Derailleur hanger

[Tom Anderson]

Afternoon all,

I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine to
the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it myself.

Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?

Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems to
be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:

http://derailleurhanger.com/

Have a zillion billion types, but nothing in their index corresponding to
my bike (which is a Decathlon Rockrider 5XC).

Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain, etc? I
think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.

In the meantime, i may have to embrace the dark side and go singlespeed!

Ta buckets in advance for any answers,
tom

--
I could tell you a great many more particulars but suppose that you are
tired of it by this time. -- John Backhouse, Trainspotter Zero

 

[Weatherlawyer]

On May 9, 1:30 pm, Tom Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:
> Afternoon all,
>
> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine to
> the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it myself.
>
> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>
> Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems to
> be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:
>
> http://derailleurhanger.com/
>
> Have a zillion billion types, but nothing in their index corresponding to
> my bike (which is a Decathlon Rockrider 5XC).
>
> Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
> problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain, etc? I
> think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.

Is this a joke?

If I hadn't checked the link I'd have thought the idea ridiculous.

 

[Clive George]

"Weatherlawyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:91ae66b9-2a42-4f70-b659-db73257f07e9@m73g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> On May 9, 1:30 pm, Tom Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Afternoon all,
>>
>> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine
>> to
>> the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it
>> myself.
>>
>> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>>
>> Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems to
>> be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:
>>
>> http://derailleurhanger.com/
>>
>> Have a zillion billion types, but nothing in their index corresponding to
>> my bike (which is a Decathlon Rockrider 5XC).
>>
>> Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
>> problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain, etc? I
>> think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.
>
> Is this a joke?
>
> If I hadn't checked the link I'd have thought the idea ridiculous.

The rear mech is in a vulnerable place. Hit it hard (or get your chain
knitted in a messy fashion), and the bit of metal it hangs off will get
bent.
Now if your bike is steel, this is fine - just bend it back, provided you've
not snapped it (and even then you can just braze another one on). But if
it's Al or CF, you can't do that, and thus you've got a written-off frame.
So they come with a deliberately weak link in the form of a derailleur
hanger - this bends or snaps rather than the frame being destroyed, and you
just buy another.

So, not a joke, but actually a rather sensible idea.

cheers,
clive

 

[Tom Anderson]

On Fri, 9 May 2008, Weatherlawyer wrote:

> On May 9, 1:30 pm, Tom Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine to
>> the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it myself.
>>
>> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>>
>> Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems to
>> be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:
>>
>> http://derailleurhanger.com/
>>
>> Have a zillion billion types, but nothing in their index corresponding to
>> my bike (which is a Decathlon Rockrider 5XC).
>>
>> Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
>> problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain, etc? I
>> think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.
>
> Is this a joke?

Is what a joke?

> If I hadn't checked the link I'd have thought the idea ridiculous.

You think the idea of a derailleur hanger is ridiculous? What? Or that
there are different kinds?

tom

--
.... but when you spin it it looks like a dancing foetus!

 

[Tom Anderson]

On Fri, 9 May 2008, Clive George wrote:

> "Weatherlawyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:91ae66b9-2a42-4f70-b659-db73257f07e9@m73g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>> On May 9, 1:30 pm, Tom Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine to
>>> the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it myself.
>>>
>>> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>>>
>>> Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems to
>>> be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:
>>>
>>> http://derailleurhanger.com/
>>>
>>> Have a zillion billion types, but nothing in their index corresponding to
>>> my bike (which is a Decathlon Rockrider 5XC).
>>>
>>> Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
>>> problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain, etc? I
>>> think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.
>>
>> Is this a joke?
>>
>> If I hadn't checked the link I'd have thought the idea ridiculous.
>
> The rear mech is in a vulnerable place. Hit it hard (or get your chain
> knitted in a messy fashion), and the bit of metal it hangs off will get
> bent. Now if your bike is steel, this is fine - just bend it back,
> provided you've not snapped it (and even then you can just braze another
> one on). But if it's Al or CF, you can't do that, and thus you've got a
> written-off frame. So they come with a deliberately weak link in the
> form of a derailleur hanger - this bends or snaps rather than the frame
> being destroyed, and you just buy another.

Even on steel frames, it's not a bad idea; it means you can fix the
problem yourself without needing brazing equipment or risking metal
fatigue.

tom

--
.... but when you spin it it looks like a dancing foetus!

 

[Clive George]

"Tom Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> On Fri, 9 May 2008, Clive George wrote:
>
>> "Weatherlawyer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:91ae66b9-2a42-4f70-b659-db73257f07e9@m73g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>>> On May 9, 1:30 pm, Tom Anderson <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine
>>>> to
>>>> the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it
>>>> myself.
>>>>
>>>> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>>>>
>>>> Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems
>>>> to
>>>> be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:
>>>>
>>>> http://derailleurhanger.com/
>>>>
>>>> Have a zillion billion types, but nothing in their index corresponding
>>>> to
>>>> my bike (which is a Decathlon Rockrider 5XC).
>>>>
>>>> Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
>>>> problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain, etc?
>>>> I
>>>> think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.
>>>
>>> Is this a joke?
>>>
>>> If I hadn't checked the link I'd have thought the idea ridiculous.
>>
>> The rear mech is in a vulnerable place. Hit it hard (or get your chain
>> knitted in a messy fashion), and the bit of metal it hangs off will get
>> bent. Now if your bike is steel, this is fine - just bend it back,
>> provided you've not snapped it (and even then you can just braze another
>> one on). But if it's Al or CF, you can't do that, and thus you've got a
>> written-off frame. So they come with a deliberately weak link in the form
>> of a derailleur hanger - this bends or snaps rather than the frame being
>> destroyed, and you just buy another.
>
> Even on steel frames, it's not a bad idea; it means you can fix the
> problem yourself without needing brazing equipment or risking metal
> fatigue.

And it means you don't get alignment problems from bending it back
incorrectly as well - a good idea in so many ways!

(that said, I bent back the Al hanger on my road/utility bike a few months
ago. Probably ought to get a spare just in case...)

cheers,
clive

 

[Tom Crispin]

On Fri, 9 May 2008 13:30:56 +0100, Tom Anderson <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Afternoon all,
>
>I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine to
>the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it myself.
>
>Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>
>Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems to
>be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:
>
>http://derailleurhanger.com/
>
>Have a zillion billion types, but nothing in their index corresponding to
>my bike (which is a Decathlon Rockrider 5XC).
>
>Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
>problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain, etc? I
>think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.
>
>In the meantime, i may have to embrace the dark side and go singlespeed!
>
>Ta buckets in advance for any answers,

I've changed about 6 hangers over the last year. They are easy to
replace once you are used to it < 5 mins, though once I got the chain
in a tangle and it took me ages to sort the tangle out.

I cannot help you with the type of hander you might need.

 

[Dan Gregory]

Tom Anderson wrote:
> Afternoon all,
>
> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine
> to the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it
> myself.
>
> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>
> Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems
> to be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:

http://www.decathlon.fr/FR/patte-derailleur-34946078/
says it fits all their bikes
seems to be this one
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...8&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003154c003151c003217

 

[Paul Boyd]

On 09/05/2008 15:55, Weatherlawyer said,

> Is this a joke?
> If I hadn't checked the link I'd have thought the idea ridiculous.

Why should it be a joke? Many bikes have replaceable hangers - it's an
eminently sensible idea.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

 

[Pete Biggs]

Tom Anderson wrote:
> Afternoon all,
>
> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my
> machine to the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger
> and fit it myself.
> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?

It's easy to fit, and probably just needs ordinary tools. With my Tifosi
one, it's just an allen key, iirr.

Remove wheel, shift to top gear (to minimise cable tension), unscrew mech
from hanger, remove hanger. If mech looks OK, just leave it dangling by the
cable. Fit new hanger, fit mech to hanger.

/snip
> Thirdly, am i right in thinking replacing the hanger will solve the
> problem, or will there probably also be damage to my mech, chain,
> etc? I think the spokes will need looking at, at the very least.

I dunno. Depends on the cause of the problem and how lucky you are.

~PB

 

[Tom Anderson]

On Fri, 9 May 2008, Dan Gregory wrote:

> Tom Anderson wrote:
>
>> I've snapped my derailleur hanger (again). I can either take my machine to
>> the LBS and leave them to deal with it, or buy a hanger and fit it myself.
>>
>> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>>
>> Secondly, how on earth do i figure out what hanger i need? There seems to
>> be a different design for each frame or something. These guys:
>
> http://www.decathlon.fr/FR/patte-derailleur-34946078/
> says it fits all their bikes

You're a genius!

> seems to be this one
> http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...8&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003154c003151c003217

Sadly, that one looks nothing at all like mine. Mine's like this
(warning: terrible photos):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2478510574_a0bbeb98d3_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2478510550_7c3f139be9_b.jpg

What made you think that one was the Decathlon one?

The derailleurhanger.com guy thought it was this:

http://www.derailleurhanger.com/images/DH_27_BIG.jpg

And i'm inclined to agree. I also think it's this:

http://www.freemanscycles.co.uk/product2.asp?product_id=1707&pname=Gear%20Hanger%20Type%2010%20(RMM238)

Which is an RMM238 Raleigh Gear Hanger Type 10.

Anyway, if Decathlon sell it, it might be worth a trip down to Surrey
Quays to have a look. Likely to be cheaper than mail-ordering from the
States. Although the ones from the US are apparently tougher than the OEM
ones. But then i'm not sure toughness is a desirable characteristic in a
hanger!

tom

--
Heinlein has done more to harm SF than has any other writer, I think. --
PKD

 

[Tom Anderson]

On Fri, 9 May 2008, Pete Biggs wrote:

> Tom Anderson wrote:
>
>> Firstly, how hard is it to fit a hanger? Do i need any special tools?
>
> It's easy to fit, and probably just needs ordinary tools. With my
> Tifosi one, it's just an allen key, iirr.

After posting that, i managed to get my hanger off with a few turns of an
allen key at each end. I assume that putting it on is much the same, only
in reverse.

> Remove wheel, shift to top gear (to minimise cable tension), unscrew
> mech from hanger, remove hanger. If mech looks OK, just leave it
> dangling by the cable. Fit new hanger, fit mech to hanger.

Sounds about right. I didn't do anything to minimise cable tension, but by
that point, the mech was dangling on the cable anyway (the hanger snapped
clean in half), so i doubt it was necessary.

Cheers also Mr Crispin.

tom

--
Heinlein has done more to harm SF than has any other writer, I think. --
PKD

 

[Tom Crispin]

On Fri, 9 May 2008 23:59:12 +0100, Tom Anderson <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Sadly, that one looks nothing at all like mine. Mine's like this
>(warning: terrible photos):
>
>http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2478510574_a0bbeb98d3_b.jpg
>http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2478510550_7c3f139be9_b.jpg

I checked my spare hangers, they are slightly different.

www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/misc/hanger1
www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/misc/hanger2