Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Filing dropouts?

I recently acquired a rear wheel that I'm having some issues with. The axle has a sort of metal sheathing on the inner part of the rod, where they, and the dropouts touch (see attached photo). I think those are called spacers, but I'm not positive. Is it possible to get those off and maybe switch them to...smaller ones? I really have no experience with this, please help! The problem appears to be the width of the dropouts, they're too small to accomodate the axle or the axle spacers. This is also odd because the axle goes in slightly, but won't budge after a certain point (see photo). I did a quick search and saw that someone had had the same problem with the same wheel, and that they had filled down the dropouts a little so the axle would fit. My question is , if I file the dropouts down, will they be too wide for other wheels? I don't want to file them down just for this wheel, and never be able to use any other again because they'd betoo wide for other axles.

Thanks!

285543

EDIT: On closer inspection, and after taking off the end cap, it looks like the "sheathing" is actually a part of the axle. This leads me to believe that the axle itself has a spacing which is too wide for my dropouts. Would I replace the axle then?

EDIT: Added another photo with the end cap off to better illustrate the issue: http://i.imgur.com/SGejq.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/SGejql.jpg)

Is that a cane creek hub?

Sure looks like it.

Sure is

Don't know much about cane creek hubs, but changing the axel seems like a better option than filling the dropouts.

Doesn't look like there is any other axle available for that hub--just one listed for 120mm: http://www.canecreek.com/resources/products/wheels/manuals/Endurance_Sprint_Track_V.pdf

What is the spacing on your frame? I would imagine that the threadless portion of the axle is supposed to sit in the fork ends, in which case you may just have to file your fork ends a little. No big deal. I can't imagine you would need to remove more than 1mm, and that would certainly not render your frame unusable with other wheels having 10mm axles

File the BOTTOM of the drop outs. Not the top. For obvious reasons. Or reasons that would be obvious after you filed the top, and that unevenly.

I found a solution, thanks for the help fellas.

What's the solution?

What's the solution?


hammer

well... I don't know if solution is the right word....

lol

hammer

Good job.

What's the solution?

http://i.imgur.com/wyB5p.jpg

Good job.

It may not be pretty, but it gets the job done.

You should be a professional.

well... I don't know if solution is the right word....

Webster's defines a solution as: an answer to a problem : explanation (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explanation); specifically : a set of values of the variables that satisfies an equation

Hammering the rod works for me, and I only had to hammer it in and out a few times for the spacing to be a few millimeters wider. Now it goes in without issue.

You should be a professional.

Don't I know it, thinking about going down to the bank as we speak to take out a loan for a shop.

Yes, do that. Those who do things right need more shops run by hacks.

Yes, do that. Those who do things right need more shops run by hacks.

Yep!

OP has solved his problem and we're done here.