Hi all -- could use some thoughts and experience on cold setting the rear dropouts on an old Trek 850 mountain bike frame from 135 mm to 120 mm. The idea I'm after is to build a wheel with a Sturmey Archer 8-speed IGH and use the bike for commuting, but the spacing on the Sturmey Archer hub is 120 mm.

Is it possible to use the "threaded rod and bolt/washer" approach to compress the stays to get the spacing down to 120 mm? Just wondering if anyone has done this with a chromoly frame and if it has an impact on strength.

Graham