cb73

Hello bikeforums.net,



i was wondering if my old Raleigh road bike's rear derailleur frame is fixable. my local bike shop snapped it off when they were attempting to straighten it out. Attached are some pictures, message for more!

Thanks,
Connor

long john

Brazing maybe. Silver maybe. Or replace with new hanger might be the best idea.

cb73

would a frame saver derailleur hanger work in this instance?

frame saver rear derailleur hanger - YouTube

oldskoolwrench

The Frame Saver hanger works with a Vertical Dropout; you have a horizontal dropout. In this instance, you're looking at taking your frame to a framebuilder to have the entire RH dropout removed and a new one re-brazed in its place.

Also bear in mind that a portion of both the RH seat and chain stays will probably need to be repainted, due to the heat required for the Frame repair.

cb73

thanks for the help! its been difficult finding a professional willing to work on it...if anyone knows a frame builder in New Jersey that can fix it please contact me!

Pars 

That should be able to be welded or brazed. Looks like a Campy dropout? Maybe post on classic and vintage for a framebuilder in the area. The LBS should really at least help pay for this. Those aren't that easy to break. I know Spectrum Cycles is in the area (PA I believe). Tom Kellogg there would easily be able to handle this.

SkyDog75

The whole bottom half of your dropout broke off, not just the derailleur hanger.

The 'Frame Saver' replacement hanger would work if your frame had a replaceable derailleur hanger that broke off and the frame's threads were fouled, preventing you from installing a new one. But you broke more than just the hanger and your frame doesn't have a replaceable hanger.

The "proper" repair would be to remove and replace the broken dropout. Maybe reattaching the broken piece via welding or brazing would work, but I'll defer advice on that subject to people with more experience than me.

Personally, I wouldn't fault the shop much, except they probably should've warned you this could happen when attempting to bend a dropout back into shape.

Sixty Fiver

Old Raleighs with Campagnolo dropouts tend to be pretty nice bicycles... yours is going to need a new drop out if a single can be sourced, or a new pair if that is not possible.

Dropouts with set screws tend to be much more prone to breakage as the drilling weakens them, straightening them often leads to breakage.

Bianchigirll 

The bike shop should be looking for someone to replace the whole dropout. They are paying to repair this right?

I can't think of any builders in NJ but I am sure there is at least one.

Spectrum over near Allentown PA may be able to repair this, or try Bishop in Baltimore area.

The bike shop is paying to repair this right? If they were realigning the hanger I suspect the 'mechanic' was tryimg to move it without a hub in the dropout.

JohnDThompson 

Welding would be the preferred solution, IMO, as replacement 1010 dropouts aren't that easy to come by these days. And depending on what the shop was trying to fix, breakage isn't that unheard of. E.g. if the slot got pulled open because the derailleur landed in the spokes, cracks could have started in the adjuster hole and ultimately failed with the attempted straightening. That situation wouldn't be the shop's fault, as the cracks would have started with the original incident that bent the dropout in the first place.

Pars 

^ True dat. I guess I assumed a dropout with no prior stress.

Bicycle Classics has 1010/A and 1010/B dropouts available, but only in full sets of 4. They say that the 1010 dropouts with eyelets such as yours are occasionally available. I've dealt with them before and have always been pleased with their service. Spectrum or another framebuilder would know where to get these, or might even still have some laying around.