Cold setting a frame. Re-align dropout faces?
 

You be the judge. I cold set this frame to 120mm and properly aligned the dropout faces. I then spread it to 126mm and re-checked the alignment.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/r...7/DSC02748.jpg

That looks good!......."enuf"!....

Chombi
84 Peugeot PSV

Looks good to me. You didn't realign the dropouts to be parallel after you coldset it to 126?

What am I looking at?

those are 'cups' on the set of tools you use to align the dropouts and square them to the frame aswell http://www.bianchiusa.com/09-bicycle...gle-speed.html

scooper I think this is the post 126 setting pic

miami did you check the hanger alignment?

I think so too. I'm just wondering if he's showing that after coldsetting to 126 he didn't have to adjust the dropouts, or the picture is after he adjusted the dropouts to be parallel.

Oh, tools.

Another realm of cycling I know pretty much nought about.

I need those tools. Next time I have an extra $80 in the cycling budget...

No, I only checked it with the Park tools and then re-coldset it back to 120mm.

It looks to me like the dropouts are 1/2 degree out of parallel and that's exactly what you'd expect when going from 120mm to 126mm.

While the difference appears insignificant, when you clamp down the skewers or nuts, the non-parallel dropout faces will introduce a bending stress in the axle. If you're using a standard freewheel, that's going to make the axle much more susceptible to bending when you hit a bump, pothole, etc.

Once you've bent an axle, have you ever noticed how the subsequent axles seem more prone to bending? That's because the the original bent axle misaligned the dropouts and most mechanics do not realign the dropouts after a bent axle. Big mistake, if you don't want a recurrance.

Once you've gotten the tools in place, you may as well give it the extra pull to make it perfect. It looks pretty good and would be just fine I suppose but why not get it just right?
+1 on the derailler hanger alignment. While you have the tools in place, get that right too, especially if you're working with indexed shifters.

Same with me. Why take a chance, just get it right. You've got to be close.

It was just a test to bring a visual component to whats debated in C&V on a regular basis. I subsequently re-adjusted and re-aligned to 120mm.