How To Make DIY Dropout Alignment Gauge Tools

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

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[@russellstephan6844]

Just converted an old Schwinn 1970's Continental to a 135mm rear hub width. Not only did your video demonstrate the process (rather simple), but, it showed the very capable inexpensive DIY tools to accomplish the task. My hats off to all your hard work making these videos to share your bike knowledge. And know an old beat up Schwinn is going to find new life on the road rather than just poundage steel at the scrap yard.

[@dominicstew1893]

I'm in the process of doing the same!

[@russellstephan6844]

@@dominicstew1893 This Fall during the months of September and October, I put 2,000 miles on the bike mentioned above. Since I've made it road worthy, it's accumulated 7,000 mile. Good luck with your project!

[@Waldijohnson]

Doing a 130 conversion on my 75 continental this summer!

[@claysullivan5347]

I'm about to do this on my beat up Schwinn also! Cheers.

[@guskoerner75]

Beautiful. Just the tool I need right now. I would add this modification - on the two flange nuts in the middle, I would superglue a larger washer to each of them to enlarge the surface area. This is an observation reference only, and it could help the alignment I think. Thank you for this!

[@CobraKyle]

So amazingly helpful! I just got a vintage mountain bike I'm working on, and you've answered every question I've had. Thanks!

[@bikeme1969]

Bought a steel framed Diamondback hybrid to recondition. When I got it home, I found that the rear derailleur cage was bent in towards the bike and shifting wasn't cooperating. Could see the right rear dropout was bent in and causing the problem. Needed to fix this now and didn't want to spend the $$ on a Park Tool. Had a threaded rod and most of the nuts etc to build this DIY tool. Just needed the flanged nuts ($0.71) at the local ACE store. Found it to be exactly what was needed. Got the dropout straightened out within minutes and upon re-assembly of the bike, the shifting easily fell into place. Easy fix when you have the right tools. Thanks!!

[@Kwahntum]

The level of detail in your videos is awesome and has saved me a ton of money. Thank you!!

[@rekdi8048]

So practical and useful. Finding Park Tool in the Philippines is quite hard and expensive. Thanks for the alternative tool. keep safe

[@EwenThompson]

Thanks! I want to do that with one steel framed bike so can't really justify buying the excellent Park Tool. Great demonstration of how I can build a homemade version.

[@macsmandy1]

Hi RJ, I am making my own recumbent from salvaged chromoly tubes, and found your sight whilst endlessly searching Internet for tips. I am converting a 26" chromoly front fork into the rear fork and your homemade tools are invaluable. Thanks so much. A project to pass covid time. Stay safe, Stay healthy.

[@TOMA21207]

You have a good channel, all the explanation with expensive tools and for us who actually do not need those tools and how to make cheep ones. Thanks.

[@dibol91]

You does a great job, your movies are so helpful. Thank you do much

[@rg3019]

Hey RJ, I just fabricated these dropout tools out of 2 3/8"X6" all thread rods, and then I use a 3/8" coupler to remake them into a frame cold setting/alignment tool. Works great. I've also made a headset cup removal tool, a cup installation tool, and a crown race seating tool. I recently converted a '96 DiamondBack Outlook into a reliable City/Hybrid bike, and now I'm rebuilding/overhauling a 22" "98 Sorrento from the 100% Chromo frame up. As your videos have been a big help to me I just wanted to say thanks, they're much appreciated! Happy trails.

[@EpididymisCowper]

Need picture and where you bought the parts

[@thegoldenamerican]

Great stuff! I just found out a used bike that I just purchased has both of the forks pushed towards the right as the bike was in an accident. The wheel is 80 [percent] on the right side... You just just saved me $190 bucks....Thank you, I hope this works for me!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaW4hYFqd8dlsKs

[@chrisjamz2206]

Thank you very much!! I'm in the process of checking a friends bike who has problems with the rear wheel racking to the left while she rides it. I've ruled out a bent axle, bent rear triangle, and a wheel dish issue and I swapped out her rear QR skewer for a more robust one. The dropout alignment is the only thing I have not checked before giving the bike back to her. Now I can!! Cheers11

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Check frame alignment, and make sure the fork is not twisted.

[@haristhomopoulos6439]

what you do in your videos deserve congragulations,greetings from athens!

[@stephenwyatt4672]

I've just found your u tube channel +after seeing a couple of your tutorials I instantly subbed your channel. I'm loving your work. Seriously I've not been able to do anything for a whole Saturday as im constantly viewing your work. Love it . Peace

[@marcdaslama]

thanks! this is great as I didn't want to spend that much money for the parktool for a one time use

[@cloystreng]

Thanks for this video, I made your DIY tools and they worked like a charm. About $5 total!

[@goedelite]

Making the face of the dropout mounting parallel must be accomplished while also making the perpendiculars colinear. if the lengths of the frame sides from the seat tube to the left and right dropout mountings are not equal, the faces can be made parallel, but the perpendiculars must be collinear: one perpendicular for both mountings. That one perp is the axle's centerline when the bike is reassembled. If there are two non-colinear perps, the the axle and mountings will be bent when the wheel mounting nuts are torqued.

[@naujaral2131]

Great DIY tool am actually got this frame i just bought last weekend and has one drop out bent i can\t put the wheel i thougth it be very difficult to fix and this will just do! thank you

[@trelosenario]

You are, Our BikeGyver! Thank you so much

[@dancingsandbottles]

thinking of adding a rear wheel electric to my recumbent, this give a good understanding on adding a wheel wider than stock

[@nimarahmanian4489]

Saved me money once again. You are great and kowledgable!

[@rktraveler6686]

Sir you are the best god bless you 👍

[@ianrutherford9974]

RJ, sporting the socks! New cyclist, loving the channel

[@patrickrenschler]

thanks again for a great video. Do you have a video where you explain how to adjust the rear-dropout screws that some older frames have? I guess adjusting them is easy, you just screw the screw in or out, but I'm interested in hearing more about how to decide on the correct positioning for the screws.

[@m3mes]

Good value for money tip. I will try this on my current project frame to check the alignment.

[@randy1817]

Just what I needed. I just got done widening to 130.56. But the rim is a little off center to the left. I tried the alignment guide like what you used here. I just can't get the wheel straight. I'm hoping my local bike shop can do it for me. I wonder if I could cheat and wrap a thin strip of aluminum around the axle?

[@hilarywood3274]

Thanks for the video, I tried this and it worked a treat!

[@johnny88sunday]

Genius! I just bought a £99 Schwinn and it's all over the place 🙂

[@zahracj253]

Did you try this fix? (also why I'm watching this vid 🤦‍♀)

[@johnny88sunday]

@@zahracj253 I did but it turned out not to be the problem... I've been told the wheel needs re-dished, and it may need a little filed off one side to make it true... I've booked into Halfords to have it done because my DIY effort didn't quite go to plan! 😁

[@zahracj253]

@@johnny88sunday Thanks. Any update on the wheel dish? I'm booked in for my wheel tomorrow. I've seen some people have filed the fork, but I'd be wary of that. A metal file is NOT part of a bike tool kit. It'll invalidate any warranty (assuming you can claim from the UK anyway).

[@TheOgi22]

AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you have more videos where you make bike aids???????????? Please, could you give a listing of videos where you make tools?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/aero/PLxO5aF0senshDxqoooXUSJGG132wE_o35

[@esvegateban]

Great advice and how-to! Could you do this on the magnesium lowers of a fork? Thanks!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Thanks. On steel rigid forks you can do this. I would not do this on magnesium or even aluminum lowers.

[@eddiearniwhatever]

awesome! I've been imagining this kind of thing myself. thanks for the video!

[@marcelloroos766]

Gonna make a pair myself, very useful

[@billfaust1143]

Great aid in bike maintenance!!

[@IchibotK]

Very informative vid here. I've tightened the locknuts on my rear axle so that the dropouts are now slightly bent toward one another. Will this fix work for that problem as well?

[@HassanHassan-rl8zg]

Good video and a great money saver too.!!👍

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Andrew Vuktilaj, The Raleigh Tourist appears in a few on my vids. What in particular do you want to see? I am planning on riding it this weekend at a Tweed Ride. I will post photos over on my Facebook page.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

The size of the frame makes no difference. I have a video where I convert a 10 speed to a 14 speed. And I have another vid where I convert 12 speed to a 16 speed. Same thing. The only difference is replacing the crankset with a triple. I think you will need a longer spindle in the BB.

[@isaacaldaz8128]

I have a question if you can respond to this it would be much appreciated. The question I have is do you know how to make the dropouts on the bike frame bigger? Thanks.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

What do you mean bigger?

[@isaacaldaz8128]

For like a bigger axle to be able to fit in to the drop out or is it not possible ?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Larger diameter? Or longer?

[@DonnieDarko1]

Holy crap this is solution to my problem Thank you!

[@scottmanner2115]

You saved the day...I was going to put my frame in a bench vise and grab a mallet. Of course I’d use beer too.

[@jggbike1466]

Built the tool. Could not get hold of flange bolts, so brazed washers to nuts. Tool worked perfectly.

[@colincampbell4261]

Thank you, excellent instructional video.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FFVoyager]

Really neat! I think you should have stuck your Park Tool in there at the end to see how close you got - I suspect you could be 'as good as'. Thanks for the idea.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I actually did double check with my Park Tool FFG-2, and it was pretty much right on.

[@davidmoskovitz]

Nice. Using a couple of hollow steel rear hub axles would likely make for a stronger tool, and you can keep it all metric. Ya know, 'cause that's how we roll.

[@rugilevanagaite]

Hi. Nice video! It is possible to bend aluminum dropout with this tools?

[@joaoportela9731]

Great videos man! You got yourself a new subscriber. I looked in your videos for a video on how to check front road/race bike fork. Do you have such a video. That would be great.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

It's basically the same for checking the dropout alignment.

[@joaoportela9731]

@@RJTheBikeGuy makes sense. Hahaha

[@olegpetelevitch4443]

Top stuff lover your work !

[@volcom05345]

Just out of curiosity could you go back to an older wheel and switch between wheel sizes or would you have to bend the chainstay back and the dropouts?

[@ODPTV1]

Would putting a threaded rod through the dropouts with two nuts on the inside, spaced for dropout width, which are then locked with another nut, and then a nut on the outside of each dropout, tightening the nut would clamp the dropouts together in line with the rod which is acting like an axle, thus staightening the dropouts? With large washers to not damage the frame surface

[@adrianTNT]

3:28 What would happen if I do this with aluminium frame and what is the right method for aluminium ? Thank you.

[@iboofer]

There is no right method for Alu. I'm assuming you already learned but just putting it here for anybody else who's curious. Aluminum does *not* like to be bent. It will lose its structural integrity and probably crack on the stand. If not there, eventually on the road/trail.

[@zoladkow]

Lovely, thank you for that vid (oh, and others too of course!)

[@DylanFowler]

Brilliant, such a good idea.

[@Suesses-Einhorn]

My axle broke repeatedly because of dropout problems, i lowered the gears also to made the axle shorter. 3x5 gears are enough 42/14-28teeth, for general purpose cycling. Would not go above 6 gears with full axle and screw on sprocket.

[@sebastiansosnowski5843]

Hello RJ. I am thinking that you can put a BMX pegs on the end of this alignment tool so it looks more like the original.

[@johnramiagui1245]

Interesting! Good video

[@jsebastiangalvis]

Hi RJ. Thank you so much for this video! I have a question about the flange nuts: the nuts facing each other (the ones to check if it's parallel or not) are 3/8 as well? Are they left threaded? I don't really get how you're locking those nuts.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yeah, they are threaded. The two nuts are tightened against each other.

[@soemardi8885]

Hi rj, i have allumunium track frame that have rear drop out slightly bend and not parareled to each other, Can i do this metode to my frames?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

You can try it. It's at your own risk.

[@ApocaIypse666]

Hi can you do a disc brake mount alignment video to coz mine is kinda off in the alignment anyway thanks

[@brianlink391]

Really cool idea

[@BAK87]

Sweet stuff man.

[@justinc8638]

Does this end up putting any stress on the frame? Would u recommend using heat while doing this on a steel frame? Thanks

[@aaron___6014]

The wing nuts I bought to make this tool we're not flat so it would cock the bolt to one side. Also the 3/8 bolt doesn't seem to sit flat in the drop out.

[@shakeelmalik7311]

Nice , what if dropout been pressed inside by mistake ?

[@juanvicuna739]

Great 👍🙌

[@meadows408]

Do you have any experience cold setting a mixte frame? I got one on the cheap (minus the front wheel) but can't decide if I cold set and use regular 700c wheels and buy long reach brakes or to find another cheap bike to cannibalize the old 27" wheels.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

+bob meadows Not a mixte, but the process would be the same as long as it's steel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5XMk6Cud9qAr5I

[@greysays8847]

Hey buddy. I ride a regular 26 inch wheel with a no brand hub. Does hub makes a different to make a bike faster?

[@Albanez39]

Well, yes. Everything plays a role in the speed and reliability of a bicycle. The hub itself holds the ball bearings and the axle that makes rotation possible. The quality of the cups, cones and bearings is the most important, so check that and clean them up. Replace the cones or bearings if they seem scratched, crushed, basically damaged. But this is not all. Check your entire wheel, it should be true and the spokes should have good tension. You have plenty of videos from RJ that explain how to clean, service, replace, true, repair each bike component.

[@Bricklinsv1970]

Very helpful! Thanks!

[@Lawbraker]

Sr you make my day! thank you so much!!!

[@MrSamBowers]

I would use coupling bolts to line them up.

[@dannomite123]

Love the socks!

[@jesusacovarrubias1390]

Hey bike guy. With the alignment tool as an example, how about making something similar but this time to spread the rear dropout in case someone wants to upgrade a wheel set from 126 mm to a 130 mm spread or more. Thanks for the great ideas. Jesse

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Have you watched this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6jbdoOIoJh_fMk But this tool is only good if the frame is in good alignment to begin with and you want to spread the stays evenly.

[@jesusacovarrubias1390]

shyflirt1 No, I hadn't watched it until now, thank you. It's exactly what I was looking for. I checked Sheldon Brown's web site but his process was too intensive. Your system is more, to coin a phrase, "user friendly." Thanks again. Jesse

[@wbklausmeyer]

I appreciate that you work in your socks.

[@andrewvuktilaj5464]

Can u do a video on your Raleigh tourist

[@jambonsambo]

Hi RJ , I am a big fan of your channel , I have a steel Peugeot road bike and when the rear wheel is in the dropouts it's noticeably closer to the chainstay on one side and closer to the seatstay on the opposite side , would this be worth trying to fix the issue ?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn6rc3t8qpl2qKM

[@jambonsambo]

Thanks , I think it's either a dropouts alignment or frame alignment issue . How can I know wether I should realign the dropouts or realign the rear of the bike by cold setting in some way ? I assume if the rear stays are out of alignment with the centre of the bike then playing with the dropouts is kind of like a fix that doesn't really sort the main problem

[@keaty1984]

Hi I have a steel frame and have bent the built in mech hanger and drop out, if I bend back will it be any weaker? Thanks

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

keaty1984 On a steel frame you can generally bend it safely. It you start bending back and forth over and over and over, it will eventually break. But you should be able to straighten the hanger and dropout.

[@keaty1984]

Great will the steel be weakend at all? Just heavy rider.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

If you are just bending it back, it will not be weakened significantly. You should be fine.

[@nasruasemduasrodas]

great idea!

[@paule.maurice1521]

Shorter, hardened bolts ?

[@seeringconcepts8735]

Seriously, what would anyone give this video a thumbs down?

[@ThiagoTuareg]

Very nice man ! thnx!

[@Fetucinee]

Thanks RJ.

[@LeeMaverick]

Fantastic!!! Saving me 60€!!!

[@83RBurke]

Cool vid RJ, hey I have a custom steel bmx frame and the rear wheel is kind of close to the left side of the chainstay and close to the right side of the seat stay. The bike tracks straight but I have to put brake pad spacers on one side to get the pads to contact the rim at the same time - would this tool fix this problem? Thanks for reading

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn6rc3t8qpl2qKM

[@Rambling_Rover]

What would happen if did adjust aluminum? Have aluminum phatmoto frame.

[@iboofer]

Would stress the metal to the point of fatigue. Aluminum isn't very bendy. Can do it a liiiittle. But just a bit.

[@tenjhutenge2]

Thank you !!

[@hasfa09]

Can bending alum frame ??

[@zoladkow]

tried just that. and you know what? mine are in fact parallel, just not on the same level... good job, Trek, good job! 😂

[@ingog4685]

👍🏻 Thank you

[@michaelpelkey9760]

Nice. Thanks.

[@thomasforshey1597]

💘 home bilt tools !!

[@theboss-vr1jj]

thankyou ,xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/ im sure this will fix my bent dropout ,

[@gethermedel3620]

can you do this with 6061 Alu frames?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No.

[@jambonsambo]

If the Rear of a bike was out of alignment could you do this to compensate ?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

No. You need to align the frame. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaW4hYFqd8dlsKs

[@pkelly20091]

if the dropouts are not perfectly aligned, e.g. after cold setting from 126 to 130mm , is it OK to not bother re-aligning the dropouts ?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

It can place added stress on the axle, and also cause it to slip.

[@jambonsambo]

Can you use a tool like this to realign vertical dropouts ?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yes.

[@jambonsambo]

@@RJTheBikeGuy It says on the park tool website not to do this with particularly thick dropouts , mine are 6 to 7mm thick , I am wondering if they are too wide to try this , any idea ?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@jambonsambo Shrug. Contact Park Tool and ask them what they define as "particularly thick dropouts".

[@nick37781]

any approach for aluminum dropouts on a carbon frame?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Not that I am aware of.

[@martynasjuravicius678]

What to do when you aluminium frame dropouts are not aligned?

[@methinjgti1]

Ur a blessing

[@EpididymisCowper]

Where do you get 3/8"x10" carriage bolts like that with that many threads?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

+Mi nk I got them at Lowe's or Home Depot.

[@davidsarwat5453]

is that type of frame can hold a rear disc brake ?? please answer

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Not even close.

[@12333]

Can't you also use the flange nuts that you use to fasten your bike wheel as the alignment flange nuts?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

If they fit the thread of the bolts and you don't want to spend the 25 cents for new ones.