropouts?

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jpmartineau
06-23-08, 11:46 AM
Hi hipsters (someone in the mech forum told me to "Ask the hipsters in the FG/SS forum"),

Hi, I'm in the process of converting my hardtail RockHopper into a fixie.

It has horizontal dropouts, but as you can see, they're not exactly like they ideally. Is it safe to file these dropouts to make them into regular horizontal dropouts or would that be extremely dangerous and stupid?

74530

Cynikal
06-23-08, 12:05 PM
File away. Specialized probably just filled the dropouts with brass anyway.
*new*guy
06-23-08, 12:06 PM
those are interesting. go for it.

jpmartineau
06-23-08, 12:22 PM
Thanks!
merlin55
06-23-08, 04:26 PM
Safe is a dangerous word. How safe is good enough for you?

I would not do it, if that was my bike....but hey, I'm a mechanical engineer....what do I know about fatigue failure, stress concentration factors, and broken frames/bones
jpmartineau
06-23-08, 04:50 PM
Safe is a dangerous word. How safe is good enough for you?

I would not do it, if that was my bike....but hey, I'm a mechanical engineer....what do I know about fatigue failure, stress concentration factors, and broken frames/bones

Safe as in "engineers think it's safe when the lawyers aren't in the room".
fetch
06-23-08, 05:13 PM
haha hipsters 1, crappy dude in the mech forum 0!
idiq
06-23-08, 05:29 PM
ENO hub and forget about it.
zerosiah
06-24-08, 01:12 AM
file away.
Aeroplane
06-24-08, 06:43 AM
file it.
bbattle
06-24-08, 06:49 AM
File away. Specialized probably just filled the dropouts with brass anyway.

+1
chase.
06-24-08, 11:17 AM
weird. go for it; just don't file past the center of the reinforced area.
jdms mvp
06-24-08, 11:24 AM
post up the username of the guy in the mech forum so we can harass him
icknayvon
06-24-08, 11:57 AM
Place in the folder marked "D"
pax139
06-24-08, 09:58 PM
You might want to check out the eccentric ENO hubs. This will be MUCH safer than filing away at your dropouts.
The LT
06-24-08, 10:14 PM
file those