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    Vintage frame with horizontal dropout issues.

    Hi!

    So i put new wheels on a vintage frame with horizontal dropouts. I decided to make it single speed, i dont know if that might be the issue.

    But whenever i put force on my pedal, my back wheel slides out of the dropout, causing my chain to fall off and it generally being dangerous.

    Anyone knows a fix to this problem? Online people say QR is fine on horizontal dropouts, my local bike fixer says it's not…

    Thanks in advance!
    G

    by whatcaristhisssss

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    11 Comments

    1. sketchycatman on

      QR should be fine with a basic BMX style chain tensioner. It’s a $5 part I’m surprised your local bike fixer didn’t sell you for $20.

    2. mxgian99 on

      try a different QR, but like your local bike guy mentioned i would switched to fixed nuts so you can get it tighter.

    3. tomcatx2 on

      The dropouts are too thin. The qr lever has a cam with a bit of a throw that needs a thicker dropout face at least on the non drive side.

      A hack is to add a washer with an m10 hole to fit over the axle stub on the outside of the dropout.

      Another fix is to use a non qr security skewer.

      The right thing to do is to use a bolt on axle.

      The local mechanic was right.

    4. tomsings on

      Sometimes QR will slip. I’ve found that the old silver Shimano QR levers to be best in this situation. Try to find something with a knurled washer so that it bites the frame better.

      Failing that you need to switch to switch the wheel or swap the axle to bolt on.

    5. Megawomble64 on

      I fixed this issue on my road bike (bigger sprocket, much more torque) with an internally cammed Shimano quick release rather than the stock Hunt one. Way more clamping force for way less levering required.

    6. ThadsBerads on

      I’m about to get downvoted…..but here goes….Quick releases are just not ideal on frames with horizontal drop outs. A quick release will NEVER apply the amount of clamping force that a solid axle will, because it is not designed to do so. It’s a 4-5mm thick axle compared to a 10-12mm one. Think of a vertical drop out. All of the forces while riding are up, and back. The drop out is what holds the axle in place. The QR is only really there to make sure the wheel doesn’t fall out of the drop out. It’s a minimal amount of force needed to do this. On a horizontal drop out, a QR can have a really hard time with stopping the wheel from moving forward while pedaling, and backwards when hitting bumps. I’m not saying a QR can’t work, as we have all used them to varying degrees of success, but it will never be as solid as a solid axle in a horizontal drop out.
      If you opt to use a QR, quality definitely matters.
      Use an old heavy Shimano steel one, or one from a chariot stroller, as they are pretty beefy. Avoid ones with a plastic “washer” that sits against the lever. You can also opt to use a skewer that utilizes a hex key to tighten rather than a lever. I’ve had decent success with those as well.

    7. iinaytanii on

      Your axle is likely sticking out right at the outer edge of the thin vintage dropout, so the QR is biting against the axle, not getting all the force on the dropout. A washer could fix that.

      If this was a fixed gear I’d say you absolutely need a bolt on but for a single speed it should work if you space that out a bit.

    8. Infinite-Cobbler-466 on

      QR is made for horizontal dropouts. It’s how that frame was always used. It used to have more gears. But it was almost certainly held in place by a WR (hard to say). I’ve got about 85 bicycles. Many fixed or single speed. All or most horizontal drop outs. Many with QRs. Your application is bicycle 101. Nothing fancy. So why the slip?

      Probably, just not tight enough. Dumb question: Do you know HOW to use a QR? Many do not. It’s a cam. You can get it tight enough to risk snapping the QR rod (not necessary). If it’s pretty damn tight, you have some other problem.

      Other possible problems. 1). QR rod is not designed for your hub and threads on the rod will bottom out (thus not allowing the nut to thread fully and then cam to be tight enough). 2). Damaged threads (same symptoms as above). 3) damaged and bent dropouts (unlikely to cause your problem, but possible).

    9. ResponsibleOven6 on

      I’m not aware of any axel tensioners designed for forward facing diagonal dropouts but I’ve setup several in bikes like this as long as the tension bolt stays outside of the dropout. Sometimes you have to file some tabs down to get it to stay. You can’t use the type where the tension bolt travels through the dropout though.

      I’d get some tensioners and a bolt on axel.

      Look for this style: https://share.google/Z3W4WTWPVUVoFZ2OM

      Not this style: https://share.google/Ox1IOVC6FWhQIIsn1

      And while searching for this I came across this. it looks like this style is actually made for your situation though I’ve never seen them before: https://share.google/PMTRx6kSzjKg9gNLz

    10. Mcdiglingdunker on

      A QR has not handled the forces of a SS setup IME. I have a frame with track ends and the rear hub has track nuts. Those stay put without the use of tensioning device, but I would say that’s exactly what you need for the QR set up

      Changed language to fit in line with the mass understanding of dropout, even though I disagree. Track ends are literally horizontal, while the one pictured is angled…whatever…

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