Another bent dropout (pics)

Picked up a Reynolds 531c track frame on eBay a while back, and have recently built it and raced it round Herne Hill. However, just noticed that the left dropout is bent down around 2mm:

Compared with the right dropout:

a) Attempt to fix it myself?
b) LBS job?
c) Ignore it?

Frame builder job. Shouldn't be too expensive.

hammers, lots of them

If you are DIY-inclined, vice the drop-out to keep the upper and lower halves parallel (don't make the vice too tight, just enough to grip, ie. no play). Then gently hammer the lower half upwards until you get the right gap. Maybe you could use the tension-adjuster to set the gap if it's a close fit.

i bent a track dropout back on my ol'DMR jump bike back in the day by repeatedly banging it on the ground.

i would not recommend this method.

LBS or a framebuilder will most likely do the best job

Thanks all, I am DIY inclined but don't have a vice at home, and it doesn't seem worth risking making the issue worse for the sake of a quick LBS/framebuilder job. Can anyone recommend any framebuilders in SW London?

Is this slight bend even a real problem? If the axle stays put once the nuts are done up, and there's no tangible wheel or frame misalignment, all you really need is a large, good quality washer under the left track nut.

I'd be more worried that any attempt to realign the lower edge of the dropout would result in a stress concentration at the forward end of the axle slot, which means a decent framebuilder would insist on you having a new dropout dropped in (as it were).

too good.

what you have there is a piece of malleable steel that's lightly bent it's not even a cast piece - just a bit of plate

all a frame builder will do is bend it back (unless they want to mug you off with unnecessary work), though what has already been said - you could leave it as it is.

keep tug in and whack it back with a rubber mallet (or hammer with wood on dropout to protect ) or vice it back together.

don't know what the tugs are like inside (or if ends are properly flat and perpendicular at the rear) , but if they are not straight on rear of track end, over doing that may have splayed the end

if you take to frame builder try and get it done while you watch - and let us know if there is some other secret i'm not aware of.

I too thought this thread was a reference to our beloved John.

Well I took the plunge as on reflection it did seem like a simple fix, fixed the dropouts in place with an axle and four bolts, put the chaintugs in place and hammered it in place with hammer+wood:

It's pretty much as perfect as I can get it, and no cracking to the frame or nothing :-)

The dropouts on this frame are 4mm, unfortunately the MKS thin chaintugs are just over 4mm wide, so when the wheel is bolted in place it actually tightens against the chaintug and not the dropout. So I think the dropout bent as the wheel was moving around unbeknownst to me. Or the frame came like this when I got it, I never did check properly.

Anyway fixed, mucho happy. Thanks for the advice everyone!

Hammers always work

always :)

now to do some work on my carbon bike.....

bring it round tomorrow xander, i have loads of hammers

and an axe