azza_333

So I just had delivered a new frame, it has been quite beaten up in the box, the rear derailleur hanger completely bent ect.

My main concern is the drop outs I think they could of been bent as well, I pulled a ruler out, they should be 135mm, but measure only 131mm.
Would this be due to bending/damage in transit, or are rear dropouts just not millimetre accurate when they are manufactured?

headasunder

Doesn’t sound good you don’t mention what the frame is made out of, but regardless I would be contacting the supplier, was it shipped with a plastic axle/spacer between the drop outs that is pretty standard practise.

CliffordK

What is the bike?

I think the standard for road frames is still 130/131mm.
Cross frames can be either 130, 131, or 135mm.
And MTB frames can be 135mm, or 142mm, or???

What does it look like when you drop a 131mm spaced 11spd rear wheel in the frame?

Have you double checked the actual design spec? Talked to the manufacture?

azza_333

Its a 2017 Kona Sutra LTD frameset, made out of Cromoly
And its definitely meant to be 135mm
It did come with a plastic space in the drop outs but it was smashed/broken.

azza_333

And would it be safe to run 135mm hubs on a heavy touring bike even though the dropouts only measure 131mm?

keg61

ouch!!

Facanh

There has been tons of discussion about running 130mm hubs in 126mm wide droupouts in steel frames. Most people say it's okay, I did it too without any problems.

However, if I were you I would simply return the frame if it got damaged in shipping. It's not just about that 4mm, the droupouts or the rear of the frame might not be even straight anymore. You might not even feel it but it's a brand new frame... It would bug me a lot.

dsbrantjr

+1 If the frame took a big enough hit to smash the dropout spacer and bend the derailleur hanger who knows what other damage may have been done.


This seems like a common occurrence. Here's a link to a Dutch company who printed a flat-screen TV picture on their bike boxes and reduced shipping damage 70-80%: To reduce shipping damages, a Dutch bike company printed a television on their boxes - The Verge

dr_lha

Yeah, it's been damaged in transit. No way those spacers get smashed without the frame being compressed. Contact the company you bought it off.

dabac

They may not be millimeter accurate, but a supposedly 135 mm frame measuring 131 mm would have me contacting the supplier/seller immediately.

dabac

Safe for what?


Never heard of anyone associating eventual frame damage with a forcibly spread frame.
Others think it causes axle/bearing problems due to the poor dropout alignment it tends to bring with it.

HillRider

The broken derailleur hanger is sufficient reason to make a claim against the supplier or shipper no matter what the dropout spacing measures. I wouldn't trust either the spacing or alignment.

dabac

142 mm is a sneaky description. Best I can tell it's what the industry calls a 135 mm spaced frame that takes a thru-axle.

TimothyH

I would not stand for what the OP describes and would immediately seek compensation or a new product.

Take pictures of everything.... smashed boxes and broken packing material, damaged frame, even the documentation. Without pictures you have nothing.

File a claim with the shipping company. All major shippers have claim forms on their website.

Contact the seller so they can put pressure on the shipping company. The seller may offer you compensation or a new frame.

If the frame is valuable enough and you are not getting satisfaction then it may help to have the frame assessed by a local bike shop. Get something in writing stating the damage and what it will cost to fix or replace.


-Tim-

CliffordK

If it has been smashed, there is nothing that guarantees that the frame is in alignment.

Talk to the vendor/shipper.

It is possible for you to reset spacing. But, I'd probably get the supplier to pay to get it fixed. Local frame builder? Send it back for repairs?

maddog34

it got bent during shipping... RETURN IT, get another one... let the shipper deal with the shipping company.

fietsbob

Plastic dropout spread-spacer fall out? Or was it always to be a 130 width +1 makes Road wheel go in with less resistance.

jsdavis

There were some Soma Doublecross frames manufactured at 132.5mm to permit use of 130mm and 135mm rear hubs. Some had both canti posts as well as disc brake mounts. Later production changed to strictly 135mm since 130mm disc rear hub is basically dead.