Bent chainstay
 

After struggling and cursing at the BB cup to come it finally came loose. But inspecting the frame furthur I noticed the drive side chain stay is bent inward. Roughly 3 inches above the dropout is bent. Is there a quick fix for this. Luckily I dont see any cracks at any joints

Much thanks.

http://i.imgur.com/9tWsQuq.jpg

"Quick fix": bend it back? *Slowly* though. I've spread an old steel frame using the 2x4 and a chair method described by Sheldon Brown - maybe something similar could be done to put this back to where it should be?

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

I had the same issue with my Valley Runner. I watched this:



It worked out well.

I would try to work on the chainstay as it's looking fine. However that seat stay is a bit bent. But even this isn't a big deal. The bend is rather slight and likely has no structural impact (bad pun). In fact bending it back only compounds and structural aspect, however slight. But is cosmetics is what you're after then go ahead and do straighten it with no worries except as to how you do it. Park made a tool just for this purpose, don't remember it's number. basically a beam with three hooks/claws along it's length. The two at the ends could slide along the beam to be positioned at each end of the stay's bend. Then the center one would pull the bend back as that claw was on a threaded shaft. This tool was a bit unwieldy but worked quite well with some focus and care. As the straightening force was a screw produced one the chance for a booboo was less then using wood blocks and a big hammer.

I've done enough of each type of stay straightening before and much prefer the Park tool. But a skilled guy can do wonders with crude tools where an inexperienced guy can ruin a bike with expensive tools. Andy

Use caution, go slow, common sense is good, it's easy to fix.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75634e2b4d.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a825a61b82.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bdd9b36d44.jpg

turned into this

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0a110ae755.jpg

Thanks everyone for input. I did see that YouTube video earlier today.

i do have clamps so ill most likely try peugeot mongrels method.

Ill update with progress

The Park Seat and Chainstay Straightener was the SS-1 and is discontinued. It's a great tool. My LBS has one. Straightened a bent chainstay in short order.

Wow, the whole technique in three photos. And it's very easy to understand. Good post!

The bend I see in your picture seems to be the seat stay, not the chain stay, yes? In any case, check alignment, so that you don't take a misaligned frame and further derange it when straightening the stay.

Make sure you use something to spread the force when you try to bend the stay. So, for example, take a little block of 2x2 (say 1.5 inches long. Drill a hole just about the same size as the stay. Saw the wood block so that you end up with two blocks, each with a a groove that fits the stay. Make two more of these (you need three). Use these to apply force was suggested above.

After straightening make sure that you ensure alignment, spacing, and dropout parallelism. Good luck!

FYI:
Park FF-2 Frame and Fork Straightener

Few days ago i was talking to my LBS owner and he needed a few bulbs and ballasts replaced in his shop. We made a deal that is do it for him and he fixes my frame seat stay. Id say it's an even trade since he did a great job on straightening it.

Before
http://i.imgur.com/9tWsQuq.jpg

After
http://i.imgur.com/8QYRzqw.jpg

And it wasn't that shop owner bumping into the frame in his dark shop that bent the stay was it? :) Andy

Lol. No such thing.

I bring him donuts not alcohol