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Post by cusqueno on Oct 2, 2018 9:59:52 GMT
I recently bought an X-Tools RD hanger alignment tool. This can be had for £30 from ChainReaction and other suppliers. Although it doesn't get brilliant reviews on-line and is less that half the price of the equivalent Park Tools one, I found it easy to use, once I worked out how the o-ring markers, which slide up and down the feeler rod, are used to mark the distance while the tool is moved round past seat stays, rack struts &c. The results so far have been impressive, finding the hangers on both bikes I tested to be well out of true. Straightening them markedly improved shifting, both on indexed and friction systems. My other new toy is an X-Tools spoke tension meter, similarly found for £30. Again, the reviews aren't brilliant but I have high hopes that it will be useful for measuring relative, if not absolute, tension when building or adjusting wheels. Not used in anger yet. Does anyone have any hints or tips for getting the best out of tension meters? |
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Post by schrauber on Oct 2, 2018 18:27:23 GMT
These are 2 of many tools I have not splashed out on, and probably think I can do without as I have always managed somehow. Trying to eyeball/realign a dropout with a rear axel (is all I have with same thread) screwed in is more faith than not. Your post is is convincing, chain reaction reviews look fine for occasional use. Can't comment on tension meters, just hope somebody alse can  |
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Oct 3, 2018 4:18:10 GMT
I made my own from a piece of square tubing, a bolt, and a couple of nuts (like this one).
It looks almost like this one which costs about the same as my materials.
It is not near as nice a a Park tool, but it works just fine.
Cheers Jim
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Post by schrauber on Oct 3, 2018 13:16:51 GMT
Thanks Jim, yep that looks like workable low key approach. A rear axel & nuts and bit of steel tube with a neat hole should do when I need it.
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Post by dracco on Oct 3, 2018 16:53:27 GMT
I watched a wheel-building demo given by the Spa Cycles wheel-builder at the York Rally a couple of years ago. His approach to spoke tensioning was to flick the spoke with a fingernail and listen to the pitch of the note. Years of experience, I guess. Spa do have a good reputation for building pretty round wheels.
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Jem
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Post by Jem on Oct 3, 2018 19:22:12 GMT
Rob has one of these hanger alignment gizmos. I keep meaning to take a couple of mine over for him to square up.
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Post by cusqueno on Oct 4, 2018 15:59:02 GMT
I watched a wheel-building demo given by the Spa Cycles wheel-builder at the York Rally a couple of years ago. His approach to spoke tensioning was to flick the spoke with a fingernail and listen to the pitch of the note. Years of experience, I guess. Spa do have a good reputation for building pretty round wheels. For the tone deaf apps are available for smart phones that can tell you if the pitch of spokes is the same. |
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robt
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Post by robt on Oct 6, 2018 15:38:42 GMT
Rob has one of these hanger alignment gizmos. I keep meaning to take a couple of mine over for him to square up. Crikey! You turn your back for a few days after a quiet summer and suddenly everyone's back in the game! Michael, I'm so sorry to hear of your accident - I hope that the swelling is beginning to subside now. Instead of mascara warnings, Ray-Ban warnings might be a good idea before you post any more pictures of your beautiful tribute to the 1970's! Likewise for any more pictures of medallion man ('. ..fits so tight it shows all you've got...'  )! I have both a derailleur hanger alignment tool (Park Tool DAG-2.2) and a spoke tension meter (Park Tool TM-1). I purchased them before my retirement, when I had some cash to spare! At least I now have the time to enjoy them. They are quite handy, and probably very effective in the hands of a skilled craftsman. I first used them to sort out my friend Simon's Raleigh Record, the RD hanger on which was so out of shape that it used to change a couple of sprockets at the back in response to the rider swapping the FD between large and small chainrings. I used the spoke tension meter to help with the wheel rim swap I did on that bike too. I take the fact that Simon is still alive as testament to my mechanical skills. It's good to see some positive responses to Dracco's proposal to make a DFR North a reality next year. I'll be happy to help with route planning and testing when I'm up visiting family. Just over a year ago, I posted on my re-build of an A/S Sport frame that I'd had re-sprayed the year before. Another year has passed, and it has been re-purposed again, this time for Mrs RobT as reward for her support for DFR6.  IMG_5749 by RMT@261, on Flickr More pics here, showing: cold set (bent?) rear triangle, allowing 130mm O.L.D. 8-speed 700C rear wheel; and chromed steel riser handlebars with trigger shifter. The bike weighs just 13kg/28.5lbs and is so easy to ride that I might even persuade Anne onto it for DFR7(N). |
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robt
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Post by robt on Nov 10, 2018 23:09:34 GMT
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