Update: I broke my Saracen -- But now it's fixed! :)

[JohnH]

I've got a 7 speed cassette on a 9 speed freehub, thanks to a spacer ring.

It all works well until you're hurtling down a bank, the chain drops off first gear and into the gap between the cassette & the wheel, hyper-extending the mech and bending it into the spokes....

I'm not too bothered about replacing the rear mech, or even upgrading to a 9 speed setup -- but I am pretty pi**ed off about bending the mech hangar on the dropout...

Martin at City Cycles in Chichester says that he *might* be able to bend it back into usable shape -- but if not, it looks like I've got an unexpected single-speed project on my hands.

 

[Andy B]

That should bend back, if done properly.

 

[rocky ridge]

ooops
i agree if theres no cracks and its done carefully it should bend back

 

[Tc]

Ive bent back worse than that on a few bikes & not had any problems!

Tc

 

[JohnH]

Thanks fellas -- your optimism is cheering me up!

Martin (who runs my LBS) said that if he heated it up and used the right tool, it could be repaired. He's a very capable guy, so I think it's going to work out okay...

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Ouch.

Hope he manages to straighten it.

 

[tintin40]

X fingers Please picture once repaired

 

[Spudly]

That will repair fine as you have a frame made from a proper material (steel) heated up properly that will easily return to its correct shape, ive straightened a mates mech hanger on a kona frame (iirc) back in the day, at the trailside, with an adjustable spanner, shortened his chain to make it a single speed and we replaced the links and then the mech once home and the bike was good to go again

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Heat? You don't need heat! Just thread an old solid rear axle into the drop out, tighten a bolt on the inside to spread the load, and bend it back with a large pair of Molegrips; job done...

 

[legrandefromage]

A large vice or a big hammer and a strong bench will have that back in service