Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Too much spread?

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Too much spread?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-19-13 | 09:06 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Montara, CA
Too much spread?

Will my Reynolds 531 frame withstand spreading the rear dropouts from 110mm to 120mm without a great risk of dimpling the stays? Anyone have experience with this?
sisddwg is offline  
Reply
Old 06-19-13 | 09:47 PM
  #2  
dddd's Avatar
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,815
Likes: 1,790
From: Northern California

Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.

I've spread a few 120mm frames out to 130mm, so as long as you have controlled leverage and can bend each side separately while measuring each side's 5mm movement, this is quite do-able.

This frame is a track bike?

Also, to help the stay's resist coming out of alignment while riding, it's best to bend each stay 6mm, then back 1mm. You'll see that it takes quite minimal force to bend back that 1mm, which is merely a stress-relieving process that helps the widened frame hold it's "adjustments" better later under riding stress.
dddd is offline  
Reply
Old 06-19-13 | 10:29 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 21,816
Likes: 3,721
A reynolds frame with 110 as standard might be pretty old, so the chain stays are probably pretty long. Yes, it can be done.
repechage is offline  
Reply
Old 06-19-13 | 10:58 PM
  #4  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Montara, CA
Originally Posted by dddd
I've spread a few 120mm frames out to 130mm, so as long as you have controlled leverage and can bend each side separately while measuring each side's 5mm movement, this is quite do-able.

This frame is a track bike?

Also, to help the stay's resist coming out of alignment while riding, it's best to bend each stay 6mm, then back 1mm. You'll see that it takes quite minimal force to bend back that 1mm, which is merely a stress-relieving process that helps the widened frame hold it's "adjustments" better later under riding stress.
Yes, a 1951 R. O. Harrison track. Thanks for your good tip about stress-relieving.
sisddwg is offline  
Reply
Old 06-19-13 | 11:00 PM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Montara, CA
Originally Posted by repechage
A reynolds frame with 110 as standard might be pretty old, so the chain stays are probably pretty long. Yes, it can be done.
The frame is a 62 year-old track frame and the chain stays are well over 16 inches.
sisddwg is offline  
Reply
Old 06-20-13 | 06:07 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,212
Likes: 3,122
+1. I've done changes of that amount to Reynolds 531 without issue. The only way you'll damage the stay is by getting too aggressive, usually on the first try. The best approach for a beginniner is to ease into things, gradually increasing your force until you get a permanent deflection.
T-Mar is offline  
Reply
Old 06-21-13 | 03:59 PM
  #7  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Montara, CA
Originally Posted by T-Mar
+1. I've done changes of that amount to Reynolds 531 without issue. The only way you'll damage the stay is by getting too aggressive, usually on the first try. The best approach for a beginniner is to ease into things, gradually increasing your force until you get a permanent deflection.
Oh, T-Mar are you ever right on the first-try-aggressiveness!
sisddwg is offline  
Reply
Old 06-21-13 | 04:15 PM
  #8  
Velognome's Avatar
Get off my lawn!
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,035
Likes: 118
From: The Garden State

Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman

10cm? All day long! It's wise to clamp the Bridge so you don't put stress on the joint. I spread this from 110 to 120 without any issue.
Velognome is offline  
Reply
Old 06-23-13 | 10:51 AM
  #9  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Montara, CA
Originally Posted by Velognome
10cm? All day long! It's wise to clamp the Bridge so you don't put stress on the joint. I spread this from 110 to 120 without any issue.
I presume that you mean both the chain stay bridge and the brake bridge. What method of clamping did you use? That's a gorgeous bike. BTW, I also have a Maclean Featherweight, 1957, KD403.
sisddwg is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wigglrpop
Framebuilders
18
05-30-17 05:47 PM
sisddwg
Framebuilders
2
06-19-13 10:53 PM
drb2003
Bicycle Mechanics
27
05-11-12 12:16 PM
wroomwroomoops
Mountain Biking
2
07-22-11 02:30 PM
tFUnK
Framebuilders
5
06-16-10 12:28 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.