Re: [CR]Death Blow -- NO, save it!

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 10:10:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Bruce Krueger" <bikebruce@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Death Blow -- NO, save it!
To: TADCPDAJD@aol.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <16d.1f647e21.2c42f81e@aol.com>



> I shifted the derailleur right into the spokes and
> did some awful damage to
> the dropout. Besides being twised in toward the
> wheel, the jaws of the dropout
> are gaping open like a Pacman in attack mode. This
> was a Campagnolo dropout ******* ok, at least it's steel, and decent (campy) at that, so if you'd like to try a much more affordable alternative, and possibly save hundreds (not to mention your paint job), try this:

get a vice grip (actually, I prefer the craftsman to the 'real thing' because of the release mechanism) and set it so that it grabs the lower 'jaw' (pac man analogy) and some point above the top of the upper jaw with the tool handles a bit shy of closed and 'set' the tool -- the last 20 degrees of clamping have a compound clamping geometry (somewhat like a VAR pin press or Park chain tool) that will allow you to slowly, carefully, and very possibly successfully re-establish a parallel orientation of the lower jaw with the upper, even if there was a previous disparity of as much as 45 degrees. try to keep the inner 'face' of the jaw (mixing metaphors, I know..) square re the axle, and you will likely have to do some alignment with a crescent wrench (padded or not) to this end, and then use a dropout alignment tool when you're done, and then (and *only* then), with a hub or at least hub-substitute axle set clamped into the dropouts, re-align the dropout with the appropriate tool (it's possible to do this with the Rder. and a allen key, but it's quicker and more accurate with the tool). if need be, there's a helicoil for the der. hanger, but there's a good chance you won't need it.

now, is there any guarantee this'll work? no, but I've done it successfully on scores of mangled frames over the last twenty-odd years and it's worked on probably 95+ percent (notable exceptions generally involved can-o'-snails, and I don't even bother trying to wright Al frames anymore).

will the frame be sufficiently strong?? yes, in all likelihood, it should retain 70-90+ percent of its original strength (depends on the severity of the bend and quality/type of steel).

I've used the second-person voice in the above description, but if you're disinclined to try it and can't find someone who's game, competent, and optimistic, let me know..

bruce krueger bikeworks urbana, IL

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