Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Vert dropouts - GRIND?

I need some advise. I am trying to make my chain work. I have sized it on the current config, but it now needs more horizontal movement as it won't fit properly. The vert dropouts are I think is what caused this. Can someone give advise? Can I grind the drive side a bit? The left side has adjustment room, but the drive side is really short. The frame is an 85-87 World Sport.

http://www.danmerk.com/life/wp-content/photography/07_14_2008/09.jpg

Bike so far. You can see the chain is really loose now. I can not remove 2 links to get the master in there as it becomes too short to put tension on. My front chainring is a 51 and rear is 16.

http://www.danmerk.com/life/wp-content/photography/07_14_2008/11.jpg
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You have a horiz dropout but it was filled in with brass. You can file out the dropout without doing any structural damage to the frame, just be careful.

Maybe a 1-tooth hop-up in your cog would help? I would try that before I started grinding on my frame.

*shrug*

Just a thought.

well you could use a chain breaker and put the chain together w/o a masterlink


that would probably help your issue out

You have a horiz dropout but it was filled in with brass. You can file out the dropout without doing any structural damage to the frame, just be careful.

+1

I do? It point upward. Filled in with brass? Did they do that at the factory? I was with my pops when he bought this from a bike shop new in 86ish.

If its brass, then I can file a little at a time.

So don't use a master link and then make the chain to size? Won't it stretch?

I would definitely look at your gear ratio. Consider going up a size in the back. 51/16 sounds pretty steep anyways.

I do? It point upward. Filled in with brass? Did they do that at the factory? I was with my pops when he bought this from a bike shop new in 86ish.

If its brass, then I can file a little at a time.

So don't use a master link and then make the chain to size? Won't it stretch?

They're horizontal. Look at the shape of them. The filled in part is horizontal or semi-horizontal. If it doesn't point straight up it's considered a horizontal dropout. You can file the whole thing out and it will be a normal dropout.

I would definitely look at your gear ratio. Consider going up a size in the back. 51/16 sounds pretty steep anyways.

gear down and grind away..

I do? It point upward. Filled in with brass? Did they do that at the factory? I was with my pops when he bought this from a bike shop new in 86ish.

If its brass, then I can file a little at a time.

So don't use a master link and then make the chain to size? Won't it stretch?
It will stretch whether you use the link or not. Just try it without the link and save yourself the trouble of grinding a frame that has nice paint and probably some sentimental value to you

just a thought, it was mentioned earlier, but try going up in cog size if you can. 16t is going to be pretty tough to get up and running. i would run at minimum at 17t, if you can find it, online somewhere probably an 18t. im running 53/18.

by getting a larger rear cog you may kill 2 birds with 1 stone. you might avoid having to do any modifications, and you would have a better gear ratio.

Ive Done This So ,many Times, Just Put A Half Link In It.

I don't care how flat your area is, your gearing is too high. I live in a completely flat area (by the ocean) and I run 49/19 and couldn't be happier. I'd rather spin and get a good cardio workout than to be drudging along really slowly with burning quads...

well you could use a chain breaker and put the chain together w/o a masterlink

Brilliantly wrong.

Brilliantly wrong.

+1

Ok seriously, those suggesting to put it together without the masterlink so it would fit have no idea what they are talking about. Go pickup a half-link for your chain size as well - that WILL help.

I had to put my 39t on because the 51t I could not even get set at all with out grinding. I may pick up a bit for my roto-zip later this weekend. My chain is good for now. Why is not having a master link bad? I had to take my master off because I could not open it back up to shorten the chain. I just made a master link using a piece that i prev cut off. Is this dangerous?

http://www.danmerk.com/life/wp-content/photography/07_14_2008/13.jpg
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