So a few years ago I got a really good deal on a lightly used aluminum
frame that had a non-removable derailer hanger. It's an older Fetish
Cycles SAC, if anybody knows the model.
Last year that deal got worse when I dumped my rear derailer into the
rear wheel and I bent that derailer hanger.
Now that it's time to go racing, I'm looking at this pretty frame and
trying to figure out if I can revive it.
Notable points:
1) I was able to mostly unbend the hanger. I'm not even going to try
using it if I can't get it properly aligned. I'm dumb, but not that dumb.
2) how much structural integrity am I going to lose from "cold-setting"
this hanger? On one hand, a derailer hanger isn't a load-bearing frame
part. On the other hand, I don't want it to break off.
3) there's a crack on the outside of the derailer hanger. It's not that
deep, and I have a nutty idea I can file it out of existence. I'd trust
the remaining thickness of aluminum to hold the derailer, but I've
already bent it around a lot, thus losing some strength.
Even writing this, re-using the old derailer hanger sounds dubious to
me. Which brings me to...
4) is it possible to cut the old derailer hanger off, tap some holes,
and bolt a new hanger into place? It would presumably have to be a
fairly specialty item for saving Al frames like this one, since it would
have to bolt to the outside of the dropout and then S-bend under the
dropout to fit into the normal derailer hanger location.
I'm not doomed if the frame can't be saved (the older race bike frame is
still back in the shed) but I would like to re-use this thing.
Otherwise, I guess I buy an ENO hub and make a singlespeed out of it.
--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing