If I work on adjusting shifting, do I need a derailleur tool?
 

One of these....
http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-DAG-...erailleur+tool
Park Tool DAG-2.2 Derailleur Hanger Alignment Gauge
Ouch... $70.


I saw a video of how they can straighten out the derailleur mechanism if it's too close to the spokes.

If you want to adjust brakes, it help if the wheel is true. It's all building on the next layer down.
If I want to adjust shifting... Would I use this tool to make sure everything is correct at a more basic level first?


My shifting works. Maybe it's not perfect. I should figure out how to post videos somehow.... I can add that my bike has tipped over a few times. Considering I've had it maybe seven years now, that's tipping over many times I would think. So someone will probably say yes I need the tool, is my guess.

(I haven't watched the Park Tool video yet. I will. It's on my list.) I've been tool hunting a bit today.

Why don't you look at the derailleur cage from the rear, to see if it is vertical when the rear wheel is vertical. If you cannot see any deviation, then the hanger probably does not need straightening and you won't be able to judge how to straighten it if it does.

If your shifting is working acceptably well, you do not strictly "need" a hanger alignment tool. If/when you do decide you need one, there are less expensive alternatives to the Park DAG-2.2, e.g.:

http://www.wigglestatic.com/product-...ols-W-1946.jpg

wiggle.com | LifeLine Derailleur Hanger Alignment Tool | Workshop Tools

With certain expensive specialty tools, used rarely, it's often more cost effective to have the LBS do it rather than buy the tool. How many times can you pay the LBS to do it before the tool pays for itself?

The alignment tool is helpful to have, because accurate hanger alignment is the foundation of good shifting. An enthusiast who often works on bikes would enjoy having the tool. A professional should certainly have one. You have one bike and it's been seven years, so you could either buy the tool or not depending upon your preference.

I guess I would say to buy the tool if you enjoy troubleshooting bicycle problems as an activity in itself. If yo ulove to work on bikes, you'll enjoy having the tools. Otherwise, you may find it easier to pay a shop to check the alignment.

As said above the tension pulley and the jockey pulley should be in alignment with the sprockets when viewed from the rear. If you can see they are not aligned a tool is the right way to straighten the hanger w/o damaging anything.

Instead of nickel & dime-ing along asking about tools for each and every task simply acquire a Park MK-257 Master Tool Kit and be done with it. ;)

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=511464

-Bandera

Dayum

Ha, funny.
I knew it would be expensive, but $6800 !!? You'd think they would include a repair stand for that price. And no shop apron?

I never had an alignment tool, but I'm pretty careful about my bikes tipping over.
I like getting my shifting "just right" and putting the bike on my repair stand makes it easy.

If your rear derailleur has scuff marks or you think the bike fell over on the drive side, I'd check it. It might not cost much at the LBS.

I bet you would never use half of that set. You could put together a decent set of tools specific to your bike for a whole lot less. Lose the chair too. I have a Park derailleur tool and I think it is very handy. Both of my bikes were out of alignment. Shifting improves greatly when everything lines up. Yes, you won't use it everyday but most of the auto tools I have don't get used much either. If you're not handy getting the derailleur alignment checked at the LBS is a good idea.

I got the Park alignment tool about 7 years into my revived cycling career. It's paid for itself. But it's a hassle to use, and most often used to correct a hanger after my calibrated eyeball says something got bent.

I have the VAR version of the tool. It is handy. Before I bought it I used a spare rear wheel to align the hanger. I removed the der. and threaded the spare wheel into the hanger. If the wheels are not parallel you can use the spare as a lever to straighten the hanger.

I use the one the LBS owns .

I got my own derailleur alignment tool after the LBS wanted $50 to do the job. I aligned all of my frames and haven't needed to use it since.

The DAG-2.2 really isn't a tool for home mechanics who are just learning their way around bike repairs. You're better off doing what you can and taking the bike to a shop if you can't make it work.