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Dropout and rear derailleur hanger worries

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Dropout and rear derailleur hanger worries

Old 05-15-15, 05:58 PM
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Dropout and rear derailleur hanger worries

I have a Pedal Force carbon-fiber bike frame that might have either a derailleur hanger issue or a dropout issue. The bike has never been damaged from a accident. However the rear hanger is not well sufficiently rigid and impossible to align. It's easy to flex the rear derailleur and when checked with a Park tool, the alignment is more than 10 degrees in error.

Needless to say, the rear shifting is terrible most of the time.

Is there a professional repair that aligns and stiffens the dropout/hanger assembly?
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Old 05-15-15, 06:07 PM
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No. You can align it with the park tool, but why bother. Replace the hanger. If the dropout is soft, replace the frame. If it's new it's probably free.
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Old 05-15-15, 07:34 PM
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There's no way to stiffen a hanger. It's not like you can use spray-on starch or anything.

Hanger stiffness is a function of the raw material (aluminum?) and the cross section at the thinnest point. New or old, that won't change.

Unless you see visible stress cracks, it's relatively safe to assume that your hanger is as stiff as the design called for, and a new one won't change anything.

So, without seeing it, I'll lay odds that either the frame member it's bolted to is compromised (not likely) or the hanger is either loose, or not seated well in the pocket. The last is the most common. You can't get good rigidity unless the mating areas match, ie both dead flat.

I don't know your skill level, or whether there's a warranty involved, but I fix these by either filing away the offending high spot, or by using body filler between the hanger and frame, tightening well to push out excess, and establish the fit, then letting it cure. Clean the frame for good adhesion, and wipe a film of grease onto the hanger so it releases properly. When it's fully cured, remove, clean and reset it.

Once a rigid mount is established, the hanger can be straightened if necessary.

You may want to have a skilled mechanic do this for you, or if the bike is newish, return to the dealer, so whatever work is done is within warranty policy.
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Old 05-15-15, 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Barrettscv
. . . either a derailleur hanger issue or a dropout issue. . .
Which is it? You need some more characterization of the problem.

Is the hanger bolt tight?

Is the hanger loose relative to the dropout? Is the dropout loose relative to the frame? Either may be repairable by several methods.

If there is only flex, then what flexes?
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Old 05-16-15, 08:57 AM
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Here is an ideal picture of the hanger installed on the frame (manufacturers photo): Pedal Force super-light carbon bicycle

I removed the derailleur, it was snug.

I checked the two hex head bolts that fasten the hanger to the frame. To my surprise, I could tighten them about a 1/4 turn. I checked the hanger, dropouts and framestays for damage or misalignment. Everything looked good and like new. The hanger felt rigid and secure.

I reinstalled the derailleur and properly tightened it down.

Edit;

I performed a test ride; no real improvement.

Last edited by Barrettscv; 05-16-15 at 11:37 AM.
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Old 05-16-15, 11:53 AM
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The hanger was loose, and you tightened it, which was good. But you still never verified whether it was straight.

The easiest way to do this at home is to shift to a gear that has the RD cage closest to vertical. Place a yardstick or broom handle vertical against the right side of the rear wheel. Have a friend or use something to hold it tight to the wheel, and squat behind the bike and eyeball to see if the cage is parallel. If not, that may be the issue. Otherwise, please come back and post a better description of what the problem is.
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Old 05-16-15, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Barrettscv
Is there a professional repair that aligns and stiffens the dropout/hanger assembly?
Your asking about a replaceable hanger!, these are desogned to be replaced when bent/damaged (just because it hasn't been in crash doesn't mean you haven't bent in by accident somewhere), just do that, job done.

See Wheels Manufacturing for the hanger you need Wheels Mfg Derailleur Hangers
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Old 05-17-15, 10:39 AM
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Yesterday I removed the derailleur, checked the derailleur, hanger, dropouts and framestays for damage.

Everything looked damage free and in excellent condition. The major find, during the inspection were that both fasteners, that hold the hanger to the dropout, needed tightening.

I test rode the bike and noticed continued issues.

Today I readjusted the indexing and the low limit screw. The adjustment, in combination with the tightening of the hanger fasteners, did the trick.

Last edited by Barrettscv; 05-17-15 at 02:59 PM.
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Old 05-17-15, 11:39 AM
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Try using blue lock - tike on the hanger 's bolts ,that should keep them from losing up in the future .
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