Explosif and expletives

[jonthefish]

You could take it to a frame builder and have it cold set (bent back into shape) for not much dough, or just re-dish the wheel.
The frame builder will probably get the alignment back to better than new!

Okay. I'm probably being all OCD on this but surely redishing and cold setting are treating entirely different causes of the same symptom?

Does the string test (see first post) indicate a bent rear triangle?
If it is bent, won't redishing simply centre the wheel between dropouts that are pointing it in a different direction to the rest of the frame? "Crab, crab, crab" as LGF suggests.

Dram is calling loud.

 

[suburbanreuben]

A frame builder will be able to get the frame up on the jig and see precisely what the problem is.
The string test is a crude method of seeing if the frame is straight. It won't tell you if it's twisted or where the frame is out of alignment.
It is VERY common for frames to be out of whack by a mm or two- even top end hand built jobs. I have only ever had two that were precisely level, both built by the same man in a shed in California.
It is surprising how many had head tubes fitted off centre; the worst was 4mm out.
It could be that your frame was built funny or has suffered a collision of some sort.
The frame builder will be able to tell you and sort it!
For example, Dave Yates will check a frame alignment FOC, and charge £38 to straighten it.
Other builders are available.

 

[Mr Panda]

How far are you from Nevis Cycles? They'll often have a look at such issues and tell you what's wrong for no charge. As has been said before, I've had similar problems but used a different (differently dished) wheel and immediately resolved

 

[jonthefish]

How far are you from Nevis Cycles? They'll often have a look at such issues and tell you what's wrong for no charge. As has been said before, I've had similar problems but used a different (differently dished) wheel and immediately resolved

Only 28 miles from there Mr Panda. Nevis Cycles will indeed be getting a visit soon. Good guys and really helpful and friendly in my experience.
I'm keen to understand the issue. Happy to work around it or bodge, but only when I know what is going on.
So, Highland Park poured the 2x4 has been set aside (for now).

 

[jonthefish]

Wee update.
I went into Nevis Cycles today and (as ever) they were totally helpful. Measured the frame properly and as I thought, the rear triangle is off. Options were discussed: re-dish wheel or try to align the rear. Moving the rear was considered better option so long as careful. They gave me an axle to fit between the dropouts to keep things moving together. No charge. Top guys.

So. The Sheldon Brown 2x4 approach. 2x4 inserted as required with frame protection. Push on the 2x4. Boing. Man these frames are springy! No change in alignment. Push harder. Boing. Same. Really shove on the brute. Boing. Same result. Hmmmm. Stand gently on the 2x4. Bouncy. Same result. Stand not so gently etc etc etc.

Ended up removing the axle and doing one side at a time. This required bouncing up and down with full weight on the 2x4 :shock: . Terrifying. But this brutal treatment repeated about 6 times shifted the rear triangle a few mm in the required direction and the wheel now sits centrally. Result.

Makes me thing you must have to have one hell of a crash to bend one of these things. Also that re-dishing might have been less alarming :roll: .
The resilience and spring in an ancient Explosif is utterly astonishing and the welding is obviously top notch !

 

[jimo746]

nicely done

at least steel is relatively easy to work with, and it shows just how strong the materials and frame design really are.

 

[al-onestare]

The resilience and spring in an ancient Explosif is utterly astonishing and the welding is obviously top notch !

Repeat after me: steel is real!

 

[dirttorpedo]

You could take it to a frame builder and have it cold set (bent back into shape) for not much dough, or just re-dish the wheel.
The frame builder will probably get the alignment back to better than new!

This is what I'd do.

 

[jonthefish]

You could take it to a frame builder and have it cold set (bent back into shape) for not much dough, or just re-dish the wheel.
The frame builder will probably get the alignment back to better than new!

This is what I'd do.

Aye well. Fair enough. But I live in a remote area and frame plus forks were only £80. A budget build. As we all know, steel is malleable so seemed worth a go. A frame builder can "bend it back into shape". Or we can try to sus out what's going on with help from LBS and have a wee go at bending it back ourselves. Can always take it to a frame builder it all goes horribly wrong :facepalm: Lucky for me it seems to have worked

And I still think re-dishing the wheel would result in it being out of alignment with the main axis of the frame if rear triangle is offset. Surely a line drawn between the dropouts would not be 90 degrees to frame? May be wrong. My name ain't Euclid.