Fixing a dropout - too closed, or too open
12-15-18 | 09:03 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Bike Butcher of Portland
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 12,493
Likes: 8,061
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: It's complicated.
Fixing a dropout - too closed, or too open
Since we deal with vintage, steel frames in our hobby/addiction, sometimes we run into problems that are easily fixable, if only we knew how. Here I show how I use an 8" adjustable wrench to open or close the hanger.
First, use a caliper to measure the opening from front to rear. On Campy compatible dropouts it should be 10mm.
If it's narrow at the opening, you need to open it up. Just stick the wrench in and tweak. Start with very low force and work your way up, measuring in between.
That's pretty easy, obviously you can use other tools to do this.
But what if the dropout is too "open"? Measure the same way, if it's more than 10mm at the opening, you can close it up with that same 8" adjutable wrench.
Every 8" adjustable wrench I've ever seen has a "hole" at the end of the lever arm so you can hang the wrench on a pegboard. Hook that on the derailleur hanger stop, and you can use the wrench as a lever.
You've got a ton of leverage, be gentle on your tweak.
Are there other tools that do the same thing? I'm sure there are, but an 8" adjustable wrench is about as common a tool as one can find. Oddly, I've found that a 6" or 10" wrench "hole" isn't quite the right size.
First, use a caliper to measure the opening from front to rear. On Campy compatible dropouts it should be 10mm.
If it's narrow at the opening, you need to open it up. Just stick the wrench in and tweak. Start with very low force and work your way up, measuring in between.
That's pretty easy, obviously you can use other tools to do this.
But what if the dropout is too "open"? Measure the same way, if it's more than 10mm at the opening, you can close it up with that same 8" adjutable wrench.
Every 8" adjustable wrench I've ever seen has a "hole" at the end of the lever arm so you can hang the wrench on a pegboard. Hook that on the derailleur hanger stop, and you can use the wrench as a lever.
You've got a ton of leverage, be gentle on your tweak.
Are there other tools that do the same thing? I'm sure there are, but an 8" adjustable wrench is about as common a tool as one can find. Oddly, I've found that a 6" or 10" wrench "hole" isn't quite the right size.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
12-15-18 | 10:17 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,064
Likes: 4,956
From: Point Reyes Station, California
Bikes: Indeed!
Nice technique! And a readily-available tool. Thanks.
My tool for dropouts that have been squeezed shut is the business end of a large cold chisel used as a wedge and slowly tapped into the slot.
Brent
My tool for dropouts that have been squeezed shut is the business end of a large cold chisel used as a wedge and slowly tapped into the slot.
Brent
12-15-18 | 10:24 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 9,591
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Its all about leverage.
Last edited by merziac; 12-15-18 at 10:37 PM.
12-16-18 | 11:47 AM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,955
Likes: 705
From: Port Angeles, WA
Bikes: A green one, "Ragleigh," or something.
Huh. Now I'm trying to remember how I did it when I had a too-wide-open dropout the last time I sent a derailleur into the spokes.
Probably involved a large rock and loud cusswords.
Probably involved a large rock and loud cusswords.
__________________
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
12-16-18 | 12:32 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 9,591
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
The BFH, ultimate in precision. 
12-16-18 | 12:33 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 9,591
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
12-16-18 | 12:39 PM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 9,591
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Since we deal with vintage, steel frames in our hobby/addiction, sometimes we run into problems that are easily fixable, if only we knew how. Here I show how I use an 8" adjustable wrench to open or close the hanger.
First, use a caliper to measure the opening from front to rear. On Campy compatible dropouts it should be 10mm.
If it's narrow at the opening, you need to open it up. Just stick the wrench in and tweak. Start with very low force and work your way up, measuring in between.
That's pretty easy, obviously you can use other tools to do this.
But what if the dropout is too "open"? Measure the same way, if it's more than 10mm at the opening, you can close it up with that same 8" adjutable wrench.
Every 8" adjustable wrench I've ever seen has a "hole" at the end of the lever arm so you can hang the wrench on a pegboard. Hook that on the derailleur hanger stop, and you can use the wrench as a lever.
You've got a ton of leverage, be gentle on your tweak.
Are there other tools that do the same thing? I'm sure there are, but an 8" adjustable wrench is about as common a tool as one can find. Oddly, I've found that a 6" or 10" wrench "hole" isn't quite the right size.
First, use a caliper to measure the opening from front to rear. On Campy compatible dropouts it should be 10mm.
If it's narrow at the opening, you need to open it up. Just stick the wrench in and tweak. Start with very low force and work your way up, measuring in between.
That's pretty easy, obviously you can use other tools to do this.
But what if the dropout is too "open"? Measure the same way, if it's more than 10mm at the opening, you can close it up with that same 8" adjutable wrench.
Every 8" adjustable wrench I've ever seen has a "hole" at the end of the lever arm so you can hang the wrench on a pegboard. Hook that on the derailleur hanger stop, and you can use the wrench as a lever.
You've got a ton of leverage, be gentle on your tweak.
Are there other tools that do the same thing? I'm sure there are, but an 8" adjustable wrench is about as common a tool as one can find. Oddly, I've found that a 6" or 10" wrench "hole" isn't quite the right size.
12-16-18 | 04:44 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Bike Butcher of Portland
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 12,493
Likes: 8,061
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: It's complicated.
Been doing it this way for years, never had an issue with it.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
12-16-18 | 04:52 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 249
From: Midwest
Bikes: See the signature....
Remember to check the edge of the threaded hole for the dropout adjuster screws. Cracks love to start at that thin edge from the stress.
__________________
My bikes: '81 Trek 957, '83 Trek 720, '84 Trek 770, '85 Centurion Cinelli
My bikes: '81 Trek 957, '83 Trek 720, '84 Trek 770, '85 Centurion Cinelli
12-16-18 | 05:59 PM
#13
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Better technique: get someone to braze in vertical dropouts.
12-16-18 | 06:31 PM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 9,591
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
12-16-18 | 07:15 PM
#15
Thread Starter
Bike Butcher of Portland
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 12,493
Likes: 8,061
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: It's complicated.
You end up with more scrap for future projects that way.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
12-16-18 | 07:59 PM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 9,591
From: PDX
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
