Bent hanger – how to straighten?

The shifting has rather suddenly become dodgy on my Kinesis Pro6 CX – a quick eyeball check says the mech hanger is bent.

I have an alignment tool at home to double check, but assuming a bent hanger then what is the best way of straigtening it? The hanger itself is an alloy replacement (from Superstar) and the frame is alloy too. Internet seems to suggest either remove the hanger and whack it in a vice, or to grab the hanger with a spanner whilst it’s attached to the frame and try to bend it back. Can I also use the aligment too to bend it back? I have an AliExpress knock off of the Park DAG2.2.

Or should I just order a new one and bin it?

Thanks.

Just use the alignment tool – see Park’s video

Order a new one and bin it when the new one arrives.

if the hanger is aluminium then by bending it once you will have weakened the hanger, and it will bend again.

depends on how far out it is.  If it’s just a little then I would use the alignment tool.  If it’s a long way out then I would use a vice to squish it flat again but recognise that it’s very likely to break 🙁

Order a new one and bin it when the new one arrives.

Nah, have a go at straightening it and then keep it as a spare when the new one arrives. And don’t assume the new one is straight when you put it in. I’ve had to replace a mech hanger out on a ride a couple of times, far easier to stick in a slightly shonky spare than trying to bodge a singlespeed to get you home.

i too have a Pro 6 (v2) and have to say the original hangers are made of cheese! Main fault on the bike (bar rear disc cable freezing in very cold weather, should get hydraulics but post mount fork).

Easily bent in cx races from contact or crashes (leading to complete failure twice, and one new mech).
Others have bent ‘gently’ dropping bike when stationary…

I reckon on replacing one a year, carry a spare when touring/riding away from home.

I’ve tried squishing in a vice/pliers/spanners etc but not got one straight enough yet. Reckon they are weak enough having snapped 2 that even if they can be straightened, they might not last (not that I produce massive watts).

If the hanger aligner works, let me know, I’ve got a few bent spares to restraighten.

PS which Superstar replacement was it?

I can never find pattern replacements, end up with originals each time

Order a new one and bin it when the new one arrives.

9 times out of 10 the new one will need a tweak, they’re not made to tiny tolerances plus the frame needs to be perfect too. Don’t assume just because it’s new it’ll be straight

@madeupname

It was this one but my Pro6 is a v1 – lime green paint job and seatstay post-mounts for the rear brake.

https://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/gear-hanger-in-superstar-components-packing-model-gh-128.htm

Seems to be a thread about V2 replacements here:

Derailleur hanger – where to buy?

Yep, bend (gently) with the alignment tool

The theory (i think from the Park video linked above) is that if it survives being bent back into shape with the tool, it’s OK. If it breaks when you try to bend it back, it’s best to replace it.

Try your alignment tool, they’re basically a steel bar designed to (measure alignment and) bend a hanger to where it needs to be. I think it is the Park video that recommends bending back in situ as if it is close to failure it’ll just break, if it survives bending back into the right place it’ll likely last a while longer.

I love mine, with 7 bikes across the family it paid for itself within a year. I sometimes catch myself thinking about getting too close to an obstacle just so I’ll have an excuse to get the alignment tool out again!

Or should I just order a new one and bin it?

Order a new one and try and straighten the old one… if successful keep it as a spare. If it snaps or refuses to go back due to strain hardening you lost nothing.