Arrowana

I have a Sanwa Classic road bike that has a bent dropout, it's bent outward where the wheel sat. Here's the best pic I could get of it:


What would be the best way to try and fix this?

norwood

Never heard of a Sanwa but it appears to be a stamped steel dropout. Those are usually pretty malleable. I'd clamp an adjustable wrench (Cresent) down on it and bring it back into line. I've done quite a few in this manner. Sometimes it works well to use two wrenches working opposite to straighten things out.

Arrowana

Thanks, I'll try that out.

Anyone here know how to take apart the guide pulley on a Suntour Mountech rear derailer?

Panthers007

Are you referring to the upper-wheel on the Mountech? These had a great tendency to burst apart on the bike - causing damage and injury to many riders. And this key event showed to the cycling-world that the mighty Suntour - Maeda Industries -was not infallible. Soon Suntour, do to this and many other ripples back then, was no more. Shimano rose to it's current place of No. 1.

My advice is to remove the Mountech on your bike and put it in a display area. It's part of cycling history. But it's unsafe to use. That top wheel is very difficult to do anything about. This includes replacing it with something less prone to blowing apart. I have a Mountech too. Loved it. Now it resides in my museum.

wrk101

Sanwa is just another one of the decent Taiwan bike brands from the 1980s. I have one in the workshop right now.

Arrowana

Ok, guess I'll have to get a replacement for that. Sure hope the bike will be worth the money I've put into it...

I tried the Crescent wrench last night, and got it somewhat straightened out, I'll have to try again today.

johnknappcc

Do you have access to a DAG-2, I would make sure your alignment is good after that. If not, you can have a mechanic do it for about 15 bucks (takes about 2 minutes). I'll be getting one myself next month, great tool, and a great price.

Arrowana

Would I really need that? The dropout the derailer attaches to is fine.

johnknappcc

Where one side is bad, usually is the other . . . but I could be wrong, if it shifts fine maybe not, but I would assume the dropout on the drive side would be bent also.

DannoXYZ 

You'll want to flatten the dropout so that at least all of it's on the same plane. Several crescent wrenches and some channel-lock pliers can do the job so you can hold one part stationary and bend the others.

Then use the dropout alignment tools to make sure both sides are parallel with each other:



If you don't make sure both sides are in perfect alignment, you'll risk bent and broken axles and prematurely-worn hub-bearings.