So recently during long ride in bad weather and muddy terrain my derailleur got tangled between cassette and wheel spokes. It caused hanger and dropout to bend. My Local bike shop told me that it’s not really possible to bend it back and welding is only option, but they recommend finding new frame. Is it safe to weld right dropout?(I guess by cutting bottom part and welding it so it’s parallel to the top one). I already got a guy who is willing to do it, but I am not sure if it’s really worth potential risk.
by bonks_240
12 Comments
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personally i’d rather get a new frame as expensive as that may be
Easiest would be to braze in a whole new dropout. It’s a routine enough framebuilding job, but it might also cost more than the frame is worth
Since it’s steel it’s all possible, but It all depends on how you value the frame. The cost of repairing the frame could land you a decent used frame, which is less tedious than having that frame repaired. Plus, unless your guy really knows how to repair bike frames, you’re not 100% sure if you’ll get it back better prior to the crash.
It’s steel. Removing the old dropout and brazing a new one in is a fairly standard repair for a competent frame builder. The key word there is competent as alignment is important.
You’ll need to have a frame builder replace that dropout, it would probably be easier to get a new frame unfortunately though. Unless the bike has sentimental value it doesn’t look like it would really be worth having it repaired.
It’s dead.
There’s nothing to weld as it isn’t broken. You could heat it up and bend it back. Let it cool slowly or it will be brittle. How long it lasts..
It’s a steel dropout – I would try bending that back. I’ve straightened steel dropouts bent worse than that with no issues.
Take the derailleur off, slip the ring of a large spanner over the hanger so that you straighten it by pushing down and forwards. If you can apply localised heat (as in glowing a dull red) to the area between the adjustment screw and hanger it will be easier. Don’t quench with water, let it cool slowly so it doesn’t become brittle.
Edit- wrap a wet rag around where the seat and chain stays join the dropout so you don’t soften the brazed joints.
How’d you get the beans above the frank! Frames toast unless you have a welding buddy. I can’t imagine a pro would fix this for less than the price of something comparable.
Best solution is taking the frame to a frame builder and having that dropout replaced. The dropouts are brazed, not welded.
Otherwise, figuring out a way to bend the lower part back at least close to where it should be is the other viable alternative. It may break right off, but you’ll be in the same boat of having a broken bike anyway. It will, of course, make that dropout weaker and more likely to get bent again.
One way to look at this is in the context of how much you use the bike. If it’s a once or twice a week bike and not very many kilometers then if it breaks you’re less likely to be far from home / work / safety.
If the above is true I don’t see why you wouldn’t try to bend the dropout back using a giant pair of channel locks or something similar. It won’t be perfect maybe less than great but as many pointed out it’s not a particularly expensive bicycle. Maybe good enough is really good enough.