I've managed to bend the gear hanger on my inbred.
As it's a steel frame can I just bend it back straight somehow or do I need to get someone who knows what they're doing to do it properly...?
Any advice would be gratefully received!
Cheers!
sL
You can bend steel back without damaging it but it's difficult to get it properly aligned just by eye and it's harder to bend than an aluminium hanger (which will be weakened by bending - but will still work until replaced).
Best way is with an alignment tool which gives you the leverage and also a gauge to accurately re-align your mech.
Your LBS can do it in 5 mins or you can buy this Cyclus tool from Wiggle for £19.79 and have it handy for future use.
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Get the cyclus tool..... good purchase if you have a steel frame !!
Good purchase if you have an alu frame as well, even with replacement dropout. I always find the shifting works better with a bit of a tweak. Replacement hangers never seem to be quite straight.
Another tool you might already have, is a Shimano or similiar threaded rear axle- the thread of the axle is the same as the thread of the mech bolt, so it makes a perfect lever and as it sticks out perpendicular to the hanger it makes it easy to gauge how straight it is. You have to be lucky to get a perfect result with this approach but it's not hard to get a perfectly usable result.
A big adjustable spanner should do the job. Bend it back whilst keeping one eye closed and it will be fine.