Originally Posted by
BikePower
. Do you think cold setting can increase the width by the amounts I need or is that extreme?
...you did not ask me, but for that frame, it might work out. It's relatively mild steel. And it's not like you're losing much if one of the stay braces let's go at the brazing (or were they welded ?)
But yes, that's a lot of adjustment, and the more you open up the spacing, the risk increases for damage. I wouldn't fret about it in this case. If that's the wheel that needs to fit, then fit it in there.
You might end up with the chainstays so far out that the crank arms interfere, though. And I'm not sure how much experience you have with doing this sort of thing.